Looming large

In the second part of her beginner's guide to using fleece, Marcella Craven explains how to operate the ancient and brilliantly simple peg loom

- Marcella Craven

I want to take you back in time to discover an ancient craft. The tool you will need is so ancient nobody can say for sure when it began to be used. It certainly predates the Vikings and is probably Neolithic. It is simple and yet produces a quality product. I am talking about the humble peg loom. It is a block of wood with wooden pegs inserted in a row upon the block. Each peg has a length of string running through it. You weave your wool between the pegs until a length of woven, woolly fabric is produced. Using this technique, you can make anything from cushions, table runners, throws and rugs. You can use raw, unwashed fleece or neatly spun, clean fleece and even rags. It’s entirely up to you and down to the materials at your fingertips.

I love peg looms. They’re a wonderfully tactile creation. As you methodically weave your wool, you can sense the history of myriad people repeating the same process down the ages. It is also a way of working with your own wool to produce something you’ll use again and again. It will remind you fondly of your favourite woolly friend every time you use it. I far prefer these to sheepskin rugs, as nobody has to suffer for the end result. You can use finer wool for products that might be more special, such as a throw or scatter cushion, and a coarser fleece for a kitchen rug or dog mattress. The choice is yours and the possibilities are endless.

STEP 1: CREATE THE PEG LOOM

Peg looms are cheap to buy and can be found online with ease. You can pick up a hand-made one on websites such as Etsy or Folksy. The peg-loom design is simple and doesn’t have to be too particular. Any little differences between looms just adds to the individuality and idiosyncrasy of the end product. If you’re in the mood for a bit of simple carpentry, this is how you go about making your own:

You will need: