How to Make My Own Loom Board

Make a loom board with inexpensive supplies found around the house.

Loom knitting is a time honored method of weaving fabric. If spending a lot of money on a commercially prepared knitting loom board isn't appealing, make a loom board at home from recycled materials. Making a loom board from a recycled coffee can is an eco-friendly alternative to purchasing a plastic loom.

Things You'll Need

• Coffee can
• Pegs (finishing nails or metal hair pins)
• Can opener
• Masking tape
• Measuring tape
• Permanent ink pen
• Fabric tape
• Fabric remnant
• Scissors
• Rubber cement

Instructions

1. Wash and dry the can and nails or metal pins.

2. Use a can opener to remove the top and bottom from the can. Put a strip of masking tape over the sharp edges on the top and bottom of the can to avoid being cut.

3. Measure the perimeter of the can opening. Draw a line at 1/2-inch intervals on the masking tape along the perimeter of the can.

4. Set two pegs on the outer edge of the can so that 1 inch of the pegs sticks out above the top of the can and 1/2 inch of the pegs are flush against the side of the can. Apply a piece of fabric tape over the two pegs to secure them to the side of the can.

   Place the next peg at the second interval marked with pen. Apply a piece of fabric tape to the peg to secure it to the side of the can. Adjust the height of the peg so that 1 inch of the peg protrudes above the top of the can and 1/2 inch of the peg is pressed against the outer edge of the can. Repeat the process of attaching a single peg at each interval until each mark has a peg taped to it.

5. Tear off a piece of fabric tape. Place the tape in between two pegs so that the tape lies over the edge of the can. Repeat the process of adding a piece of fabric tape between each of the pegs.

6. Measure the perimeter of the can. Measure the height and width of the can. Write these measurements down on a piece of scratch paper. Use scissors to cut out a piece of decorative fabric that has the same dimensions as the coffee can. Apply rubber cement to the outer surface of the coffee can. Cover the outer surface of the round loom board with the decorative fabric.

Tips & Warnings

• Use a special type of can opener that creates rounded edges when cutting to prevent sharp jagged edges from being formed.

• Be very careful while cutting and handling the coffee can before the edges have been covered with tape.

References

• Loom Knitting Help: Making Your Own Loom
• Knitting Naturally: How to Make Your Won Knitting Loom
• The Loom Room: Patterns, Instructions and Supplies