How to Make a Hairpin Lace Loom Out of a Clothes Hanger

Hairpin lace, or Maltese lace is crocheted on a hand-held loom. Adjustable looms are available in craft stores, but if you want to try hairpin lace without the expense of buying a loom, you can make one from a wire clothes hanger. You can make the loom any size you want, but 3 inches wide by 6 inches long is a standard size.

Things You'll Need

• Wire clothes hanger
• Pliers
• Ruler
• Wire cutters
• Whet stone or coarse sandpaper

Instructions

1. Cut the hook off the top of the hanger with the wire cutters.

2. Measure 3 inches up one shoulder of the hanger and bend the shoulder of the hanger at a 90-degree angle so it is parallel to the bottom of the hanger.

3. Measure down 6 ½ inches and cut.

4. Measure 6 inches along the bottom of the hanger and bend it at a 90-degree angle toward the 6 ½-inch leg you just cut.

5. Measure 3 ½ inches from the bend in the bottom of the hanger and cut.

6. Bend the end of the 3 ½-inch piece back over itself ½ inch to make a latch to hold the other side.

7. Smooth out the cut ends on a whet stone.

Tips & Warnings

• Choose a lightweight hanger without a nonslip coating.

• Heavy sandpaper or a coarse emery board can be used instead of a whet stone.