I've been playing with a Harrisville potholder loom that I got at a garage sale, and it came with a large number of loops to use with it.  The loops were an older style that are all quite nice, and since then I have purchased some Harrisville loops to supplement the supply.

I am finding that the Harrisville loops have a good selection of colors, but the knit of the loops is not as fine as the older loops in my stash.  Quite frankly, the older style loops have a better feel, but not as good of a color choice (with one exception... a wonderful powder blue).

Does anyone have any ideas for sources of these loops?  I have heard of people making loop from old knits (T-shirts), but I have other needs for those, and it seems a bit time consuming...

Thanks,
Kay

Comments

Tue, 12/01/2009 - 17:31

djfiberarts (not verified)

I think you can get them at A.C. Moore, in store or online

DJ

Mon, 12/07/2009 - 23:53

weaversouth (not verified)

Watch out for the nylon stuff.  When you take it off, it tend to curl up like a dead spider and it is totally useless as an actual potholder, since it conducts the heat and/or melts on contact.

I had so many disappointed little weavers before I banished the whole business from our summer programme that I wanted to strangle whoever thought those up...with some of their own nasty little loops~

I like to use wool loops.  Very "heat-blocking."

Nancy C.

Mon, 01/04/2010 - 04:26

kbird (not verified)

Nancy -

I too avoid the nylon loops, but I found a bunch of them in the second-hand stash I had acquired.  I don't want to use them mixed with my other better quality materials at all.

I tried some wool loops for the first time from Harrisville and I really loved them!  However, apparently Harrisville isn't going to carry them any more??  My husband got a package of them for me for Christmas, but apparently they had to go hunting in the warehouse to find them??

They do seem to be quite a bit more expensive than the cotton ones though...

Sun, 01/31/2010 - 20:01

AndyL (not verified)

 I've been trying to find the cotton loopers for a long time with no luck.  I'm about to start going to the area Goodwill  and Salvation Army stores to see if they'll give me or sell me at a reduced rate any tube socks that they get they don't consider sellable.  If I'm successful, I'll cut them up myself.  

That's a lot of effort, but I really like making rugs with them.  I'll post again if I have any success.

Tue, 02/09/2010 - 03:03

claudia (not verified)

Andy

I was unable to copy the link because I am not at home on my regular computer but you can definitely find 100% cotton loopers at Cotton Clouds. I'll send you the link in a day or two when I am back home.  I would think cutting the socks would also work.

You can click on their ad here on Weavolution on the top of the left side of the page.

Claudia

Wed, 05/05/2010 - 16:27

Cheryl (not verified)

I've tried cut up men's tube socks. You get a really thick potholder, but I found it sheds lint like crazy for a while. Has anyone had better luck with cut-up socks?

I find the potholder made from socks to be too thick and stiff for my tastes. I actually prefer the ones made from the nylon loops. I found that the loops for sale recently at Michael's are better than the ones I could get several years ago. They don't curl up as much. They will melt if you use them on very hot pans or touch a hot burner. I don't use them for broiling or for times when I will need to hold the pan for a long time. A pair of them is perfect for pulling items out of the microwave, since they are small and light.

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The Magic of Potholder Looms