Loom Flower ATC Swap

Goal: Make 1 fabric ATC for 1 partner using the Loom Flower Technique.

Swap Sign Up: From now until April 15th (2 weeks) - Partners assigned between April 15-16
Swap Deadline: Your ATC must be sent by May 15th (1 month)

You will make one standard size fabric ATC (2.5" x 3.5") for your partner. Embellishment and materials are your choice, however you must include at least 1 loom flower and your ATC base should be fabric stiffened with interfacing or a card stock backing. See our tips for creating a fabric ATC.

Be sure to include a note with the name of this swap and your Swap-bot ID so that your partner can rate you when they receive your art.

Other embellishments welcome!! For example: embroidery, quilting, sewing, beads, findings, paint or ink - anything you can apply to your fabric.

Because the theme and embellishments are senders choice you may start making your ATC immediately (and have up to 6 weeks to complete it) or wait until partners are assigned and review your partners profile to personalize your ATC for them.

Newbies welcome.
Please no unexplained 3 or 1 ratings.
Remember your obligations if you join in.

Loom Flowers

Loom flowers are a quick and easy method of creating a dimensional fabric flower. You could use a variety of different textiles from wool and ribbon to embroidery thread so have fun with this.

You can buy commercial flower looms, however all you need to get started is the lid from an icecream container and our template. Right click the link and save, then print. It should print at around 5.5cm wide which is a good size for adding to an ATC.

Once you have your template ready, follow the steps below. You can click any of the images to see them larger.

	1. Cut out your template from an icecream container lid or quilters template plastic.		2. Starting with your thread coming up from the back, start weaving around each of the prongs using the numbers as a guide.
	3. Keep weaving until you have gone around each prong 3 or 4 times depending on the threads you are using.		4. When you're done, clip off your thread or ribbon leaving a long tail. Thread on a tapestry needle.
	5. To start weaving, take the thread down one side of one group of petals and up on the other side.		6. For the next stitch take the needle down in the same spot, and then up two petals over. You may have to work the stitches apart until you find the gap.
	7. Continue weaving by going down at the previous petal and then up two petals later. Here it is half done.		8. When you have completed a full circle take the needle to the back of the flower.
	9. Tie a knot at the back using the two ends.		10. Pull off each group of petals from the template.
	11. Seperate each of the petals out and you should end up with something that looks like this.

Now that you've created a beautiful loom flower, attach it to your ATC base and embellish as you like.

For some further instructions and inspirations check out: Small Looms and Flower Looms

Have you tried this? Post your results to your website/blog and add your link in the comments!!

The Beginning

Welcome to a new little blog which is associated with Happy Bobbin. On this blog we're going to be running some Artist Trading Card swaps just for the fabric and textile lovers - quilters, embroiderers, etc.

To start off we're going to be exploring some different techniques which will be the focus of our ATCs. We're going to be running swaps alongside each technique which gives you the opportunity to meet new people from all over the world and have a look at someone elses work when you receive your swap. Best of all, ATCs are quite small and usually fit into a standard sized envelope keeping costs right down.

If you don't want to swap ATCs with other people you can still participate in any of the technique workshops, and previous techniques will be archived so that you can always come back to them again.

We're getting the first technique ready, so please stay tuned. We imagine at this time that ATC swaps will run one swap a month. The first swap only has a 2 week sign up period, however after that we'll have a full month to sign up and a further month to get your ATCs made and sent. You will also be able to view your partners likes and dislikes so you can personalise swaps just for them.

I'm sure this will be great fun. Thanks for visiting!