Multiplication Pillow
By Stephanie Flynn Sokolov
The beauty of this pillow is that the front is a multiplication table. Every rectangle where the warp and weft are the same color represents a number times itself. For example, the chartreuse rectangle in the corner starts the pattern and is 1 x 1. The blue follows with 2 x 2, orange is 3 x 3, and so on. You will notice that all the color overlaps appear a different shade so if you count the number of blocks long and wide in the purple/orange section you will find that the problem would be 3 x 4 and if you count the rectangles the product does indeed equal 12.
Anzula Cricket hand-dyed yarn is a luxurious yarn that everyone in the house will be hoping to rest their head on. Cricket is a blend of superwash merino, cashmere, and nylon that lends itself well to weaving because of its softness and very little loss to shrinkage. Make this pillow for your budding mathematician or your geeky partner or friend; it is sure to be a hit.
Project Specs
Note: This pillow uses different warps for the front and back. The specs are the same, but the color order is different.
Weave structure: plain weave
Finished size: 12-1/2" x 16" (from fabric woven 14-1/2" x 16")
Warp length: 35" (includes 20" loom waste)
Width in reed: 14.8"
EPI: 10
PPI: 8–9
What You'll Need
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Anzula Cricket (80% Superwash Merino/10% Cashmere/10% Nylon; about 250 yds/228m) in Temperance (Chartreuse*), OOAK (Pink*), Persimmon (Orange*), Nimbus (Blue*), and Prudence (Purple*).
* For clarity, we are using more descriptive color names. -
14” x 16” pillow form
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sewing thread and needle
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15” rigid heddle loom
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10 dent reed
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5 shuttles
Materials
Equipment
Directions
Pillow Front
On a warping board, wind a 35" long warp using the warp color chart below. You can wind the warp changing colors as specified in the chart. Alternatively, you can wind the number of ends for each color, then thread the colors in order as you sley the reed.
Sley the reed starting in a slot. Thread each slot and hole.
Finish warping your loom, then weave a plaid using the same color order as the warp.
Pillow Back
Because the color for the back is simpler, you can direct warp the loom. Use the color order below.
Weave a plaid where the weft colors follow the same color pattern as the warp.
Finishing and Assembly
To finish the fabric, remove the fabric from the loom and place into a lingerie bag. Wash with warm water and soap in a sink. Rinse with warm water. Press remaining water out of fabric and put the bag into the dryer on med/low. Leave in dryer until dry, about 35 minutes.
Make 4 tassels using a 6" template and 40 wraps per tassel. (www.marthastewart.com/908665/how-tie-tassel has directions with pictures).
Press both pieces of fabric. With right sides together and using 1/2" seam allowance, sew around the perimeter, leaving a 5" opening on one long edge and inserting the tassels at the corners.
Trim excess fringe. Turn the fabric and insert the pillow form. Sew the opening closed using a blind stitch. Your pillow is complete. Happy multiplying!