All of the projects submitted for the first contest were three-dimensional (or displayed that way) This is certainly one of the strong suits of working with small pieces that can be easily manipulated. Let’s continue that theme with larger projects.

Perhaps the first thing that you ever thought of making with your handheld loom was a blanket or afghan. Assemble lots and LOTS of pieces, add a border and there you have it. Nothing wrong with that—I’ve done it and appreciate the ones that others have made, too.

But if flat pieces were the end of it, I would have abandoned these looms long ago. I’m always on the lookout for projects that take advantage of the four finished (albeit loopy) edges, the bias stretch, the pulled warp and the small size of Weave-It or Weavette pieces.

Your challenge is to create something three-dimensional with at least twelve or more pieces. Your creation should invite views from different angles. Make us want to hug it, crush it, wear it, play with it, turn it upside-down, or display it in an unexpected way. Feel completely free to marry the weaving to another fiber technique. But if we need to see it stretched out on a flat surface to appreciate the lovely design—save it for a different contest.

Two months will give you time to call upon your muse, but don’t drag your feet on getting started because there will be fabulous prizes and you don’t want to be doing this at the last minute.

PLEASE READ THE RULES

• Project made of twelve or MORE woven squares or rectangles. (No upper limit to number of pieces.) Pieces can be all one size or any combination of sizes.

• Pieces must be woven on a handheld loom.

• You are encouraged to incorporate other craft techniques (embroidery, knitting, crochet, beading, rubber stamping, etc.), but weaving must be an integral part of the project, not just an embellishment.

• Finishing counts. Complete the project, with all seaming done, ends woven in, etc.

• This is your ORIGINAL idea. That doesn’t mean that you cannot use another idea as inspiration, but I don’t want to see your project, with a few minor variations, already on the web.

• Give your project a name.

• Project photos and written directions (or photo tutorial, if that is more appropriate) are to be submitted to me by Wednesday, May 21. (Please send your best quality photos to me in a separate email. Up to 2 or 3MB is OK.) There will be outside judges this time, although I will weigh in, too. Winners will be announced on Wednesday, May 28th.

• Entrants grant me permission to post the project and instructions on this website first. After I post it, you can publish it wherever you wish.

The first fabulous prize is a Weave-It Rug Loom with original box, leaflet and needle. You all know this is my favorite loom in the whole world because I can weave funky stuff on it. And they’re pretty difficult to obtain. No one makes an exact reproduction (yet) and the prices on eBay can soar. So here’s your chance.

Honorable mention fabulous prize is a 2” Weave-It loom with original box, leaflet and needle, and my favorite folding scissors, all packed in a Hello Kitty lidded tin with room inside for a skein of yarn. Pack that in your purse.

Of course the real prize is that you will be famous to a small group of readers—for a few days at least—and will have the undying admiration of small loom weavers worldwide. And the knowledge that you’ve added to the repertoire of a wonderful fiber craft.

Next week I’ll be back with more Square Deal Weave-Along. It twill be interesting, so I hope you’re all caught up.