I made many a potholder with that loom when I was little. I bought a loom for my Grandchildren but I don't think they ever liked it or used it as much as I did. The loops themselves are a different material and were very hard to attach to the loom..that was a big problem for them. Of course they have many more enjoyable activities to catch their attention than I did at that age too.
Joann

I still have my old red metal frame and several potholders too. Since they were rather small I remember sewing 4 of them together so that they were large enough to place under a pot or serving dish. We used to walk up to the local Woolworth to buy small bags of loops.

Maire

I loved making potholders with the metal frame!

My DH was a Marine during the Vietnam war. He got sick and was hospitalized for more than a month. There was nothing to do during the day, so the volunteers brought potholder frames and an endless supply of loops to the patients. So he made potholders...a lifetime supply for his mother. When she passed away in 2000, she was still using potholders that DH had made for her during his hospitalization!!

Wanda - awesome story!!! Love it!

I recently saw those in Hobby Lobby, so immediately went back 45 years ago, to making them. Loved doing it. Fast forward, now have two grand daughters that are 6 & 8, guess who gathered up the (now plastic) looms and bags of loops.? The girls enjoyed making their first pot holders. Since then, I've asked if they have made more. The answer was- "we're so busy with other things". I think they should bring the stuff back to my house. Then they'll have time!
Disappointed in the loops. At least the ones from HL. Many could not be used, as they would not stretch far enough.

Yes, the newer loops are so different. Only found one so far that was just a scrap of fabric. They do have metal frames at Hobby Lobby. We bought the plastic one though and a big bag of pastel colored loops. The frame and loops will stay here for Alyssa who loves trying to do all things and thinks she can :) She will be 3 the end of February. Love everyone's stories.

Sue

I remember using the same type of frame to weave yarn into squares that were then sewn together to make a baby blanket. They were quite nice.

Wonder if you can use them that way. It's almost too bad that you have to buy a bag of loops - makes everything almost done for you.

Marilyn Sue, so funny you mentioned this, I am watching my 5 year old DGD this weekend and I bought a plastic loom and loops for her to try. We will start one today.

I remember too. Nice story, Wanda!

I've bought them for my kids and have a couple of potholders. Like everyone else has said, the loops are not the same. My dd has crafting interests, but this didn't hold her attention for long. She prefers to make other things.

Of course I remember making potholders on the loom!!! I made so many that is all Mom had in the kitchen my GM too. I loved making them. Bought a loom & loops for the kids and I never got one single potholder..

I still have one that I made at Vacation Bible School when I was around 6, I guess.

This thread made me smile. My 30-something son made these for me, and they have bounced around in my potholder drawer for decades. Totally useless as potholders, but I cannot toss them out.

I can hardly wait until my grandkids can do this. The oldest is 3, mabye too young.

I think making those potholders when I was a kid was what got me interested in my lifetime interest in sewing, knitting, crotcheting, etc. It was so gratifying to do something fun and end up with a usable item.

What a wonderful thread. Here's another smiling reader.

I didn't have a loom myself, but several of my friends did. I loved making potholders on them.

Momrox, I'm not sure they are "usable items," but our dear mothers sure made us think they were! I guess they are place holders in our memories, and that's as important as any usable item.

I never did but it's not too late to start now I'll look for the frame in Hobby Lobby

Here is a link that might be useful: In-Store Coupon : Weekly In-Store Specials : Hobby Lobby

A nice trip down memory lane. I too had the red metal frame and the loops. Made a lot of potholders.

When i was in grade school I made them, and so did my friends....we then went door to door in our neighborhood, and sold them.
I'm sure the kind neighbors were glad when we grew up !

Monica, that's funny..

Yes of course I made them...many of them too...my mom used them...lol

Oh, yes. I wouldn't be surprised if I might run across a couple of the potholders in some old box of "stuff" here somewhere.

Sue

Like everyone else, I remember making them but I can't remember how to end it off. I would like to show my DGD's when they are here next week but would probably also be disappointed with the loops.

Me, too. I made them. My sons did not. One of them made a sachet from red felt in the shape of a heart. It's been in my drawer for about 30 years!

I remember a teacher in Haven Middle School in Evanston had looms in her classroom in the 1950s. These were metal looms that were threaded with a somewhat fine yarn. The needle used to weave into the loom was rather long. The students were welcome to come to her classroom at lunch and weave on a loom. She sewed the squares together to make lap blankets for the veterans hospital. It helped me, as a new student who knew no one, to have a place to go and have something to do after lunch.

I remember it well!

I remember them too.

I remember them and I bet if I dug hard enough I could find one in a box somewhere...they were great little potholders!!

During the summer, our town in Connecticut had arts-and-crafts tables at most of the elementary schools (mine was just down the street).

You paid a small amount of money to make things like the potholders, sew up little leather change purses (this was back when there was a Tandy Crafts that was part of Radio Shack, and those leather goods were popular). You could also make "hot plates" -- you'd get a square of woodlike material and pick up small tiles (like bathroom tiles) in your choice of colors and glue them to the wood. I know -- we were SO talented! A monkey could do them. Oh, and lanyards, too -- the older kids supervising would bring lots of colors of gimp for those.

I can actually picture the finishing-up of the potholders -- one loop into the next one on the edges, until you got all around and ended up in the last corner. I think you had to knot the last one into place.

I had terrible color sense in those days -- no flair for pattern. No wonder my mom didn't keep anything I made! (She was probably just glad that I was out of the house for a while, doing this and going to summer school for math and creative writing classes!)

PS: There might be a video on YouTube for the potholders -- there's pretty much everything else there!

Yes, I remember making pot holders with my girlfriends In grade school. Does anyone remember Knitting Nancy....I remember doing this with my friends too in the 60's.....sweet memories!

Here is a link that might be useful: Knitting Nancy