October Mug Rug
Halloween Honeycomb Pumpkin Patch
This pattern uses pick-up sticks to create the illusion of a starry October sky over a pumpkin patch! It’s a fun weave structure with many creative applications. At the end of these instructions, you’ll find examples showing how the design looks when using different colors and when repeating the “pumpkin” motif throughout.
You will need:
- Rigid Heddle Loom (8” Harp Forte used in this example)
- 8-dent heddle
- Worsted weight cotton dish yarn in:
- Black
- Orange
- Green
- White
- 2 stick shuttles
- 1 or 2 pick-up sticks
Warp
Warp the loom with 51 ends of black yarn, 1.5 yards long.
Make sure the end threads go through slots, not holes.
Begin Weaving
- With the heddle in the Up position, weave 8 picks of green yarn.
- Cut the yarn.
- Wrap the tail around the last warp thread and weave it into the same shed to secure it.
Insert the Pick-Up Stick
With the heddle in the Down position, insert the first pick-up stick using the following sequence:
- Over 3
- Under 4, Over 4 — repeat twice
- Under 4
- Over 3
Because the warp is black, visibility may be limited. Sliding a sheet of white paper into the shed can help you clearly see the warp threads as you insert the pick-up stick.
With orange yarn, weave the following sequence:
- Heddle Up – slide the pick-up stick forward and pass the weft.
- Heddle Down – slide the pick-up stick back and pass the weft.
Repeat this Up/Down sequence 4 times total.
When finished, remove the pick-up stick.
Do not cut the orange yarn.
Next, weave 2 rows of plain weave with green yarn.
Bring both ends of the green yarn down between the same warp threads when securing the tails.
Remember to carry (wrap) the orange yarn along the edge while weaving these rows.
Tip for easier weft tails (as shown in the blue and white example):
Cut a piece of green yarn long enough to weave the 2 rows plus your tail length. Place this full length directly into the shed so that both ends extend out evenly on each side.
Wrap both end warp threads, then bring the yarn tails back into the center of the same shed and down into the fabric by hand.
Insert the pick-up stick again with the heddle in the Down position, following this sequence:
- Over 1
- Under 2
- *Over 4, Under 4* — repeat 2 times
- Over 4
- Under 2
- Over 1
With orange yarn, weave as follows:
- Heddle Up – push the pick-up stick forward and pass the weft.
- Heddle Down – slide the pick-up stick back and pass the weft.
Repeat this sequence 4 times total (for 8 picks).
Cut the orange yarn and weave the tail back into the same shed to secure it.
Remove the pick-up stick.
Next, weave 2 more rows of green “grass”, exactly as you did between the pumpkins earlier.
Change to Black – Weave 9 rows of plain weave.
Do not cut the yarn throughout the remainder of the Mug Rug as we make the stars.
Insert pick up stick as follows, with heddle in the down position:
Under 2
Over 1
*Under 4, Over 1* repeat 4 times
Under 3
Weave with White – Heddle Up and Pick Up forward for one pass. Let the tail hang behind the weaving. We will secure it later.
When weaving the stars, the shuttle will not reach the edge of the weaving.
Do not try to tie in the tail at this time. Do not cut the Yarn.
Push the Pick Up Stick to the rear.
Change the shed and weave 4 passes of plain weave in Black.
Insert the second pick up stick in front of the first one as follows, with heddle in the down position: If you only have one pick up, simply remove the previous and reinsert it.
Under 5, Over 1
Under 4, Over 1
Under 4, Over 1
Under 4, Over 1
Under 5
With the heddle in the Up position, slide the second pick-up stick forward.
Weave one pass with white yarn.
Be careful not to pull the weft too tightly, as this can distort the pattern.
Remove this pick-up stick (leave the other one in place at the back of the loom).
Weave 4 picks of plain weave using black yarn.
Pull Pick-Up Stick #1 forward and, with the heddle in the Up position,
weave one pass with white.
Cut the white yarn, leaving a 6-inch tail.
Remove the pick-up stick.
Weave 4 more picks of black.
Cut the yarn, leaving a long tail for hemstitching later.
Leave all white tails until the project is removed from the loom.
Before wet finishing, weave the tails into the long float on the back.
You can secure them with a small amount of black sewing thread if desired.
Don’t like pumpkins? Try these color combinations instead!
Black and Blue or Aqua and Pink samples:
Finish with 6 rows of black (or aqua).
Weave 6 rows of black (or aqua) in plain weave.
Weave 2 rows of blue (or aqua).
Follow the 1st pick-up pattern with white (or pink).
Weave 2 more rows of blue (or aqua).
Follow the 2nd pick-up pattern with white (or pink).
Repeat the 1st and 2nd pick-up patterns, then add one more set of the 1st pick-up.
Weave 2 rows of blue (or aqua).
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!
