The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Food & crafts => Crafts => Topic started by: jaykay on December 23, 2012, 11:27:43 am
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My Christmas pressie is a rigid heddle loom ;D It's already arrived and I am neglecting everything I ought to be doing for playing with it ;D
First I made some towels - they're very basic but I learned a lot in the process and in fact they're quite nice to use. I just zigzagged the hems as turning them properly would have been too thick.
(http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k70/jaykayg/d06f1ce6619d214f552d408372c12cf4.jpg)m
Now I'm trying a scarf - the yarn is 80% bamboo, 20% wool and is very shiny and soft.
(http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k70/jaykayg/a3258dd5360ad656742b9ce0e6b5aab3.jpg)
Must stop weaving and do some jobs :D
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Jaykay your work looks lovely but you are naughty. You should have saved it for christmas day ;D
Sally
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:D
But I wouldn't have been able to use it on Christmas day ;)
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LOVE the T-towels - well done you :thumbsup:
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Well impressed :thumbsup: :trophy:
Would love to try that. Is it difficult? Is the loom very big?
I have a drop spindle and some fleece and some giant knitting needles as my Chrissie present (to knit rugs and the like) but being a good girl I am waiting for Santa to deliver them ;) :eyelashes: ;D
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Thank you ;D They don't bear close inspection, but I am learning, much aided by Ravelry and YouTube videos :thumbsup:
ITH, the loom is about 31" square, with a weaving width of up to 25".
(http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k70/jaykayg/efb2ddb9cde9b63a948fad1aa588e35f.jpg)
It really isn't difficult. I'm sure it will take me forever to get to do some of the very clever things possible but to actually produce some sort of cloth isn't so hard. See the FO and WIP thread on the Rigid Heddle forum on Ravelry if you want to see what can be done - this is what inspired me to get one, as well as seeing a guy weaving a really excellent tartan at my local Guild on one.
I can actually get my head round a rigid heddle loom, as it's very simple, whereas 4shaft looms, table or floor, addle my easily-confused brain! Plus it's much cheaper.
This one is the Schacht Flip 25".
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I love your weaving jaykay :thumbsup: I have a couple of looms, one a bit bigger than yours (four shaft and yes it addles my brain too :eyelashes: ) and the other a big sturdy floor loom for rugs, but working on them is a job for 'when I'm better'. That's something to look forward to and your scarf is an inspiration - it looks as if it will be wonderfully soft.
I also love the dog rug around your stove. We used to have 6 dogs, 3 of them Wolfie sized, so we could never get anywhere near any source of heat ::)
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Thank you :thumbsup:
I have always had in the back of my head having a floor loom. But when I saw what was possible with a rigid heddle, I was hooked :D I might yet want one - very early days yet, I'll see.
I did get the Schacht because it's sturdy enough to take quite high tension warps apparently - having in my mind linen and maybe (small - or made-in-pieces) floor rugs one day ;D
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Ohh the weaving envy! :eyelashes: lovely present and lovely weaving.
I have a hankering to try Navajo weaving at some stage ..though the discipline of pattern will no doubt elude my chaotic brain.
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Oh no, no that's it, I WANT one, no, I NEED one, I've always wanted one.. Tried to make one once which sought of worked but broke
Love what you've doe so far, are there instructions with the loom to allow novices to gt started straight away or would you recon that a book would be needed?
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I watched "Kate from Ashford's" on YouTube in order to warp it - I had it playing right next to my loom, watched 3 seconds, did that bit, watched the next three seconds....... :D
I read some threads on the Rigid Heddle forum on Ravelry, which gave me the idea of trying dishcloth cotton to begin with and also I went back to the beginners thread there when my edges were going all wrong, to find out what to do.
Then I just played. I saw the lace pattern in someone else's scarf on Ravelry, found out what it was called, found a YouTube video on how to do it - gotta love the internet!
I have ordered a book, Jane Patrick 'Weaver's Ideas Book - creative cloth on a rigid heddle loom'. People seem to rate this one very highly and keep using it beyond being a beginner.
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Want one and want it NOW.
Your towels look fantastic but I'm sure they are far beyond me. Where do you get your yarn?
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They are very simple and benefit from being photographed at a distance ;)
I bought the cotton online from Texere yarns. But the great thing about a rigid heddle loom is that it works best with knitting thickness yarns, from aran to thicker lace. So you can get your yarn from anywhere. I haven't done anything so fine yet but it seems a lot of people weave scarves and wraps with sock yarn :)
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My spinning guild has arranged for some tutorials in weaving for January, weather permitting.
Its then my birthday in Feb. Wonder if OH would buy me one if I am VERY nice to him :eyelashes: :innocent:
Sally
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Love the tea towels, Jaykay :thumbsup: they look much better than my bought ones and no doubt will last much longer.
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Thanks MS :-*
Go for it Sally ;D
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Very naughty already working with your Christmas present ....
I got an Ashford rigid heddle loom a few years back for Christmas too... but it has now been sitting for the last year with nothing on.... :o , I have had a couple of ideas in my mind, but as yet not anything done... as always... I cannot leave my fibre-works-in-progress in the open as I do not have a dedicated corner of the house for "my stuff", so always takes an age to unpack and then pack away again...
Now I never thought about dishcloths.... very nice! And the scarf is beautiful. One of the things I found very exciting was to use the multicoloured yarns and not knitting them, but actually weaving them - really interesting colour combinations came up! I did a NORO scarf.
When my children have left home I will take over their rooms for MY stuff!!! and I WILL have a proper floor loom... nearly bought one a couple of years back (it was in bits), but fortunately someone else was quicker in deciding than I was...
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I wouldn't get anything done if I had to clear things away all the time, I'm sorry you haven't even a corner you can pinch for your loom :-*
Here is my scarf finished. I am pleased with the edges this time, not perfect but a lot better. I learned even more :thumbsup:
(http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k70/jaykayg/41f4dae40ac558339edd1e98e3e083be.jpg)
(http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k70/jaykayg/f6653089d6bab1490f4d6f097816bc0f.jpg)
Now the loom does have to be put away and I have to do all the 'getting ready for Christmas' things I have been shirking - plus we're carol-singing in Kendal for Action for Children all morning - slight panicky note creeps in...... :D
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Jaykay, I love the scarf :thumbsup: :trophy:
Sally
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Thank you ;D
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Wow! Well impressed with the tea-towels :thumbsup: and the scarf. Need an impressed-but-slightly-green-eyed emotiwotsit...
Somewhen I would love to come have a see how it's done - when we're both not too busy, whenever that is gonna be! ::)
Meanwhile, I shall look forward to seeing some of your FOs at Guild. :)
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Jaykay that is beautiful. You're sooo clever. That's your Christmas presents sorted for next year ..... no shopping :thumbsup: . How long would that the scarf take to make once you knew how to do it ...... if you know what I mean ::) .
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That scarf looks really nice. Now I wish I'd kept my kid's loom that I had a lifetime ago... Only wide enough for something like scarves, but I never managed to produce anything near as nice as this!
What material did you use for the towels?
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I used the stuff that's called 'craft cotton' or 'dishcloth cotton' for most of the towels and the coloured bits are just double-knitting cotton.
Texere - coloured cotton (http://www.texere-yarns.co.uk/texereshop/Double_Top_Cotton.html)
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Jaykay, as a former professional handloom weaver, I am very impressed with your edges. It took me lots of practice to get mine that good. Love your loom too. Oh dear, now I want one of those. I used to work on a four shaft table loom with a weaving width of 40 inches but my ex ended up with all the spinning and weaving equipment when I left him.
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Thank you MGM.
Maybe you'll have to treat yourself to a rigid heddle ;D - or would you find it too restricting after a four-shaft?
Obviously I don't have anything to compare it to, but I have to say it seems to be well-made and easy to use. I need 12 dent heddle yet, so I can do finer stuff in due course. And one of the ladies on the RH Ravelry group has shown me how to make temples, which she says will improve the shape of the fell line and therefore the beat. So - loads to learn and try out ;D
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That is fantastic, think I will treat myself to one of the childrens starter looms as a trial run.
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I am sooooooo tempted. OH hasn't bought me anything yet as I haven't been up to taking him shopping and I know what I want. Just wondering how much he would like to get me. Hmmmmmmm.
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;D
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Those edges are brilliant! I like the colour combo, nice and bright! That's what's needed in gloomy January! :)
MGM - there's bound to be sale on in January :innocent: - go and get yourself that loom! (I think the Ashford ones are a bit cheaper than Schacht, but I think you cannot pack them up so easily. )
I think I'll get OH to put a couple of largish hooks onto one of the walls, so I can at least hang up the loom in-between working.... as I am using the main dining/family table for all of my craft works...
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Anke, I've always been very obedient :-J so I will now have to do what you tell me. Loom sales, where are you? :excited:
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Thanks Anke :)
Hooks on the wall for your loom sound like a great idea, then you can just take it down and weave :thumbsup: I might do that too, though putting hooks into stone walls might be beyond me :-\
I have an Ikea trestle that I rest the back of my loom on, and the front on my knee, so I can weave from an easy chair watching the telly ;D
;D MGM, definitely look out for the sales :thumbsup:
Anke's right, the Ashford was a bit cheaper, but the Schacht is very sturdy and will take linen warps I understand - I think I will want to weave linen scarves and teatowels in due course.
I've just warped up some sock yarn for another scarf. It's lovely colours but is a bit thin and insubstantial for socks -however it seems to like becoming a scarf :) I'm practising lace patterns :)
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Keep posting pictures, Jaykay. There a great incentive. Dan, we need a weaving emoticon now.
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http://www.craftypod.com/2011/07/11/a-community-weaving-project-at-the-museum-of-contemporary-craft/ (http://www.craftypod.com/2011/07/11/a-community-weaving-project-at-the-museum-of-contemporary-craft/)
My budget stretches to this, I'm gonna make one this weekend, then we will see who's tea towels are best...
I will be the ghengis khan of weaving, or die trying anyway, roar (and other scary noises) quake before me, I SHALL return with photos ... With a really small, rubbish, tea towel.....
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Hmm Alistair I think the cardboard box loom will only stand up to an hour or so's weaving before it loses its structural integrity. Sounds like you're up for proving me wrong :eyelashes:
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I will be the ghengis khan of weaving, or die trying anyway, roar (and other scary noises) quake before me, I SHALL return with photos
:thumbsup:
:D ;D
Seriously, what's a loom of any description but a frame to hold the warps? Everything beyond that are developments to make the weaving faster/easier.
Gotta be possible to reinforce something like that a bit, and weave :thumbsup:
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Gotta be possible to reinforce something like that a bit, and weave :thumbsup:
Shhhh, that's the plan, it's secret, I'm gonna reinforce the cArdboard loom with one like yours inside and not tell the oh :innocent:
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:roflanim:
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:thumbsup: ;D :thumbsup:
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:roflanim:
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(http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k70/jaykayg/a4b848aa33c84e820272fcf0f4628983.jpg)
In real life the turquoise wefts show more - I'm enjoying doing it just because of the colours.
I started doing a more complicated pattern, with warp floats, but it looked messy - because of all the colours I think - and looks much nicer just plain.
Have got lots of plans in my head for cushion covers, a loom bag....... :D
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So, how long does a scarf take then?, I'm sooooooooooooooo jealous
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A plain scarf like this - no time at all, a couple of evenings.
I'll look on eBay and Ravelry for rigid heddle looms - Ashford and Kromski make them. I bet there are some when people have either upgraded for Christmas or decided that weaving isn't for them.
We'll find the reinforcing for that cardboard box yet :D
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Just scrumptious, jay. I can no longer understand most of what you say :D but I am admiring the pictures! ;D
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Alastair, how handy are you - pretty much I seem to think?
plans to build a rigid heddle loom (http://www.bobscrafts.com/bobstuff/2-h-loom.htm)
I wouldn't make the 'castle' in the middle but would just made a couple of blocks to sit the heddles in. You can weave nice things with only one heddle. The block needs to hold it in the neutral, up and down position. Will get a photo of the block on mine in a minute. If you made the loom a standard size you would be able to buy the heddles, which seem rather fiddly to make to me.
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Jaykay, cheers
Need to get heddle first I'd guess, and I assume the rollers would need ratchets on them, and a beater thingy
Mind at the end of the day I'm coverting one like yours with a stand, I'll have to check my savings account and open the shop a bit later to earn a couple more pounds
Seriously though, I've got a big bit of mounting board and have started drawing it up, using a I beam design to strengthen he sides, it won't last but if it works it'll do as a template for something a bit more wooden
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The heddle does the beating too.
Yes, the rollers have ratchets on them. On mine, just a toothy cog and a swivelling peg that gets caught up on the teeth.
Oh I covet the stand for this one too but for now I either rest the back edge on the kitchen table and the front on my knee, or I have a trestle I rest the back edge on when I'm sitting in an easy chair. My savings account will have to do quite a bit of recovering after Christmas before I can buy the stand.
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Jaykay - is this multicoloured wool, or different/separate colours in the warp?
I have found that with multicoloured yarn it is enough to do plain weave and let the colours do the "talking".
Your colours are wonderful! :thumbsup:
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The warp is multicoloured.
I think that's it, the colours are enough without anything else going on :) I've enjoyed doing it so much, just because of the colours ;D
I ordered some yarn to make a scarf for a friend's birthday, on Jan 8th. No reply or anything from the company. I suppose they're taking the week off, can't blame them but I wish their website had said. Gonna have to cancel it and get some from somewhere else :-\
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Love those colours, Jaykay. I'm looking on ebay and preloved for a loom.
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I'm looking on ebay and preloved for a loom
Excellent :thumbsup:
What sort? I'll look on Ravelry too.
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Look, look, look!
Schacht rigid heddle 20" on eBay (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SCHACHT-FLIP-RIGID-HEDDLE-20-LOOM-/281044388138?pt=UK_Crafts_OtherCrafts_Spinning_Weaving&hash=item416f8d092a)
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Yes, I saw that. I really wanted a 24 inch but a 20 inch would do. I'm waiting until a bit nearer the close before thinking about bidding.
I've also looked on Ravelry but am not sure where to look. I went into the shop but it all seemed to be adverts for things people had made, not the equipment.
:excited: :excited:
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Equipment would probably come up on the UK Weavers group - but there's nothing there at the moment. Hundreds for sale in the US of course ::)
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Try the Loom Exchange - I've not looked recently but they might have something.
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Sorry if this isn't the right thing at all - but this (http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/uk-classifieds/2413133/1-25) has been posted in UK Classifieds on Ravelry
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Yeh, different sort of loom from the ones we were talking about.
I always think it's a worry when people won't post even a ballpark price but require you to ring them. Pick up from Gloucester.
New, what she's selling would be around £700 as opposed to around £200 for a rigid heddle.
Here's the Loom Exchange (http://www.theloomexchange.co.uk/), nothing especially small or inexpensive at the moment.
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I have been on Loom Exchange and, as you say, there is nothing like a rigid heddle loom. I always did use a four shaft table loom - had a beautiful one made for me but ex ended up with that and all the weaving equipment. Wish I'd tried to get it from him now.
Re the one on Ravelry, I'm not a million miles from Gloucester and even nearer the West Welsh border but not sure how to pm on there. I agree that when people don't put prices it's a bit suss. Like shops where there's no prices on the stuff in the window, so you assume it's going to be expensive.
I can't afford a four shaft now (unless it's a lot cheaper) and think a rigid heddle would be adequate for what I wanted to do. I mostly did tabby weave when I was weaving for a living.
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:dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: :dunce: Just looked again and it's obvious how to pm. I've sent a message.
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I think you have to have a Ravelry account (which is free).
Then, if you click on the person's avatar who's selling, it takes you to her profile page and at the top of that, just under her name at the top left, is the option to 'send a message'.
I was hanging my nose over the Glimraka Ideal floor loom on eBay. But as well as not having the money, I am not weaving for a living, there is no hurry for me to produce cloth and I have a long way to go before I have worn out all the possibilities of my little rigid heddle :)
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Oops, cross-posted :D
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;D Easily done.
I don't have space for a floor loom and, like you, don't want to weave for a living now (not that I ever actually made a living no matter how hard I tried) so a rigid heddle will be fine. The different yarns available are enough to get a lot of variety as well a using different colours.
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I think folks sometimes don't put a price on Ravelry as they aren't sure what to ask - if people are looking for a whatever-it-is, they'll have a better idea of the current value of a 2nd-hand one and, being Ravellers, should make a reasonable offer.
Or maybe I just have very rose-tinted glasses ;)
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I did PM the one on Ravelry. She's sold the warping board and wants to sell the loom and stand together. There's been a lot of interest, apparently, but she'll let me know if it's still available. No idea of the price still though.
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I think it could be quite expensive as it was fairly new :P
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I think so too. Still think the rigid heddle will be best.
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Of course ;)
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(http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k70/jaykayg/1fb47dbce86b220718251e8c91b75baf.jpg)
Fun to do - but sloooooowwwwww!
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WOW!!! :o :o :o
What's that going to be?
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That is lovely :thumbsup:
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Thank you :)
Ina, something small :D A bag, to hang off the chair I weave in, or off my loom, to hold shuttles and pick up sticks, if I get enough of it done. I think the back can just be plain checks!
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Wow, fantastic patterning on it Jaykay. It's lovely :love:
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I really like that jaykay - it shows that you can do something really unusual and effective with the simplest of tools plus some imagination. I can see why you will want to keep the bag you make near to you, after all that work 8)
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Jaykay, that is really lovely :thumbsup: . Oh, to be able to do something like that
Sally
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It isn't hard, just fiddly. A lady on Ravelry worked out what you do, so I'm just following her pattern. But I do like it 8)
(http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k70/jaykayg/324882d8c87f7138bdbc2c66182b56f6.jpg)
The 8 row instructions, taped to the back beam of my loom :D
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Wow, Jaykay, I had no idea you could do such intricate patterns, or any patterns come to that, on a rigid heddle. How is it done?
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JK, I have been watching with interest your posts about your new loom and I think what you've made so far is amazing! What astonishes me even more is the speed you seem to be producing it!
I hope you're feeling justifiably proud :D can't wait to see the finished bag and other goodies to follow.
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Thansk STS :) I'm still on holiday at the moment and the weather is too foul to do much outside - I think my production rate will drop rather when I have to go back to work for a living :-\
MGM, this pattern is done with a pick up stick in front of the heddle. So you warp 8 ends of each colour alternately. Then you pick up, over and under 4, 3, 2, two straight tabby picks, 2, 3, 4 and then repeat the 8 rows with the other weft colour.
So it's easy to do, it just takes a while to do the pick ups. Which I guess is the advantage of shafts :) This would be an 8-shaft pattern the blurb on Rav says.
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Sounds a bit fiddly. I might be tempted if I had a rigid heddle but now I am getting a four shaft, I will be able to do patterns easily.
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You will ;D
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Hoping to pick the loom up next week. :excited: :excited:
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Excellent :thumbsup:
And you'll know what you're doing. We might have to have an amateur's and a professional's thread ;)
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Not sure about that. It was a long, long time ago. We left the island in December 1994 and I haven't done weaving since.
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I'm sure it'll come back to you in a heart beat MGM, just like riding a bike. Not that I'd know (yet) but I'm sure you'll be fine ;D
Can't wait to see pics of what you do.