I was extremely excited at the start of the summer holidays to receive a hand loom from one of my mums friends which I am very grateful for.
I started doing calculations for warp ends and deciding what kind of draft I was going to do and how long I was going to make it.
I asked my mum first if I could hammer long nail pegs into the outbuilding door (she thought I was mental but agreed anyway). I created and measured a Warping Frame with 6 pegs on the left side and 5 pegs on the right creating 3 and a half Ls but not in the normal measurement as 1L (correct me if I am wrong?). My 1L measures roughly about half a metre.
After warping 320 Ends (threads from one cone), it was time to take it off (I hate this part with a passion as the fear of tangling all the threads and having to start again is not an exciting thought, I want to get weaving now). I took the threads into the back garden and tied the wooden stick at the back with wool and stretched them, as you can see bellow. Two bricks I found lying at the back of the garden helped stretch the threads whilst I untangled and spread them out. Remembering to measure 2" extra at the top (16") and then measuring the dimension of the fabric at the bottom (14").
After sorting and tidying the threads you pick it up and wrap it around the reed you are using. Which is a satisfying feeling (nearly there!). I loved the texture of the wool whilst wrapping it round the reed it felt so soft and cushiony.
The draft I used for threading through the heddles was a block draft; Shafts:1-4 x 20, Shafts: 4-8 x 40, Shafts 1-4 x 20. And then threading through the reed 2 Ends (threads) per dent. Time to weave now, woo!
Pictures of fabric I have made on this loom into purses and other items are coming soon!
