It's a Dorset Loom - not made anymore, very similar to the Baby Wolf, but with direct tie-up. I had never woven on it in all the time I had it, either.
from the back |
from the front |
Thursday, after getting a day off from loading hay, I bought a 3/4" dowel so that I could get my warping reel back in action (That's what all those dowels were, rolling around when I was packing that I chucked...). I have weird shoulders, a bad neck and warping boards are not my friend. I wound a 3 yd. warp of Superwash Merino/Bamboo that I had dyed, and had just enough... The weft is raw silk that I dyed black.
Friday, I warped the loom. I warp front to back - it fits me best. I got to the threading, and half-way through, realized that I had screwed up. I pulled it all out, and started over, tying the warp in the groups of the threading - success. I should mention here that it has been at least 7 years since I last wove...
We packed up the truck, folding the loom (I think I really like this little guy), and getting the bench, tables, grid walls and totes of fiber and yarn in easily, leaving room for the nested dog crates for the turkeys - see the story of that here. Our set up included fleeces, yarn, roving, and the loom and Correy's spinning wheel.
Since this is a "Farm Day," Correy also brought her ram lambs, and the two friendliest camelids - Outlaw, the llama and Rusty, the alpaca.
Da Boyz |
Outlaw |
Rusty |
I am a very fast weaver. I was pretty sure that I would be able to finish it in the time at the farm day (10 am to 4 pm), and I did. So, when we got there, I set up our space, and rested.
in process - notice the sheen! |
Then I wove for awhile, and took a break, and so on. I managed to stretch it out to 2:30, when I cut it off the loom. I had a re-learning curve - my selvages aren't perfect but were getting better as I went along. I like using end-feed shuttles - I have a schacht, and 2 old fly shuttles in my arsenal. In fact, I don't have any other shuttles that I use.
Off the loom! |
After washing, I'm disappointed. The sett was a little close, even though I used the sett formula. It's ok, but not as drapey as I had hoped. Actually, I think it's because it feels heavier than I anticipated.
I like weaving on this little loom though, a lot. I planned the warp so that I could tie onto the end and use it as a dummy. I'll re-sley (and thread) before the next one. I have another skein of the superwash merino/bamboo that I can use. Maybe it can be a runner, or something...
These are the ends by the fringe (to hold them stable while washing and drying) - I think they're pretty darn cool in their own right!
I'm already planning more projects - mainly color and weave, which is really fun to do. I'm thinking shawls, and/or dishtowels.
Next knitting project? A headband/ear warmer, with inserted I-cord edges, knit in the round from center back, shaped as I go, and then joined with either I-cord or the Salish Shoulder join with a tassel (of course!). I'll resley more loosely for the next one.
Weaving really is a siren. The more you do, the more you want to do. I'm anxious to get my placemats off because now that I've been fooling around with a sampler and throwing the shuttle, that's what I want to do. So I have to stay on task so I can!
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