Table Top Loom

[blue gecko]

Last week we stopped by a juntique store and found an old table top loom. Went home and did some research then today we bought it. Its a 4 harness loom that someone has done a bit of restoration on. It's a bit stiff but we're pretty sure we can get it up and running. I've always wanted to try my hand at this and for the price it's well worth the try. Looms like this go for hundreds of $$ but we picked it up for $55! It has string heddles but the harnesses are metal, eventually we may be able to convert the heddles to metal?

Anyone here do any weaving? Got any recommendations?

[blue gecko]

It's quite similar to this but doesn't fold and the harness' are raised by strings and pull down knobs:

http://www.camillavalleyfarm.com/weave/dorothy.htm

[flourbug]

I've never done any weaving but I want to... and I am drooling over your find. Sounds like many happy hours playing!

[Mama Alanna]

No experience here, other than a few minutes spent watching others do it. Have fun! Oh, and

[flourbug]

Oh yes... pics are needed. Are you planning on using cotton (placemats, towels) or wool (scarves, shawls)?

[drummagick]

I went with friends to visit a couple way out in the middle of nowhere in Kooskia, ID once and the lady had a loom much like that and all these gorgeous yarns and made the most beautiful things! I was so envious!!

[blue gecko]

Max took some pics:

[blue gecko]

Based on what we've found so far it seems that someone has attempted to convert what was a free standing loom to a table top. There are holes on the side beneath the harness pulls where the harness lift cord would have passed through and attached to floor peddles. We will probably reconstruct that and build a stand.

The heddles are in pretty rough shape. Many of them are rotted and broken though the light colored ones you can see are not too bad. One of the ratchets has a broken spur but Max thinks he can make a new one. The pawls are wooden and need some adjustment to work properly. This is going to be a fun distraction.

BTW just to do a teeny bit of bragging. In the last pic you get a fair look at my diningroom table. I restored it several years ago and put that faux inlay in the center using wood stains. Its an Amish Hex/Barn sign meaning "health, wealth and happiness".

[spinnerholic]

Lovely, wonderful find! And I really love that hex sign - you are most inventive, gal.

Learn to tie the heddles, just like they used to do in the "good, old days." No kidding - they aren't hard to make with a strong string, not hard at all.

[CanadaSue]

You're going to have to stop posting picks as I find myself lusting in my heart after a fair bit of your furniture. Thank goodness mental theft isn't an indictable offence!

You have lovely things - they evoke a feeling of solidity, tradition & an incredible warmth.

[Mousehound]

Beautiful table!
The loom looks like it is going to be a bear to warp.

[blue gecko]

Originally Posted by Mousehound

Beautiful table!
The loom looks like it is going to be a bear to warp.

From what I've seen, aren't they all?

[blue gecko]

Originally Posted by CanadaSue

You're going to have to stop posting picks as I find myself lusting in my heart after a fair bit of your furniture. Thank goodness mental theft isn't an indictable offence!

You have lovely things - they evoke a feeling of solidity, tradition & an incredible warmth.

Thank you Sue. Collecting junk is a life long obsession

[Mrs. Hermit]

Love your loom! And yes, it does look like a converted floor loom.

String heddles are not that hard to tie. I weave on a floor loom constructed according to a pattern from 1700. (I am a Colonial Reenactor who specializes in spinning, weaving, and hearth cooking). I use candlewicking to tie my heddles, as it is smooth so the yarns slide easily, but very strong and abrasion resistant. The candlewick heddles can last several YEARS, which is a big plus when you have to hand tie them!

[kaneohegirl]

looks really similar to some I have seen at craft shows... there is a couple that travels and sells table runner, rugs, placemats, ect and demos while they work!

[flourbug]

(I am a Colonial Reenactor who specializes in spinning, weaving, and hearth cooking).

Come sit by me. We need to talk.

[blue gecko]

Candle wick! That sounds like the perfect material! The heddles on the loom are considerably lighter weight than that. Do you have a favorite source Mrs. Hermit? I think its awesome that you have this hobby. The harnesses will definitely have to be restrung.

It's no wonder this refurbish project failed. The harness lifting strings are secured with metal binders that interfere with the movement of the rollers. We found some braided wire at the Farmer's co-op that might just do the trick. Our only concern would be abrasion on the wooden pulleys. Got any suggestions for that material?

When you string the harness with heddles do you remove it from the frame? I can see using some sort of spacer to get them even. Somewhere I read that if you put a slight twist in them as you make them it's easier to run the warp thread through. I can see now there will be supplies to gather. LOL All I need is another tub with supplies!

[blue gecko]

There is an incredible woman who spins incredible yarns and makes the most magnificant socks! Her site name is tsock tsarina. She's simply astounding:

You Tube

[Mrs. Hermit]

Candle wicking can be bought off sources on the web for a better price than I've found in stores. It takes a lot of wicking to heddle a loom. I usually get the thicker stuff. You tie the first 2 knots of your heddle off the loom using a heddle board or eyeboard.

You will probably need to make one for your loom. Use one of your existing heddles to measure how far from the top of the string the first knot is, and then the second knot (this area is called the "eye"), then the bottom knot. Then untie one of the heddles, and measure how long the whole string is.

Okay, to make a heddleboard: take a piece of wood longer than the whole heddle measurement. You will need to be able to put 4 nails (small headed) or dowels into it. Put one near the top. Measure from that nail down to where the first knot is supposed to be, and put in your nail or peg. Measure down to where the second knot is supposed to be. Affix your nail/peg. Measure down to where the bottom knot is supposed to be, and affix your final nail/peg.

To tie a heddle: cut a piece of candlewicking as long as your original heddle strings. With the ends even, center the loop over the top nail. At the second nail (the top of the eye) tie a granny knot so that it sits on the underside of the nail. Repeat at the second nail. (Now you have your eye.) Now this is where different looms require different ways of doing things: the final knot is the knot that should sit under your lower harness bar. On some looms, it is easier to tie that knot after the top of the heddle has been placed on the loom. After slipping the top loop over the upper harness bar (free one end of the harness bar from its strings to do that), simply tie the bottom granny knot under the lower harness bar, being careful not to pull the string tight. It should slide easily along the bar. If you can free the lower harness bar of its arrangement strings (if it has any), you can tie the lower knot while the heddle is on the board. Just tie a granny knot under the final nail. To install the heddle on the loom, slide the bottom knot underneath the bar, being careful that the heddles don't twist.

My loom uses heavy cotton round-braided rope for the harness mechanism. But, I have to use materials that were available in 1730! Perhaps some kind of rope would work better for you than wire, which would eventually wear the wood significantly.

A good book about warping a loom is "Warping a Loom All By Yourself". I'm not sure who wrote/published it, but I can find out if you are interested.

[blue gecko]

Cay Garrett is the author and Amazon has it Very cool, thanks for the suggestion.

I really appreciate you're expertise! It may take a few days before we can really dig into the project but it's on my mind all the time lol. I really needed a bit of a distraction. First things first though so I have to look at this as a reward for other efforts.

[blue gecko]

Just making sure. Is this the book you are referring to?

Amazon

[Mrs. Hermit]

Yup, that's it.

[blue gecko]

Thank you again. It's on its way!