Learning to Weave with a Floor Loom

It finally happened.

I was almost giddy.

Some time back, I posted that the loom was in the house.

I had it in the shop aging like a fine wine

gathering the proper vintage of dust.

I finally found someone to teach me how to use the thing.

Living this far out, it's not like someone can just pop over after work

and offer a few hours in an evening.

It's also not practical to put it in the car and stop by your place.

This weekend, Silva was kind enough to drive out here and teach me

how to get the thing rollin'.

After vacuuming all the dust bunnies and untangling 

giant wads of cotton string,

we were in business.

Whoever had warped it, must have been good and had it threaded

to produce a pattern.

I just wanted a basic every-other thread (for learning.)

She agreed, and we (she) figured out what was needed

so we didn't have to re-thread the entire mess - I mean width.

Dumped from the bag ~ one big tangle.

I found two bags of wool salvages at a yard sale a couple years ago

so got them hoping to make a rug.

There are more than this, but you can see I really did wind it up.
It's so much easier this way.

Well, as of writing this,

I have made two rugs that are each about 2'-2.5' X 4' and

have enough for about 6 more that size!

What's shown above is only one bag worth.

The green yarn is so I know when to stop.
I can see how one could end up with a hallway runner:)
Silva also brought me a warping board.  

She said this one was given to her and was "a spare."
I have to figure out some kind way to repay her for such generosity.
I got it hung up after she left.
This room is a light buttery yellow but photographs just awful
so please excuse the muck color it appears to be.

And after the little weaving party is over, the floor shows
just how much fun was had.

                                                                    

This is a very helpful book.  It is far beyond me a this point.

The Loom is in the House!

Oh, the thrill.

I found this gem in a thrift shop a couple years ago.

She was marked reasonably and everything in the store 

happened to be 1/2 off that day.

So I thought for about a minute - really maybe a whole minute.

I was driving the pickup that day for whatever reason.

It was fate:)

She has sat in the shop for a couple years, and

every so often, I would take the shop-vac to her.

 She was dirty and tangled when I brought her in.

I took the vacuum to her as well as a lot of 'Old English.'

I cut strings that were binding.

What is on her now is a rag rug that was started at some point in her life.

I just left it on there so I can take mental notes as I remove it all.

I have met one or two nice folks who have offered to help me learn

how to get her set up for weaving.

I have been asked what kind of loom she is and other questions about her

that I have no idea how to answer.

After cleaning her thoroughly,

I can still find no makers name plate or stamp anywhere.

If someone can tell me what I have,

please leave me a comment.

As long as she works properly, it really doesn't matter to me,

but it would sure be nice to know.

There is now a whole slough of words and verbiage I need to learn.

petals, rutter, appendix etc. haha

I do know I will need different shuttles that what came with her so

again any suggestions as to which ones are preferred would be welcome.

Any words of advise will be greatly appreciated.

I am anxious to see what kind of tangled mess I can weave now.

Of course now, all kinds of projects come to mind that I can make 

in all that spare time I have.

I needed another hobby like I need a hole in my head.

But I suppose, when we quit learning, we quit living - right?

Until next time,

Nimble Fingers and Even Stitches