To heck with it loom

[BillinOregon]

Always wanted to try weaving my own bag straps, and couldn't seem to get the hang of Brett's card-weaving technique, so I built myself an inkle loom. I know, I know, these aren't much more than 100 years old, but I think the straps I will get off the thing will look HC enough, or hope so. Cost me about $10 for the oak board and dowel ...

P.S. Plans came from Helene Bress' book "Inkle Weaving" and so simple I could even figger' 'em out.

 

[DOUBLEDEUCE 1]

Your woodwork looks good to me. I couldn't figure out how to weave anything much more than tieing my own shoe laces. That contraption reminds me of the difficulties of programming a VCR. I had my nine year old take care of that stuff for me. :rotf: Good luck with your thingie. Send pictures when you get the chance.

 

[BillinOregon]

Deuce: You're my kinda guy. Can't hardly use a cell phone my own self. I'll post a pic if and when I can get the loom heddled and warped and whatever ...

 

[hoochiepapa]

Bill, you have my respect and admiration. :bow: I couldn't use something like that if'n I even tried. :shocked2:

 

[BrownBear]

I bought one a few years back, and can confirm it's a great way to make straps, belts and sashes. My reaction after buying one was "why in the heck didn't I just build it?" Yours certainly turned out better than anything I could have made, and as a matter of fact better than the one I bought. Hats off! :hatsoff:

Stripes are easy, but I'm yet to figure out how to weave in a pattern.

 

[Cutfingers]

I have found that the Inkle Loom dates way farther back than 100 years and is historically correct going back to likely the 1500s.

 

[MSW]

nice woodworking .... neat looking gadget... how do you form the shed? (where the weft goes) is there some sort of beater, or do you use your fingers or something like that?

hard stand looms i understand (but can't afford, darn it) but i've never been able to figure out how you use this type of loom.

 

[zampilot]

Shed? Weft? Beater? It's time for a beer, you guys can handle looms and such!!

 

[ladysmithtrading]

Nice job Bill!

 

[Short Arm]

Nice job Bill,How many strap would you like to order now ? NO, when you get ready ,email me when you need help with heddles. I also have some good y-tube video that will get you started on the right foot. Take care my friend

 

[Black Hand]

I have found that the Inkle Loom dates way farther back than 100 years and is historically correct going back to likely the 1500s.

True. But not in the USA...

 

[Short Arm]

Inkle loom with string heddles came in to the US 1923-24.Before that you have a box or tape loom with a rigged heddle. But you can weave this pattern on a larger loom.If you have a 4 shaft loom you only use one shift to make this pattern. But they did use this weave pattern for bands or strap. And this weave pattern is PC or HC

 

[Linc]

Here is a video clip on the Inkle Loom.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2drhn3QDgtI&feature=player_embedded

I made one a few weeks ago using scrap pieces of firring strips and wooden dowels.

 

[BillinOregon]

Lynn, really appreciate your offer of help with the heddles. I was going to use cotton carpet warp for these. Will pester you if I get stuck!
Linc: Thanks for that link to the Townsend clip. Very informative.

 

[Short Arm]

Bill,Get you some 50lb dacron line.Use a surge knot and then add a few drops of super glue to the knot.You will be good to go. Now use the cotton to get the right length for your heddles.When you get the length make a jig to tie up your heddle. Just have fun with it. OK my friend weave on........... Lynn

 

[Linc]

You're welcome Bill. It was my pleasure. So far I have made 4 straps and 2 sash's/scarves. Tweeking the loom as I go. I need to make a bigger and better shuttle. So that will be my next project.

 

[BillinOregon]

Well, here's the loom warped for the first time with a very simple pattern. Guess I will find out shortly if I screwed something up.

 

[BrownBear]

Looks right to me! The only question will be if the sash/belt is long enough for your needs.

 

[BillinOregon]

Well, I learned a number of lessons in the past hour. First, some wool yarns aren't all that hot for inkle looms, especially if they have thick and thin spots. Second, I musta done something wrong warping the loom, as the knots connecting the various yarns got tangled in the heddles as I tried to advance the warp. Third, you want to keep on top of the tension from the very start or you get a wide, sloppy band at the start before it tapers down and firms up (see photo). Fourth, keep an eye on the tension when you pull the shuttle through to make sure the edges (selvedges) remain even and consistent.
I gave up after about a foot of weaving and figured I'd learned enough on the first band. You can see how sloppy and wide it was to start (right side) and how it tightened up as I went, with plenty of lumps in the selvedges.

This is one of those deals that gives you a new appreciation for skills like Short Arm has. Reminds me of the first hour I spent working raw beaver hides with a draw knife on a fleshing board. Gave me a whole new respect for the trappers of the fur trade!

 

[Linc]

Looks kinda like my first few tries.But that's how ya learn.Each time will improve over the last.