New Loom, What to Do?

Oct 02, 2024 13:52:03

I'd like to get into weaving someday, and make myself some clothing from my sheep's wool (something along the lines of r ranson's Capetember project, but on a longer timeline), but I was/am thinking that's years down the road.

However, I ended up getting a bargain on a loom at a local auction. Can anyone help me out on what sort of loom this is, and how to use it? I don't see any labels anywhere to indicate make or model. I know practically nothing beyond the basic operation of looms in general. The sale bill said "rug loom" - is there a particular sort of loom for rug-making, or is a loom a loom? Is that description even accurate?

I'd like to get some basic info on what I have and what I can do with it, and then decide if I should accelerate my plans to learn to weave or send it down the road.

Oct 02, 2024 14:50:52

Sweet loom.

More photos?

Looks like four shaft countermarche with a sectional warp beam. But I can't be sure from the photo.

Oct 02, 2024 15:15:41

Here's some better pictures

Oct 02, 2024 16:38:33

The handle on the beater (thing that swings back and forth and looks like a comb (reed) in it), is that heavy? Looks like it's currently set up for production rug weaving.

Oct 02, 2024 19:32:51

I don't have anything to compare it to, relatively speaking, but yes, it's pretty heavy.

Oct 02, 2024 19:47:28

This thing also came with it, which also has a comb/reed in it; it's the same width as the beater, but shorter height-wise, so I don't think it's an extra beater - it wouldn't fit over the finished fabric roll. I don't see any obvious place to attach it.

Oct 02, 2024 19:49:09

mystery comb holder - extra beater bar with reed

It looks like it's built to be a four shaft, but only has two installed right now. This is ideal for plane weave or tabby (basically plane weave)

Oct 02, 2024 20:03:40

Looking back at my pictures, I realized that I managed to only ever show two shafts...sorry about that, trying to be as helpful as I can here. Adding a few more pictures...

It may or may not also be worth mentioning that it came with two extra shafts, in addition to the 4 currently installed, which have so far not been pictured.

Oct 02, 2024 20:19:18

Well, I found a name for the thing - it's a "Newcomb Studio Art Rug Loom"

Which leads me to a manual (or at least, part of the manual): https://jlheuer.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/newcomb-art-studio-loom-instructions.pdf

Oct 03, 2024 14:17:20

Benedict Bosco wrote:Well, I found a name for the thing - it's a "Newcomb Studio Art Rug Loom"

Which leads me to a manual (or at least, part of the manual): https://jlheuer.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/newcomb-art-studio-loom-instructions.pdf

What a find!
Back when I was weaving full time (for 30 yrs and at least 30yrs ago now) I dreamed of a countermarche loom like your find!
I had two jack looms that were for production and because a jack loom lifts the weight of tthe harnesses, prolonged use wore badly on my feet and joints...during this period I aquired a 4 harness counter balance rug loom and a Newcomb flying shuttle rug loom that has no treadles as the movement of the beater raises the shafts and then throws the shuttle though a cam system. I spent enough time with the Newcomb to get it working well and then gave it away as my interest then was 8 harness double weaves....and I was really at my limit for one person

A countermarche should make treadling easy and with 6 harnesess (if the 2 extras mentioned fit your loom) you have a lifetime of possibile weaving exploration.

Good luck!

It looks as though it was in use recently?

What a well built workhorse of a loom.

Oct 03, 2024 16:56:37

Looks similar in design to my dumpster find!
The hanging of the shafts/heddles was tricky, so glad yours is intact so adding those other two should be straight forward (If you want to, mine still has only two hung as I've just done plain weave so far). The fineness of the reed and high density of eyelets suggest one could do fine cloth weaving as well as rug making, my loom was discovered with an unfinished rag rug on it, so the versatility of a tool like this is spectacular!

Happy weaving!

Oct 03, 2024 19:13:00

It was probably in recent use (hard to say for sure, given it came off the auction yard, but it is pretty clean). The warp is broken in a number of places, so it will take a bit of work to get it re-set. Assuming the thread itself is still good, I'm hoping I can just re-tie everything off near the breast beam and start over, see how far I get with what's on there for the fun of it...

I also think I should find some replacement cording for the lamms and get that re-threaded; there's already multiple tied off repairs and a partial replacement in there (I think the yellow nylon rope is visible somewhere in the pictures I sent), and the rest doesn't look like it will last too much much longer.

Along with that, I need to keep digging for some good books to get me started. I'm finding a decent amount of stuff online, but it's all piecemeal and mostly aimed at "here's a new technique to try on the loom that you're probably already using..." I'm very quickly realizing how very large, diverse, and potentially complicated this potential new hobby is...

Oct 03, 2024 19:27:40

https://www.amazon.ca/Learning-Weave-Deborah-Chandler/dp/159668139X

Is the book i suggest to my students. Her back to front method works well for starting out

https://janestaffordtextiles.com/

Has online classes you can watch. Amazing, and the best instruction I've seen. But I find people have to be far enough along to know what they don't know, but not so far that they alredy now too much to listen.

I think you might be there.

And of course here. Love talking weaving and can help where I can. Judith is also a wonderful weaver.

Oct 03, 2024 21:52:37

Hello Benedict - looks like you have a beauty there - strong enough to weave a rug, with extra bits that will adapt it to weave fabric. With 4 shafts as well as twill variations, you can do plain weave with two layers . . . tubes, squares that can be stuffed as you go along, ooh, exciting, eh?
Your box of extras includes a bobbin winder - the thingo that looks like a drill with the business bit going sideways - a rare find! Handles fit on the back beam and front beam for winding on. And you have plenty of different shuttles - the wide flat ones usually take fabric strips for rag rugs.
I use venetian blind cord to replace any dodgy stringing - paracord will work too. Just be careful to get everything balanced or the shaft lifts will be uneven and cause no end of heartache. It's seriously miffing when a skipped thread gets noticed several inches (centimetres) away from the woven edge.

Oct 05, 2024 09:08:53

Everyone has said all that I might have added--I second the Deborah Chandler book. One other thing, you might look for a local weaver's guild or fiber arts guild in your area if you'd like to seek out someone to look at your loom in-person and help you trouble-shoot or fine-tune your setup. My guild quite often gets emails from people looking to have someone help them get set up or get started.

For your bravery above and beyond the call of duty, I hereby award you this tiny ad:

better than composting toilets

https://www.richsoil.com/willow