It worked then, and I seem to have it down to a science - a frame, some string, a stick as a shuttle and as a result, I had some crudely woven tapestry only I could love. I think the rest of my family thought I was nuts.
Fast forward a few years later (actually, decades) and on a whim, I bought myself a Schacht 20-inch Flip rigid heddle loom. I was so excited I was absolutely shaking with excitement as I pulled this thing out and read the instructions - and wondered, "what the - what warp? what weft? wait a minute, what the hell is a rigid heddle? wha-?"
Then I stuck it in my closet and waited for some illumination to occur. How things had changed since that fateful day when I made my own loom...
Anyway, to make a long story short, today I sold the dang thing and in its place, I got myself something that is more my speed.
A children's version of a loom. I know, I'm a wuss.
But I made a coaster. Actually, two.
Besides, it turns out that what I was familiar with was a frame loom, much like what Navajos use to weave their beautiful tapestries. And while we're on the subject of weaving looms, I'm thinking of making my own loom first before buying one. Here's one DIY weaving loom that's pretty cool!
And if you already have a loom and were thinking of buying a stand, here's a pretty cool video on how to make your own stand.
The issue of the stand was actually what made me destash the Flip - because there is absolutely no room in the house for a loom unless I displace one of my three wheels and a few bins of fiber - or maybe in desperation, Leo or Truffles (though neither would be very happy about that).
But destashing my rigid heddle wasn't too bad. It's part of this learning curve in the world of fiber. First the Babe, now the Flip. But I did finish another handspun yarn though. This one was spun from a Crosspatch Creations batt called "Wolf Creek". And while spinning it, I felt that no other name but "Wolf Creek" would do.
4 comments:
you don't mean wolf creek, like the wolf creek just north of grant's pass, do you?!? one of my fave stops on the I-5 corridor, wolf creek? no way.
I am in the same situation, I bough a table top loom to try about 2 years ago, it just sits there and glare at me every time I walk by it, as if its saying, "Any day now!!"
Love the yarn, pretty colors.
Yes, Velma, THAT Wolf Creek!
Unfortunately I'm not original in the naming even though it suited it perfectly, because the colorway was already called "Wolf Creek" - I had to go back and check...
Jen, I know what you mean - that's why I kept my loom hidden in the closet. Maybe if I hadn't taken it out so I could attempt to warp it (only to realize that 1) I needed a stand and 2) with the stand, there was no room in the house to use it, much less to warp it) it would still be hidden in the closet :)
It's actually pretty easy! Now that I did the kiddie weaving loom version, a part of me wishes I didn't let it go!
But not to despair, I got a drum carder in the process! Woot!
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