Forty-five years ago I bought a ‘portable’ table loom. I was living in Seattle and the local Rasmussen looms were a Thing in certain circles. It was an outrageous purchase even at the time but I didn’t care. I was entranced by the idea of making cloth. I also had the idea at the time that when some horrifying event destroyed civilization it would be a good thing to know how to keep clothed and shod* and stuff. I bought a book about gardening but it’s pretty clear that I cannot garden. If I have to rely on my own efforts to grow things — that’ll be a problem. However, forty years ago, I figured that if I had other skills, I might be able to barter them.
Hence, the loom. Or so I told myself. I already admitted that I was enchanted.
*Yes, I did buy a book about how to make shoes. It’s still in the basement. It should probably be on the chopping block also.
Anyway, fast forward to a few years ago when I began trying to cut back on ‘clutter’, trying to prioritize my time and the available storage space in my house. I realized, sadly, that loom was on the chopping block. I made things I loved, but not very many. In terms of space vs. created objects vs. time, it wasn’t really pulling its weight. I’m not sure why. One of the things about looms is that there is a lot of waste. All the length of thread that ties warp to the loom is thrown away.** You don’t get the same thing with knitting for example. When I learned to spin the idea of wasting yards and yards of my homespun was even worse.
I decided that the loom had to go. I started looking for ways to make this happen. I was totally willing to give it away although I thought I should finish the last thing on it first. And I thought I should get something small to take its place and satisfy that place within that enjoys weaving.
So I bought this set of heddle and shuttle—- and made some bands.
And I bought these which work with a strap tied around your body for tension — and made more bands.
I bought these but haven’t managed to use them yet. They are tablet weavers, about two inches square, just FYI.
And instead of simply buying an inkle loom, a device that allows weaving without the backstrap …
… I tried to make my own frame out of PVC pipe. I don’t have pictures of the result because I took it apart when I wanted to use the extra four feet of counter that it took up for something else. (A different pile of junk, I’m sure.)
I dream of buying a baby inkle loom that will also accommodate those tablets and the individual heddles and get rid of the backstrap problem. I found one that would be smaller and prettier than my PVC monstrosity. (See the header.)
Meanwhile I bought a new and larger version of the old potholder looms that young children use. My daughter says that they are finger laceration traps and she’s kind of right. But I’ve had a blast.
I loved making my first potholders with the loops that are sold, and then weaving my own yarn onto the frame. That little effort still needs work around the edges. I tried felting the results and am still experimenting.
But …
… even though all these things together take up less room, and are more portable than my Rasmussen loom from Seattle …
… I also failed signally to get rid of the original loom.
I think that’s a little insane.
** I read an article that suggested that printing and books were a byproduct of the waste from making sails for all the ships that were exploring in the late Middle Ages (~1100 to ~1600).
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