-I grew up visiting a beloved grandfather (RIP) in Ontario province whom used a gigantic floor loom in his Bayfield home in the 1950s and 1960s-13 miles south of Goderich. He passed the woven articles around the family, and I have developed a yen to learn the use of a floor loom - Grandpa, a retired engineer, having paved the way in the family for male fiber arts. The loom went to my cousin on his passing and she has made good use of it.
-My favorite scarf is from his hand, and I learned recently of men’s winter tweed weaving on Lewis and Harris. I would like to get started, wet Seattle winters affording ample time inside for such things. Planning the weave seems like the sort of thing to satisfy an engineering taste, and the world needs more wool stuff! Its a fair bet a bunch of whistlers might also have a few weavers. My interests in weaving span from scarfs to small rug-sized articles. Weavers, kindly pass on recommendations as to which make & type (jack, counterbalance, countermarche) you prefer and for which type of articles.
-Many thanks for any replies,
Brian
I don’t have much personal experience in weaving except the extremely obscure art/craft of bobbin lacemaking, which is technically an off-loom weaving technique. (If you had asked for recommendations THERE, I would have said Danish vs. English bobbins, yellow brass pins, and linen thread ONLY.)
However, one of my favorite places to visit in my area (south-central Pennsylvania) is a handweaving supply shop that also offers classes. And, thanks to the Web, you can take a peek: http://www.the-mannings.com/
I think they also show up at the humongous Maryland Sheep and Wool festival along route 70 between Frederick and Baltimore in early May each year. http://www.sheepandwoolfestival.org/
M
-Thank you for the links, Marguerite. I’m not ready to buy anything, but hope to amass enough opinion, voices of experience, and preferences to coalesce a well-informed decision. Perhaps a small sample loom which can be treadled and is suitable for scarves will be the decision.
-Best to you,
Brian
There’s a shop in town that specializes in Saori weaving:
http://www.saoriworcester.com/home.htm
It’s really easy and the things I’ve seen made by this method are really nice. We went to an open house and even my kids were able to work the looms successfully. Don’t know if this is the kind of thing you are looking for, but I hear it is addictive!
Robin