I represent Glimakra looms and if you’re interested, you can purchase a Glimakra Swedish Band Loom through me. Other sources I found for Box Tape Looms, Band Looms, Paddle Looms, and Floor Two Treadle tape looms are (click on source name to be linked to source):

J. K. Sidel
Hand Woven Magazine
The Joyner’s Shop
Fred & Grace Hatton, Finn Sheep
TapeLooms.com
Link to photos of Swedish tapes

This photo shows my loom “dressed” for weaving. I am using a “rigid heddle” to separate the threads to create a “shed” for weaving. The hand held “paddle loom” or “tape loom” can be used separately from the box loom. One end of the warp can be tied to something solid and the other end can be held in ones hand. Moving the paddle up and down a “shed” is created through which the yarn/weaving material is passed. While very portable, I have found that it is difficult to maintain a constant tension with this method, and therefore the band or tape is inconsistent in width. Using the box loom, the rollers which are attached to gears maintain a constant tension and the width is more consistent. I have used shelf lining paper to roll up with warp on the “warp beam”/roller. It keeps the layers of warp from tangling and helps maintain tension on the warp.

The band created by this loom will appear in future blog entries.

Tropical Twister

What fun! We’re lost in Fiber Space, we meet the last Saturday of every month, come find us.

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(Click on photo for larger image.)

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I haven’t blogged as have been crazy busy. The fair was really fun on Saturday. Overheard in the ladies room, “if we can’t sell it, we’ll eat it”. Only at the fair; it was the day of the swine sale for the youth.

On behalf of the Prayer Shawl Ministry did some visiting on Sunday afternoon. A heart attack out of no where and a stroke befell members/friends. Certainly a blessing that they were there to visit, but incredibly difficult for their families.

Last night, dinner at church. The younger youth group was studing baby Moses being placed in a woven basket cast out into the river. I did a weaving demo with the small rigid heddle loom. They were a great “audience”. The were so quiet and attentive, but asked great questions. They had an opportunity to weave ribbons and were really into it.

Saturday, I’ll be returing to the fair. More pictures to come. My camera has been a 4 megapixel, yes f-o-u-r, but I’ve just this week replaced it with a new camera … 14 megapixel. I’m so excited. But now I have to figure out how to work the new camera. For those of you that follow this blog, you know how I love close ups. More to come!

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The warp is a mix of that Wool/Soy blend that had been on sale at Michael’s for $1.50 a skein. I used the beaded yarn with a five inch border of unbeaded yarn. (All my scarves are beginning to look alike. I need to mix it up my next project.) I set up the warp at Fiber Space, and wove at the hospital. The beads all but disappeared in the multi-colored warp. The beads were opaque. In future, I would use opaque beads only against a single colored background. The glintening beads I used on the Koala Scarf worked well, even on the multicolored scarf as they captured and reflected the light.

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Using Bernat “Glow in the Dark” Acrylic(70%)/Polyester(30%) I wove a long, narrow scarf which could be used as a scarf or belt. Difficult to photograph but if it is saturated with day light, it does glow. What fun. While this scarf is created completely with this yarn, in future I plan to weave with but a bit of it for the fun of it after dark. Sadly, the colors are in the range I reserve mostly for children’s items.

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Here’s a tip for cutting scarf fringe.  (Note that the fringe had first been tied in overhand knots close to the weaving.)  I use a cutting board and a rotary cutter.  I’ve both cut fringe before the fabric was fulled and after.  Probably better after fulled and dryed but as I say, I’ve done it both ways.

 
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I plan to use the Koala beaded yarn as the primary yarn.  It will provide the weft.  I picked through my stash and found several warp yarns I liked.  (You want to select at least 5 different yarns.  Because the warp will be so dark, I selected several yarns for the weft to lift the color.)  I wrapped the yarn around a 3X5 index card.  I then could preview how the colors looked with each other and how they blended with the warp.  When I settled on the yarns for the project, I balled the yarns from their skeins.  Tonight I’ll warp the loom and tomorrow we’ll weave…more to come

Friday, August 15, 2008 UPDATE

The loom is warped.

Suggestions for warp:

If you mark the slots before you warp, it will help you center warp.  Notice masking tape with arrows marking center and edge.

Choose a color close to weft yarn color for the edges of the warp, both right and left.  That way, any inconsistences in the woven edge won’t be so noticeable.

Always use a touch of orange in the warp.

Always use a bit of glitter yarn in the warp.

I took the scarf off the loom, knotted fringe, and fulled the completed scarf.  I cut three strands of warf at a time and tied a knot close to the fabric to finish the scarf.  I then soaked the finished scarf in cold water and agitated lightly.   I then hung the scarf to dry, gently separating the tassels.  The finished scarf is below.

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For more projects and photos visit our home page at SeabreezeSpinners.com.

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For a much more detailed run-through of a similar scarf made using a rigid heddle, please view my post Rigid Heddle Irregular Dent Felted Scarf (Lime and Turquoise). Or visit our home page Seabreeze Spinners.