Does anyone have a Loom?

[ChattanCat]

If you're weaving tartan, it's typically woven as a straight twill. No need for more than 4 shafts.

B

I have heard that using 8 shafts helps in separating the thread. Each thread will have two heedles. Anyway, since I have the capability, I will be using 8 shafts. Not sure if I will have anything to compare it to. I am currently working on a small sample run with only four shafts.
W

[pipesndrumsnun]

You folks are AMAZING!!!

[Barb T]

I have heard that using 8 shafts helps in separating the thread. Each thread will have two heedles. Anyway, since I have the capability, I will be using 8 shafts. Not sure if I will have anything to compare it to. I am currently working on a small sample run with only four shafts.
W

Sounds like a clever idea!

Barb

[ChattanCat]

If you ever get bored with it you can pass it my way... Good loom I have not warped one but I have a great book called "Warping all by Yourself" by Cay Garrett from 1977 that is excellent for learning. I was able to warp a loom with no help the first time. I doubt it's in print but you might find one on line somewhere. I'm planing to build my own loom similar to the glimakra, but with my own design. Got to put all my drafting skills to work somewhere.

Well, this one came from Pennsylvania. It is half way across the US, almost to Arizona!

[Aspen d'Grey]

I have a 60" Leclerc floor loom that currently has the shadow-weave from the LotR cloaks on it, my next goal is to weave something in the MacPherson Dress tartan. It's actually rather pleasent to weave a tartan- I don't need to warp the full width!

As for the discussion of 8 vs 4 shafts, if you ahve a smaller width loom (30 inches) but with 8 shafts, you can double-weave a tartan, giving you a 50 or 60 inch woven width. However, from what tartans I've looked at you don't seem to need more than 4 for any of them. Good luck!

[Paul Henry]

Wow, that's exactly the same as mine, I'd have to echo Barb's comments of an earlier post, just don;t expect to get as finely/tightly woven cloth as the standard kilted fabric.
But weaving one's own cloth is great

[Aspen d'Grey]

Wow, that's exactly the same as mine, I'd have to echo Barb's comments of an earlier post, just don;t expect to get as finely/tightly woven cloth as the standard kilted fabric.
But weaving one's own cloth is great

There's a couple things you can do to get a higher sett- obviously the easiest is goign to be using a thinner read, or to double through a 10 dent reed. However, the finishing process will also have a major effect on how wool winds up. If you very slightly felt the fabric (which is similar to boiled wool) then you'll get a much denser weave.

[Red_Raven]

I have a 60" Leclerc floor loom that currently has the shadow-weave from the LotR cloaks on it, my next goal is to weave something in the MacPherson Dress tartan. It's actually rather pleasent to weave a tartan- I don't need to warp the full width!

As for the discussion of 8 vs 4 shafts, if you ahve a smaller width loom (30 inches) but with 8 shafts, you can double-weave a tartan, giving you a 50 or 60 inch woven width. However, from what tartans I've looked at you don't seem to need more than 4 for any of them. Good luck!

yes the whole reason I am designing a new loom is to do the LoTr cloak.. Right now I'm still working a Morrison. THe small loom is maxed out at 24 so must work towards something bigger. if you know what I mean.

[ChattanCat]

Ok, looking for some tartan weaving expertise. How many threads per dent have you used for tartan material? Barb suggests 48 threads per inch, what is the best sleying, one, two, three or four threads per dent?

[Barb T]

The finer the reed you can get, the less trouble you'll have with threads sticking to one another. Sleying 4 threads/dent lets four threads clump together. I'd get a fine reed and sley 2 threads/dent.

Barb