A Warped Adventure

Last time I confirmed that the loom was actually a loom, not an LSO (Loom Shaped Object).  Really, I have two standing issues with it. First, the tensioning system is idiosyncratic, to say the least.  That's going to have to wait on some more parts before I can do anything about it, and it works well enough for now. Second, the shed borders on too small for the shuttle I've been using, a standard Leclerc closed-bottom shuttle.  This is the higher priority, since it's slowing me down and making it less pleasant to use the loom.  There are two obvious solutions here:  Make the shed bigger, or make the shuttle smaller, with bonus points for doing both. Getting a smaller shuttle is relatively simple, so I ordered a Glimakra #6:  it's the same length as my Leclerc shuttle, but about 1/4" smaller in height.  It's definitely an improvement, but it doesn't hold as much yarn, which means more time winding bobbins.  I like the way it feels, and I'll probabl...

 With the tie-up done, tensioning sorted (for the moment), and a warp threaded and sleyed, it's time to do some weaving! I tied up so the center two treadles are plain weave, and the four treadles around them are set up for 2/2 twill.  So from left to right, they're shafts 2&3, 1&4, 2&4, 1&3, 3&4, 1&2.  It's a little weird, but it means I can alternate feet while doing twill, everything is centered, and there's enough space between the sides that my feet don't run into each other. My current warp is 11" wide, 12 ends per inch, and of a grey wool.  It's what I used for testing on my Leclerc loom, so it's a good comparison.  Here's a short piece from when I was working on it on the Leclerc: Just ignore that some of the warp is black, there:  that yarn turned out to be terrible for warp, and I broke a lot of strands while I was working with it.  For this I'm just using the grey. While working, I've run into a couple of p...

 Now that I knew the loom was a loom, not an extravagant paperweight, it was time to get serious about setting it up.  There were still some questions (do I want larger heddles?  How will the shed look if the shafts are all the way at the back?  Am I going to need to replace the warping beam?), but they're not going to be answered except by setting everything up and giving it a try. So I cut off what I'd woven, wound it back to the warping beam, removed the cords from the treadles and lamms, took down the beater, and generally undid everything I'd spent a week doing.  Sadly, it didn't occur to me to take pictures, but it's not very interesting with just a frame sitting there.  Then I started replacing cord with texsolv, and now I understand why it's so popular.  So, more or less in order: 1) Re-hang the shafts.  Since there are no pins for the jacks, I use blocks of 1x2 to hold them in place.  Against all advice, I hung them as far back as po...