My New Loom

I have been wanting a loom for a long time.  Yes I have that big rectangular loom, but I have wanted a table loom to play around with.  I have looked at them for several years and finally decided in honor of my Birthday, (which is in just a little over a month) I would treat myself to a loom.  I read, and read, and read about them.  I watched videos and looked at stores all over the web.  I priced them and priced them again.  I finally decided that the Ashford Knitter's Loom was the one for me.  It was reasonably priced as far as looms are concerned, it is portable and folds up when not in use if you want it to.  It came in several different sizes and I decided I wanted something to make shawls, table runners, place mats and scarves so the 20" loom would be perfect.  I found the perfect loom on eBay from a store way over in Washington state, it was the most reasonably priced and even allowed me to purchase another heddle for the loom for finer yarns at a price under what the loom was selling for in yarn stores.  Shipping was free!  It arrived in a timely manner at my house this past week.  I was so excited.  I put it aside for a few days as my work and Little Buddy's schedule was crazy this week. Finally on Thursday I put it together, on Friday I warped it, and by yesterday I had my first scarf.

Want to peek with me?

Here it is clamped to my kitchen table ready to warp.
 

The warping peg is positioned 75" from the back of the loom, which can be done easily with my table extension.

After winding the warp back and forth, I enlisted the help of my teenager to hold the yarn taunt while I wound it onto the back roller.

I was able to thread every other piece of yarn through the top slot and then tie the yarn to the front roller.

Now it was time to weave.  Of course this being my first project it is all wonky with the edges not very nice and straight.  I did not have my tension right, and frankly could not figure out where the heddle went when in the down position.  I know it seems like I am speaking a foreign language. 

 Regardless of my issues, I was weaving, even if in my own way.  And once I got going it went really fast.  So fast I was done in no time at all.  I wasted a lot of yarn, but that is just fine.  This yarn was from the dregs of my yarn stash in my closet, it had not even made it to my craft room, and frankly I had forgotten all about it entirely.  I thought the fancy yarn for the weaving would be perfect as it is thick to thin with fuzz and ribbon, I thought it might be more forgiving that a straighter more flat yarn.

Here it is straight off the loom.  I think it looks pretty good for my first attempt. I gave it a good soak and here it is all finished and dried.  Things dry very quickly outside in the Florida heat.

It looks a bit rustic with the edges not straight, I'll blame that on the yarn and not my beginning weaving skills!

I was so excited about the prospect of weaving I made a trip to my favorite yarn store Knit n' Knibble in Tampa yesterday, all by myself!  It was a glorious two and a half hours.  I caught up with a friend on the way there on the phone, I walked around unhindered by a stroller or little hands grabbing things.  And on the way home I finished my conversation with my friend via the phone.  I bought some yarn with the intention of using it with my loom, and a book about weaving to help me understand the whole process a bit better. Of course you know I have an abundance of yarn at home, but this is part of my birthday present to myself so it was necessary, if you know what I mean.  And I am no longer on a yarn diet, so I don't even have to make an excuse. And frankly I am going to be turning 50, that is reason to celebrate!

I plan on making another scarf this weekend with my brand new yarn, and then possible a shawl.

  Hope you are having a fun weekend and if you are in the US a nice long weekend.