How to Pick a
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Small Loom
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Click on the above picture to purchase from Amazon.com
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This type of loom is also referred to as a lap loom. It is small, can be carried to different places for use. There is very few, if any, moving parts. It is relatively simple to learn, use and can produce something fairly quickly. The features of these types of looms are limited compared to other types of looms. Small looms are fairly cheap. They usually come in either plastic, wood or, metal. Logically, the cheapest are usually plastic. There are a wide variety of small looms available.
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Mary's Houndstooth Potholder Weaving Loom Tutorial
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydcX5RSwBqs&list=PL4Wb0haBEPrD-M7tjVCQXX_bc3mvgugC2&index=1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydcX5RSwBqs&list=PL4Wb0haBEPrD-M7tjVCQXX_bc3mvgugC2&index=1
Rigid Heddle Loom
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Click on the above picture to purchase from Amazon.com
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The Rigid Heddle Loom basically needs a surface to work on (much like a table loom) such as a table top, bench etc. In most instances, it comes with a single heddle (the device used to raise and lower the warp thread) which provides the standard weaving style. In many, you can add a second heddle to allow double the shafts in your weaving [1]. This type of loom is easy to learn and use. It has few moving parts and is simple to operate.
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Simple warping for a Rigid Heddle loom
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fa1WrHOTjxY&list=PL4Wb0haBEPrD-M7tjVCQXX_bc3mvgugC2&index=2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fa1WrHOTjxY&list=PL4Wb0haBEPrD-M7tjVCQXX_bc3mvgugC2&index=2
Table Loom
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Click on the above picture to purchase from Amazon.com
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The Table Loom is considered a small version of a floor loom [2]. In fact, for some, you can add legs and treadle (foot operation) and turn it into a small floor loom [3]. In their basic state, they require a surface to work on. This refers to some kind of flat surface. The Table Loom is operated by hand. There are a wide variety of different Table Looms that can provide a variety of different results. Overall, they are very versatile. Different Table Looms come with different features.
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Table Top Weaving Demonstration
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwyPm_cHF7A&index=3&list=PL4Wb0haBEPrD-M7tjVCQXX_bc3mvgugC2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwyPm_cHF7A&index=3&list=PL4Wb0haBEPrD-M7tjVCQXX_bc3mvgugC2
Tapestry Loom
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Click on the above picture to purchase from Amazon.com
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The Tapestry Loom is basically a big size Frame Loom [1]. Predominantly, the Frame Loom comes from the small loom family. The Tapestry Loom often stands on the floor but there are smaller versions that can be operated on table top and other surfaces. This type of weaving can be simple or complicated. It all depends on the user and how intricate the project is. This type of loom generally works towards some form of pictorial result [4]. This means it can create pictures [4] usually for wall hanging. As said previously, the intricacy of the picture depends on the intentions of the creator.
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making a tapestry
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZ0QrIT7WiY&list=PL4Wb0haBEPrD-M7tjVCQXX_bc3mvgugC2&index=4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZ0QrIT7WiY&list=PL4Wb0haBEPrD-M7tjVCQXX_bc3mvgugC2&index=4
Floor Loom
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Click on the above picture to purchase from Amazon.com
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As could be easily guessed, the floor loom sits (or stands) on the floor. In many instances, the weaver sits to use a floor loom. The foot operates pedals (treadle) which control the shafts of the loom [2]. These looms can create a wide variety of products from something simple like scarves to something more complex such as blankets, rugs and a lot more [5]. They can also use a far wider variety of material than smaller looms. It could be argued that the floor loom could give you the widest possibility of projects in weaving.
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Introduction to Weaving
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5n3i0gSrnV8&list=PL4Wb0haBEPrD-M7tjVCQXX_bc3mvgugC2&index=5
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5n3i0gSrnV8&list=PL4Wb0haBEPrD-M7tjVCQXX_bc3mvgugC2&index=5
General Loom Information
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Before we start looking at specific consideration that need to be made to determine the right loom, let’s look at some overall facts related to looms.
EXTRA NOTE ON POINT 4 ABOVE – This point is not 100% accurate as you can create multiple items on a small loom, and join them together to create the final product eg. using a potholder loom (a small loom) to create multiple squares and then joining them together to create a blanket or something else. A lot of the smaller looms can be used in this manner including the flower loom, scarf loom, square loom, frame loom etc. There are other types of looms that haven’t been mentioned here. This is because they are considered more specific the weaving tasks. These include (but not limited to) the Peg Loom and, the Inkle Looms. |
Scroll through the items above. Click on the image to purchase.
References |
[1] Selecting a Weaving Loom? http://www.woolery.com/Store/pc/Help-Selecting-A-Loom-c41.htm
[2] How to choose the best loom for your needs http://www.theloomroom.co.uk/userfiles/file/How%20to%20choose%20the%20best%20loom%20for%20your%20needs.pdf [3] Small Weaving Looms: 4, 8 & 16 Shaft Table Looms http://www.applehollow.com/tablelooms.html [4] Tapestry Basics http://www.mirrixlooms.com/tapestry-basics/ [5] Floor Looms http://www.paradisefibers.com/weaving-loom-for-sale/weaving-loom/floor-looms-2345.html |
The next stage is to look specifically at some questions to help determine what the best loom for your needs is. Go to the second part of this article for that discussion.
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http://theweavingloom.weebly.com/
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