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The Weaving Loom
What does a weaving loom mean? Before we get too far into this, let's have a look at exactly what a weaving loom means. The dictionary defines the word weave as "to interlace (threads, yarns, strips, fibrous material, etc.) so as to form a fabric or material."[1] The dictionary defines loom as "a hand-operated or power-driven apparatus for weaving fabrics, containing harnesses, lay, reed, shuttles, treadles, etc. "[2] So, in essence, a weaving loom is a device where you can interlace material, in some way, to create the final product. Traditionally, many people consider a weaving loom as a device where some material is layed out vertically and, other material is horizontally crisscrossed under and over. |
But, by the definition above, you are not necessarily limited to those types of looms. There is now a wide variety of different weaving looms available. In the home (where weaving is probably used more as a hobby or personal interest) there are many looms that utilise the same strategy as french knitting. This is where the fabric folds over itself. These looms include (but are not limited to):
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In many instances, these types of looms are substantially faster than traditional types to create things. This identifies a need for you to find the right type of loom for what you are creating.
Loom Size Looms come in a multitude of different sizes. This goes from ones just about the size of a room to others that you can hold in your hand. At the home front, it could easily be guessed that the hand looms are more popular that room size looms. Why? That's quite easy. Most homes don't have space big enough for the larger looms. You would just about have to dedicate a room or big sections of the house for it. Don't get me wrong, there are a number of situations that that is feasible and has actually been done in the home. In most instances though the big looms are impractical in this environment. Just imagine if you had a room size loom and you were moving house. It would be a nightmare trying to pack it up and move it safely. If just one little part fell out, it might never work again. For most people, it could be assumed, that hand size looms are more beneficial. In that way they can be used as people do with knitting and other such crafts. As these looms are small and in essence not that expensive, it could also be possible to have a number of different types. Then you could do a wide variety of projects by just grabbing the right loom. Predominantly, looms come in wood, metal or plastic. Plastic is probably the cheapest to purchase. As a final note in this article, when you next go to purchase a loom, stop and think for a second what you want to do with it to ensure you get the right one. This is covered in more detail in the article "How to Pick a Weaving Loom". |
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http://theweavingloom.weebly.com/
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