Learning About My New-To-Me Loom

I was finally able to get the warp tied up on the Medico loom Sunday.  Hooray for that!

Isn't it lovely?

I know.  It is grey.  But I think grey is lovely!  And she is finally dressed!

I forgot how much pre-prep work I did when I got the Schacht I got in February of last year.  There are a lot of things that I forgot completely.  Simple stuff like cutting the paper to wind on the warp.  Little things like figuring out a way to keep up the shaft.  Or get the rod that I use to attach to the back to stand up while rough sleighing it.

In some cases, it was just do what works on the Schacht.  For instance, with the rod I use to attach to the back apron, I just attached a piece of elastic wound twice to the center of the loom so that it will stay in place.  Works well for the Medico, same as the Schacht.  They are both table looms so it make sense that they have some of the same parts.

With holding up the frames when doing the threading & such, the Schacht table loom was just putting the levers up or down.  With the Medico, I found a wooden box that was the perfect height. The box works well to put it under the frames to hold them up high enough to make threading pretty easy.

I spent EONS trying to figure out how to attach the length of cord to get the rod onto the front apron.  The previous owner gave me the cord her aunt had with the loom to attach to a rod.  Read lots about cloth aprons as I never have had a loom with one.  Greatpiece by the awesome Peggy Osterkam about how to attach to an apron rod.   Also listened to the Floor Loom Weaving Craftsy class.

The instructor, Janet Dawson, suggests attaching strings to a rod/squared piece of wood.  But they need to be the same exact length.  And I worried that I wouldn't get it right.  So I went with lashing the whole length of the rod.

I think it would do better for me if I attach the rod in several places as suggested by Janet Dawson.  So to that end, I decided it was worth the money to order some Texsolv cord.  I plan to redo some pieces on the loom with the Texsolv.  It is a bit more pricey than standard nylon cord.  But the flip side is that it does well under tension & is supposed to last eons. So I think it is worth the investment.  Hoping it arrives before the next project goes on the loom.

I also realize little differences.  Like when I am winding the paper on the front beam of the Medico, I can't just let it dangle in the same way as the Schacht.  Since the Medico has the conversion to a floor kit, I have to have access to the treadles.  I realize that it is best to wind the paper around the supports.  Keeps it up & out of the way.

 

Funny how a simple thing like how to wind a bobbin is something you can forget.  I got it down after a couple again.  But there was some uneven bobbins as well.  Just funny that I had to go through it again to remember.  The last few projects have been bulker yarn.  So I uses the stick shuttle.

One of the things I love about crafting is learning.  And trying new things.  That is a lot of the fun.  And I like keeping my mind at work.  It is good for me!

The project on the loom is a simple charity scarf.  The local knit/crochet group does charity projects.  Next up is Veterans and/or the homeless.  And I figured a scarf would be good.  And unlike knitting a scarf, weaving goes super fast. 

I took bits from multiple yarns.  I realized that just because it is a charity scarf, I could still add some color & pattern to it.  I went with acrylic since it is washable which is critical with charity knits.

I had thought the grey was a washable acrylic/wool blend when I chose it.  But I realized it was all acrylic.  So not super warm.  But okay.

I played with different patterns with the color sections.  And watched some Army of Darkness.

View outside the window...

And I think her name is Shira.  It was the name I was debating & after weaving with her, I think that is it.

Shira is a Black Widow from the Black Jewels series by Anne Bishop.  She is a healer.  Which I think works well with the Medico being an occupational therapy loom.  I feel like it fits her.