The Beast

I've never named a car, a spinning wheel or any loom until now. I've named her The Beast. I suppose because she is large and I am not.

My first project, looking quite "ethnic", is the Rosepath III from My Favorite Rugs. I'm not crazy about the colors, but they'll do as a test run.




Charleen and I took our annual run up to
WEBS. I didn't spend as much as I usually do but I got to fill in some colors in different weight cottons. I had a nice starter palette in Eight-Two but added some greens this trip. I then went a little crazy with Valley Mercerized Cotton. I bought a lot of 5/2 and a few pounds in 3/2.



As is tradition, we left WEBS and shot down to Countrywool "hotel" and spent the night in Claudia's shop. I bought some lovely rusty/orange wool to make a sweater from one of Claudia's designs. I wonder if it will be ready for Rhinebeck.

There are several rug designs I've been wanting to try. I've also be toying with the idea of a double weave rug. Please shoot me.

treadle assembly for Anne

closer to the first warp

Many things had to be packed up to make space for the new loom.

Without going into what stayed, what was stored and what was trashed, let me just say it has taken five days.

I'm still not done.



















But the Union got to stay after a lot of rearranging.























This is the filthy chimney breast wall...before.












Chimney breast after.
New shelves freshly primed.














Cranbrook from the doorway.




















....from the Union




Once the final coat of paint is on the shelves, and it has dried of course, the room can be finished and the Maiden Warp can commence.

Cranbrook question

Any ideas what these two slots are for? They located above the warp beam on each side. The photos of the Cranbrook don't show anything mounted in the slots. Actually, I can't even see slot in the photo in the ancient pile of assembly directions. I'm curious. Perhaps to hang a pole and dry laundry?

Loom of Doom?

Beater bar. The table is closed up so measures around 60" wide to give you perspective. Obviously I had none when plunging into this next chapter of my weaving life.

The jacks

The sides and sectional warp beam. The two white tubular pieces are the breast and back beam.

Nestled in the back is the spool rack. Much larger than the one I have. This one holds 52 spools. My other one holds 24.

After a four hour drive up to MA I got to see the loom I had purchased. It's from the early 1980's and was still made by Bexell and Son. I don't recall seeing a foot lever to release the tension, but did see a metal bar on the side mid way up that does this. The original manual mentions a foot release as does current Cranbrook info by Schacht. If anyone reading this has a Cranbrook, has once owned one or is intimately associated with one, please leave your email so I can clarify some issues that may or may not exist!

The big, heavy old desk must be moved out of the loom room and taken upstairs, steep/narrow steps, and put into Bob's office. But of course his office has to be cleaned out first. Then there is the issue of the Union Loom. Where can she go? Upstairs some room can be made, but can we get it up there? My sewing machine, dresser, carder and picker will be moved out. I'm hoping the machine and dresser can return once the loom is up. Before any of this can take place I have to finish weaving the last rug on the Union. That can be accomplished tomorrow, then the chore of all of the above will commence. Anyone wanna come and help? Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaseeeeeeeeeeeeeee?

Dirt To Dinner and Weaving News

I put up 35 pints of blueberry jam...............it has been a busy summer.
























Today I picked beans, and more beans, and then more. I declared Dirt To Dinner Night.












Venison steaks from the back 40 this past Fall. The end of this meaty goodness!











Dug up a few potatoes. What is a meal without potatoes? Hmmm, Italian?












Yellow squash and lettuce.



















The cucumber pairs with the lettuce and the zucchini will be sauteed with the yellow squash.








I'm cutting up weft to try out rug making on the new loom which will be coming home Monday. This coming week is really busy so I don't know if I'll have the chance to set her up.
This is a rug on the Union. Interesting looking.
And a denim rug with another one under it....somewhere.
Mug Rugs, just because.

And that is what I've done this summer................since my last post.