LOOMS Information on Home>>My Profile>> Add My Loom

This is very helpful information.  It can be confusing for people and when they see the tab labeled "Looms" they assume that is where all the information about looms goes.  And, it does.  But it's the GENERAL information about looms, not your personal loom and that is the distinction here.

Everyone needs to know we are working to change and improve things on Weavolution. Constantly.  That is why we are a beta site.  The Profile page is very high on the list of things that need editing.  We will get to it soon and we will let people know before we make changes.

For now, we are working hard to get the loom information collected.  Both your personal loom, which is what we are discussing and the more general category which is in the other thread.  They are two distinctly separate items.

Hope that helps clarify things.

Claudia

I don't know if it needs a special field, but I'd like something that encourages people to include modifications they made to their looms to make them easier to use.  That could include things like other ways to tie up the treadles (there are several for countermarche), how you can fold up a Baby Wolf while threading so the heddles are higher, stuff like that.  That could go in the description, but the ability to load extra images would be nice.

And we really need to change the way you add a loom to My Looms.  Going through "edit fun stuff about me" is not intuitive at all.  I think it needs to be another tab in my profile (tabs would be "my profile", "edit my profile", "my looms", etc.

Tina,

On the Home page, there is a button, My looms, which allows you to edit the looms there. Why not add the Add loom feature here also? Would that affect the data base in any way?

Carie 

That shouldn't affect the database, just the web page.  We'd have to figure out how to add a button or whatever to add another loom.  But that brings up another thing.  That's on the "Recent activities" tab.  If my memory is correct, you couldn't count on all projects, looms, and groups to be on that tab -- only the recent ones.  Or did that change?  I know the projects disappear after a while.

I'd like to change some of the wording on this page in addition to the good navigation suggestions.  Here's what I would like:

Nickname       [information about the loom you would like to show on your profile page] >> Change to "One Line showing information about this loom which you would like to appear on your profile page.  Example:  4S 4T 22" Harrisville or Homemade Branch Backstrap Loom."

Manufacturer     [choose from pull down list that is currently not just listing manufacturers and is incomplete] >> Complete the list and allow entry of your loom manufacturer if not on the list here rather than in a separate area

Loom Model      [choose from incomplete pull down list]  >> Complete the list and allow entry of your loom model if not on the list here rather than in a separate area

Loom Width

Number of Shafts >> Add options for other kinds of looms or allow a write-in. Doesn't really apply to frame, backstrap, jacquard, etc.

Number of Treadles >> Add options for other kinds of looms or allow a write-in.  It is not really helpful to the average weaver to know that my 32 S Weavebird has 2 treadles, or that the TC-1 jacquard has one (two?) treadle(s).  It is possible to have the exact same loom with treadles, mechanical dobby, or computer dobby - which is an important distinction in the way the loom is used and what kinds of designs are made for/easy on it.

Upload Loom Image    [for a picture of your own loom at home, not a generic picture taken from manufacturer]  >> Add the clarifier about it being your own loom if that statement isn't there.

Loom Description     [for your experience with this loom]  >> Might extend to:  Loom Description and Your Experience with This Loom (the place for someone to say "This loom works great for fine linen to rugs, but I find it noisy and heavy to treadle" - any of those personal kinds of comments)

ADD:  Loom Modifications and Customizations (would be great if this could be linked to the loom model)

ADD:  Tricks and Tips for this specific loom (would be great if this could be linked to the loom model)

 That's all I can think of for now. 

Laurie Autio

 I'm not sure where this belongs, but I have a question about the loom database.

I have an AVL PDL, but it does not match the description given. Does that matter? The loom in the database is a 60" CompuDobby with auto advance. Mine is a 48" mechanical dobby with no auto advance. I understand that the loom itself is mostly the same, in which case why not just list the base model, and leave the options as options? I was under the impression that's how it was, but maybe I misunderstood.

I think that is the ideal, but they are waiting for a major database tweak by the developers.  There was work being done by  hand, but it is very slow and I have not seen that part come up.  I have the same problem with one of my looms, a Harrisville 4S/4T 22" that only comes up as a 4S/6T.

Laurie Autio

At the moment, the looms database is on hold.  We encountered large problems with the code that was written by our last developer.  At this time, we are working on the overall usability and functionality of Weavolution and then will be addressing creating the database for looms and yarns once the new site is launched.

I suggest that you enter the loom in "My looms" and not try to find or use the archetypes that are in the current database.  Many basic looms have not been entered into the archetype database and we will be working on that once we have launched the new site in mid to late July.

Hope that helps,
Claudia, Weavolution co-founder

 Ok, good to know. Thanks!