Hello to all, and especially you lucky Dryad Vertical Loom owners. I would like to ask those folks who own ,or have information for these unique looms if they would help me in  gathering any information we can in order that I may build a smaller version of the Dryad. It would be for a weaving width of about 16". I would ask that if anyone is willing to send me any photos, and general measurements of their looms such as, footprint, height, rail, and frame thickness. Also how harness's are disassembled, and their height to determine what Texsolv to use, as well as reed heigth. Any measurement of anything on this loom, and especially any photo's would be of great help for this project.You can contact me through Weavo, and I'll provide my e-mail to make sending,and managing photo's easier. Also,please  tell me what you like about your loom ,or even better, what you would change about it! Thanks in advance, Regards, Frank

Comments

Erica

A friend found a listing for a Dryad upright loom on her work for sale list. She told me about it last weekend, when I saw the price and the loom that is was, I said I'd take it. Assuming it hasn't already sold, I'll send you any information you want once I have it home and put together!

TheLoominary (not verified)

Thanks Erica, that will be great. Frank

Erica

I will be buying the Dryad. It's coming from Wales and I'm in Norfolk. I will pick it up in a few weeks time. But as I'm moving in June, I may not get it together until July/August. I apologize that it won't be sooner!

Cheers,

Erica

TheLoominary (not verified)

Hi Erica. Congrats on your new Dryad loom.Thanks, and not to worry, I wouldn't be starting anything on this loom until next year. Plenty of time to gather information.Frank

crazylace (not verified)

Hi, I was browsing along here and saw your post.I have in my workshop an upright Harris rug/tapestry loom. its about 7 feet tall with smallish footprint.Quite often see the Dryads for sale and have seen them IRL but I think my Harris is a lot better. It is made from a good dark solid mahogany of the kind you dont find anymore, has 2 sliding horizontal shafts metal heddles, just above standing head height which are released by pulling a string just above and working the 2 foot pedals. The beater bar is released with a trigger mechanism which causes it to unhook and it drops down with the reed which is 6 dpi, it is possible to attach more weight to it but I find it more than enough on its own. Good to work at standing up, the weaving width is about 26 inches. I have used it for rugs and tapestry.My only complaint is that I have to climb, stand on a chair up to dress it at the top and now with my getting on in years find this a bit of a drag, and i now have a Macomber and a large Varpa loom which take up lots of room I am thinking of selling the Harris on at some time, anyone interested? I am in the Midlands UK.

It is really well constructed, you can place a template drawing at the back to work your tapestry from. I attach a string to release the upper pawl and use a stick to flip it back with, you then wind on with the wheel at the side. All bolted and pegged together, easy to assemble. The Dryads seem quite flimsy in comparison.

Su Butler

HI Erica....While I have no experience with the Harris upright loom, I do own a Dryad and am very happy with it. Crazylace commented the Dryad was "flimsy" in comparison to the Harris, but I must say that is a work I have never associated with my Dryad upright loom! Mine is a workhorse - very solid, 2 shafts controlled by treadles, heavy beater that is held in place by springs for easy return and for holding a reed in place. Ratchets and pawls are substantial and the loom, since is does not come apart for transport, is solid and true. I am sure you will love your new-to-you Dryad. I tried to put a photo of mine here, but once again I am unable to add photos to my posts. If you care to see two photos of my loom you can see them at my website at www.subudesigns.com Click on Gallery, then on Tapestry and the first two pics are my loom.

Andrew Kieran (not verified)

my loom has a height of 69" and a foot print of 31" deep by 42" wide.

there is 38.5" between the top and bottom bar.

the shaft holder is 13" from the top bar and is 4" tall. the bottom of the reed holder is 4" from the bottom of the shaft holder, which is in turn about 18" from the bottom bar.

the reed-holder is held up by springs on either side and slides on rails. if the loom has been sitting in a shed for a while the rails can get a little swollen and main took some oil and a bit of time in a warm room to start moving smoothly.

The warp goes over the top bar and onto the warp beam. I have banged nails into here as it makes a raddle and keeps the warp spaced during weaving.

There are about 210 heddles in total, i forget, and the reed is spaced at 3 dents per inch.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/55345518@N04

 

with any luck that should be a link to my photostream, i have taken some pictures of the loom, they'll be the 15 most recent assuming you access this soon enough. i've called one of them dryad, in case you don't access this post for some time.

i don't know if that link'll work. sometimes these things don't

any more information, i'll be happy to help, take measurements, whatever

TheLoominary (not verified)

Thanks, Andrew, lots of information and photo's here for me. I see you have been busy with rugs on your Dryad loom. Since I have a heavy loom for my rugs, in my German 54" Harald Marquardsen CM, I'll be building a smaller version of your Dryad for tapestry work. Thanks for taking your time for the measurements and photo's. Frank.

woollylamb

Would anyone know if I can replace the (old and weak) string heddles on my Dryad 2 shaft upright floor loom with Texsolv? It seems to measure 11" but I am worried that I should not make an expensive mistake as the wooden frames are quite chunky. Any advice on UK suppliers of the correct Texsolv heddles would be welcome.

Andrew Kieran (not verified)

frank herring and sons are good, I was using them as of last year. They sell all sorts of weaving supplies. If you can't get texsolv to fit, you could always just get cotton heddle string (makes excellent ragrug warp too) and make up a wee jig to make some more heddles.

I spent half a week doing that for my other loom last year, I don't recommend it ;)

TheLoominary (not verified)

Thanks Andrew, I think woollylamb was the one looking for heddles though. Frank.

TheLoominary (not verified)

Ah-haa! now I see! Thanks all. Frank

steve104c (not verified)

Woollylamb, Yes Texsolv heddles will fit your Dryad. I replaced my heddles and they fit good..................Steve.

NancyS

I have found a handful of posts on vertical rug looms. I am particularly interested in learning more about the Dryad Loom. Some queries here....

1. For those out there who own or are familiar with the Dryad Loom, do you have information on their design / ability to build one?

2. Does anyone have suggestions on other vertical looms that are sturdy for rugs and heavier tapestries?

Would love to get some feedback / suggestions. I have been looking for sturdy rug loom, but my space is so limited that this feels like a really good alternative.

Thank you! Nancy

Andrew Kieran (not verified)

The Dryad Upright (and a horizontal I once used) are built like battletanks.

Sturdy as hell, which well they should be. The beater doesn't slide but instead is on rails and is held up by springs, you pull it down to beat the shed. If you live in an upper storey you'll drive your neighbours mad, but you could make a bunch of rugs to insulate the sound ;)

The shafts move forward and backwards rather than up and down obviously. It's a very convenient system, but if you want to make your own and wish to simplify things you could try replicating the ancient warp-weighted system, which is similar in principle to the typical tapestry system. It would slow you down a little, but you may not be as concerned with speed and rug weaving isn't the quickest process anyway.

If I wanted another loom like this, I'd probably just make a warp-weighted loom as it would save me a lot of time and pain that I'd require to get halfway decent at joinery. 

Unfortunately I sold mine as I was moving into an upper storey and had too many looms anyway. Now I'm in another country and miss it greatly, the only loom that ever made me money

Anyhow, it's simple enough, I took a bunch of pictures and measurements you can see up there. Probably easy enough to replicate if you know your joinery

cafa

Andrew,

Hello. I am in the Caribbean, Trinidad, and desperately want to get back to weaving. I need to build a tapestry loom—I can't wait until next year before moving my household down here—and would appreciate any measurements and pictures you can send along to help me build a Dryad. I found an excellent joiner, but he's never seen a loom before. He's willing to do it, too. You can email me. Thanks.

Andrew Kieran (not verified)

The Dryad Upright (and a horizontal I once used) are built like battletanks.

Sturdy as hell, which well they should be. The beater doesn't slide but instead is on rails and is held up by springs, you pull it down to beat the shed. If you live in an upper storey you'll drive your neighbours mad, but you could make a bunch of rugs to insulate the sound ;)

The shafts move forward and backwards rather than up and down obviously. It's a very convenient system, but if you want to make your own and wish to simplify things you could try replicating the ancient warp-weighted system, which is similar in principle to the typical tapestry system. It would slow you down a little, but you may not be as concerned with speed and rug weaving isn't the quickest process anyway.

If I wanted another loom like this, I'd probably just make a warp-weighted loom as it would save me a lot of time and pain that I'd require to get halfway decent at joinery. 

Unfortunately I sold mine as I was moving into an upper storey and had too many looms anyway. Now I'm in another country and miss it greatly, the only loom that ever made me money

Anyhow, it's simple enough, I took a bunch of pictures and measurements you can see up there. Probably easy enough to replicate if you know your joinery

theresasc

Loom that has a similar action is the LeClerc Tissart tapestry loom.  They are no longer made, but come up on the sales list.  They tend to be wider than the Dryad.  If you don't mind spending an arm and a leg, there is also the Fireside Cantilever looms.  Beautiful but expensive even used.

 

 

Dragonaut

Somebody is having leno heddles? thx Kind Regards Filip

Dragonaut

Somebody is having leno heddles? thx Kind Regards Filip

Dragonaut

Somebody is having leno heddles? thx Kind Regards Filip

Dragonaut

Somebody is having leno heddles? thx Kind Regards Filip

Dragonaut

Somebody is having leno heddles? thx Kind Regards Filip

Dragonaut

Somebody is having leno heddles? thx Kind Regards Filip

Dragonaut

Somebody is having leno heddles? thx Kind Regards Filip

Dragonaut

Somebody is having leno heddles? thx Kind Regards Filip

Dragonaut

Somebody is having leno heddles? thx Kind Regards Filip

carsinc

I have a vertical LeClerc tapestry loom that may have been a one off custom made a lot of years ago when LeClerc was making custom looms.  It looks similiar to photos of your Dryad.  The LeClerc website has a lot of old instructions in pdf format.  I'll try to post a photo of how my LeClerc is warped.

jollyfarmer

hi have just bought a dryad loom.  Can anyone give me help as to how to warp this please?  Also it needs new heddles but I don't know how to measure the size I need - any information welcome as a complete novice.  I bought it because I want to make rugs on it using fleece

 

jollyfarmer

Hi Nancy  I am in the UK too.  Did you manage to find a dryad loom?  I have just bought one and have no idea as to how it operates.  Have you any suggestions as to how to warp it etc.  I want to make rag rugs on it.

Many thanks hope this goes through this is the first time I have posted/sent anything.

Thanks Pam

 

jollyfarmer

Hi Nancy  I am in the UK too.  Did you manage to find a dryad loom?  I have just bought one and have no idea as to how it operates.  Have you any suggestions as to how to warp it etc.  I want to make rag rugs on it.

Many thanks hope this goes through this is the first time I have posted/sent anything.

Thanks Pam

 

Erica J

I warp my Dryad much the same way I warp all my looms. I warp back to front. So I simply wind my warp, wind the warp onto the top beam with tension, then thread the heddles, sleigh the reed and tie onto the bottom.

I hope that helps,

Erica

steve104c (not verified)

Made sectionals for my Dryad loom. Bought the metal loops from GlimakraUSA. Also replaced the wooden 1/2" X 1/2" guides where the reed/beater bar slides up and down with nylon I got from a woodworking show. The nylon was 1/2" thick X 4" wide X 36" long. Easily cut on my table saw and matched up the holes from the original wooden piece on the loom. Now the beater slides up and down really nice. Made some place mats that came out really nice. This loom makes tight weaving, good for rugs. I have a 36" width weave. Also replaced metal heddles with Texsolv. Steve.

Realsearch

Hi Steve, several years ago you posted that you had parts for the newcomb loom....do you still? I'm in the process of restoring one and am searching for some parts..thanks in advance, Loraine

PatBingham

I've just had some cams cast and they're at the machine shop to finish up. I'll send them on to a very experienced Weavers Delight owner who will test them. If they work well, I'll start getting more made for other folks. Go here to get more info: https://www.facebook.com/groups/437504939962184/