Comments

10ashus

It is a wonderful pattern and a firm braid. Colors are a good contrast. How did you choose the variation of yellow to go with that green?

theresasc

Really well done.  What yarns are you using?  I like the color placement a lot. 

Thumper70 (not verified)

Thank you!

I'm afraid it is as simple as two of my favourite colours :) though, I am trying to break out of my comfort zone and weave/braid things other than green he he he . . . My last posted band weaving project is an example. But I still need to push harder I think.

Thumper70 (not verified)

Thank you!

I was truly surprised how tricky it was translating from Bolivan Warmi's "in the hand" method to on the marudai! Stupid me thought it would be easy :P I used mercurised cotton - a new thing for me, normally I would only choose to use silk or linen (favourites), but the cotton works - its got ... "bounce" (I know, I sound like a shampoo comercial!).

 

theresasc

Have you seen the new book, Andean Sling Braids by Rodrick Owen & Terry Newhouse Flynn?  I picked up a copy at Convergence and at the Schiffer Publishing booth they had a snap ring full of samples from the book - absolutely fascinating designs.  I have put my silly self on the waiting list at Braidershand for a core stand:-)

Thumper70 (not verified)

Noooo....However, My copy of Makiko Tada's kawaii kumihimo no kyokasho (ISBN 78 4 416 31404 3) just arrived this morning and I'm drooling over the wonderful ideas and patterns.... It is a beautifully produced book, and even though it is in Japanese the instructions are graphic, and very clear to follow (she knows her audience). You can find it both on Amazon UK and Amazon US.

I have Owen's Braids: 250 Patterns from Japan, Peru & Beyond, which is very good, but, and this is a big but, his graphic represntation of the moves on the marudai are not always very clear, and the images too cramped. Sometimes it takes me a few tries before I "see" what he is doing. Carey, and Tada, on the other hand have beautiful graphics and very clear instructions.

 

theresasc

Thanks for the information on the books.  I will have to look into them.  Rodrick's 250 pattern book was the first one I had.  I am always on the outlook for new books.

Thumper70 (not verified)

happy to help,

Tada has a new book out, which I'm trying to get my hands on. If I'm successful, I'll be sure to let you know.

Queezle

Between you guys making these, and the other thread on that other web site about band looms - are you conspiring??  ha ha

Just wove off the rest of a warp - 20 inches long, 9 inches wide - thinking about making a bag, and wondering about bands...  I think I am doomed.

theresasc

Queezle, on the inkle pick up thread, Thumper70 broke the news that he too has a Glimakra band loom!  It made me laugh and think of you:-)

Thumper70 (not verified)

ah, a bag....

I've got three rolls of band woven and am considering warping up a fourth, and have been mulling over ideas for a bag (or bags) especially using my kumihimo as handles/ties etc. . . .

The problem with making the pretty things, is then figuring out what do DO with the pretty things, other than sit there and admire them (grin)! And, it is always a moment of sweaty palms when you're getting ready to cut or alter the hard won band or braid to do it...

But,

Cut I must, or at least sew....

 

Queezle

I broke the news to my husband that probably another loom will be required.  He plays guitar, so I played up the guitar strap concept, but it wasn't clear that he was buying. 

I think I need to figure out the band loom's footprint, and then figure out exactly where it will go.  And really, its not terribly expensive.  Thumper - do you love your band loom? 

Thumper70 (not verified)

at only 40X82cm, the Glimakra has a small footprint (for a loom) and can be disassembled and stashed under a bed when not in use. Though, I've not stopped using it yet so....

I've only had mine since .... May, and I LOVE it!

Assembly is a bit fiddly, but not difficult. The ease of use, and the comfort factor trump a traditional/standard inkle loom.

You do have to get used to weaving sideways (rather than head on) - but that only takes a few minutes.

It comes with heddles, but not a beater/shuttle.

I confess two of my favourite weaving tools are an old heavy dinner fork (great for rug work, and quickly beating down a fluffy/bulky weft), and a bone used in bookbinding (it makes a great beater/sword/pick up stick, and general ....tool. Be sure to get a real bone one, and not a plastic one, the "feel in the hand" makes a difference. These might be useful things to pick up for your tool box, but the bone, especially, as a beater/sword for the band loom.

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It is my turn to laugh.  I brought home the Glimakra band loom that was set up in the Vendor Hall at Convergence 2014.  With everything else that needed to fit in our car, it would have made sense to disassemble it to bring it home! 

I probably would have had to cut off the warp though and I did enjoy weaving the rest of that warp off.  I even made sure I had an accurate draft for it since I really like the pattern that was on it at the time. 

Vav Stuga in Shelburne Falls, MA carries a band knife they commissioned from a neighboring cutlery forge.  I didn't buy it until later on because I like the feel of wooden tools in my stash that are "almost" as good.  Since I bought the band knife, I haven't gone back to my exotic wooden sword and I highly recommend the band knife!  The loom is so light that you can rest it up against the wall out of the way and even weave on it that way. 

I am now thinking about also getting a Dory Shuttle that has been designed for the Gilmore Wave looms. The Wave is a small 2 sided inkle loom with texsolve heddles, warp beam and cloth beam.  The smaller wave looms are quite portable and more versatile than a traditional inkle loom.  While my Gallinger is in dry dock, I appreciate having a loom with treadles for the pleasure of involving my feet.  My table looms have 4-16 shafts so I don't see the Wave in my future.

I am also getting more interested in tubular shuttle as a step up from a broken off piece of a cardboard quill.  The quill facilitates rapid weaving with the thumb remaining above the warp as it is passed back and forth.  I sometimes use a very favorite stick shuttle when I want to pull each shot very tight although the process is slower.

I love my band loom!

Queezle

And yea, Francine, I think my husband would understand my needing to purchase a knife more than a bone, lol.

I have a woven piece of fabric that I want to turn into a purse.  And the potential beauty of using the same yarns is compelling.  Of course, $400 could buy me a couple purses (that is the argument I see looming on my horizon).

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My guildmate in Miami used to weave bands on her toe loom (miniature version of backstrap sort of arrangement) using the book Bolivian Highland Bandweaving. 

In my travels since buying my band loom, I have paid attention to hand held rigid heddles-Sami and otherwise, grinds such as Joann Hall used for bandweaving class at Convergence 2016, and myriad variations on inkle looms.  Bands for a single project can be woven on the simplest of improvised looms.  I would even use a table loom or floor loom so long as I would not need so much tension that a tie on rod would become bent.  Loom wastage is probably more limiting for using leftover yard for narrow band.

Inkle literally means the band and not the type of loom.  So, I would recommend weaving the bands for one project without buying a band loom.  If you enjoy weaving the band so much that you want a band loom, asking for it after the purse is completed might be greatly successful, especially if DH can then have a guitar strap too.  Who knows, he might want straps to match.

 

Thumper70 (not verified)

hmmm.... "loom wastage" having just finished a kumihimo project, I am minded to consider an idea....which may, or may not work...

When you set up the marudai you use a knot to tie the various strands to the tama (weight)... I need to do a quick bit of research, but I think it is a "bite" anyway, the knot has the effect of both, holding the tension well, but also being quick to dis-connect from the strand when you're done.

I mention this because the purpose of this method is to prevent wastage of valuable silk thread. You are able to work the braid loosing only a few cm at the end....

I'm about to warp up my über-band-loom and think I might give this a try and report back .... or, you'll simply hear transatlantic groans of frustration and despair centred in South London...

I'll need longer leader than on tama, but ....

Has anyone tried this before, am I setting myself up for an experiment in frustration...

 

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Karen of Warped for Good did a very lovely set of images for warping the loom through which I realized that I was not effectively using the rather long texsolv tie on arrangement.  The texsolve cords can bring the warp very close to the heddles.  From memory, I think that reduces waste to about 10 inches.  If you study your loom and how you are weaving on it, you might even be able to attach longer texsolve cords, particularly if you are weaving narrow bands.  I don't think about lashing on to this loom or using waste leader but if I were using very expensive wide (for band) warp, I might reconsider that decision although I also upcycle thrums in interesting ways. 

Francine 

http://www.warpedforgood.com/tag/band-loom/#sthash.7RUxZtPo.dpbs

Thumper70 (not verified)

ah yes, I do use the texsolve cords in this manner, mine are pretty long. But I wonder if I might get that little bit extra out of the warp... :)

 

theresasc

Too funny, Queezle.  It sounds like a new loom is coming to live with you.  Between Weavo & Ravelry there sure are a lot of fiber enablers:-)  I guess I am not one to talk, I ordered a Takadai (Japanese high braiding stand) today!  It will take 6-8 weeks to be made.  I looked at one years ago and has recently been brought to my attention again so I went for it.

Queezle

I always feel guilty spending $$ on myself, but I did line up a side-job in washington DC in October - and I can pocket the difference if I stay in a $60 airBnB rather than their $300/night hotel.  So, I think I have my finances figure out.  Unless I get tired of considering this between now and then. 

So band loom - you can do fancy patterns by using pick up, right?  Francine's beauties were pick up on the band loom?  Not that pick up is anything I really plan to do, but plain bands would make me quite happy.

theresasc

Are like chocolate and ice cream!  Band looms are the perfect place to do pick up because you are dealing with just a few pattern picks vs. the full width of a shaft loom.

It is always amazing to me the variety of patterns you can do either with pick up or warp color choice.  I have been weaving seriously since about 2004 and I have never lost the interest in some kind of band or cord weaving.  All of my work has been done on inkle looms or the braiding stand but from what I know about band looms I would think you would be able to it all.

As for spend the $$, I have decided to get the equipment I really want while I am still working.  Once retirement time comes I want all my toys lined up and waiting for me - and that is my story and I am sticking with it!

 

 

Thumper70 (not verified)

Yes, you can do pick up on the band loom. The Glimakra is actually two shaft treadle so it makes life very much easier. Do you have Inkle Weaving by Helene Bress? There are lots of ideas for plain weave patterns in there. The Strap on my yellow & green bag (I think I posed there a few years ago) is one, as are the two...three most recent bands.

I am warming up to be brave and try some pick up patterns again. A few more plain weave bands and I think I'll be ... Ready.

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The bands Queezle remembers from the heart challenge were not made by me--others did them on a variety of equipment. 

A band loom is a good host for tablet weaving.  In general, if you can do it on an inkle loom, it is easier on the band loom--rather like a floor loom with treadles compared to a typical inkle loom.  I recall directions for creating a third shed on an inkle loom with shed creation method remaining basically the same.  That might be the one situation where an inkle loom would be more intuitive, not that adding an auxillary heddle rod could not be done on the band loom.  Think about how much you like warp-faced weaving in making the decision to get a band loom. 

My pleasure at its simplicity and long standing interest in turning drafts to simplify life has led me in unexpected directions now committing to a systematic study of warp-faced weaving using the textbook Tabby to Taquete. 

I also enjoy the concept of turning drafts.  Imagine weaving overshot with a single shuttle.  LOL this last thought started from Summer and Winter with a TIA for the word overshot so I performed a simple search and found something in its own right worth sharing. 

http://www.weavezine.com/content/designing-summer-and-winter-and-taquet%E9.html

I am with Theresa in collecting the tools now for more active use when I retire and have more time to spend with them but not so much money to spend on them.  Band loom feeding is downright cheap!  My stash of single spools of high quality cottons will go a very long way.

Francine

Queezle

I do not care for weft-faced weaving.  As a weaver, I'm a bit embarassed to admit that its not the weaving, per se, that I like.  I like designing, and I actually enjoy warping up the loom. So satisfying to have all those threads tightly in order (in contrast to essentially every other aspect of my life).  In that sense, a band loom might be right for me. 

And I'm totally there with you on the turned drafts.  Single shuttle weaves are appealing for so many reasons, my turned M's and O's, for example, was a pleasure to weave, whereas my shadow weave was a PITA.  In fact, part of the reason I did the shadow weave project was to ask myself if I really could not tolerate two-shuttle projects.  I found it to not be a deal killer, but not preferred.
 

This line of thought, though, makes me wonder if I need a second beam, and of course, more shafts.  First I thought 10 instead of my current 8, which then went to 12, then 16... 

I will indulge myself with bigger equipment upgrades when both kids are through college.  We are 25% of the way there, child #1 starts his junior year in another week.  Over-achieving child #2 has now found even more expensive colleges to which she plans to apply.  Oh my.

Finished Length Unit
yards
Finished Width Unit
yards
Length Off Loom Unit
yards
Length on Loom Unit
yards
Notes

Based on Laverne's (Bolivian Warmi) "Palma Braid" translated onto a marudai - it was trickier than I thought.

Number of Shafts
2
Project Status
Finished
Sett Unit
epi
Width off Loom Unit
inches
Width on Loom Unit
inches