I have set up my drawloom using my countermarche, but I am curious what others prefer and why? I have both a vertical countermarche and horizontal countermarche, which will work with my drawloom attachment. I obviously also have the damask pulleys. Which do you use and why do you prefer it to the other options?

Thanks in advance for sharing your knowledge. 

Comments

Wed, 08/19/2015 - 14:35

Joanne Hall

Recently I set up a loom with a 10 shaft weave with a countermarch and a similar warp was put on the same identical loom,  same 10 shaft weave and tie-up with drall pulleys.  Both worked just fine.  The counterbalance tie-up has fewer treadle cords, half as many and that may make it sound easier.  However, the countermarch made it easier to perfect the sheds. 

There is not much difference between vertical or horizontal countermarch tie-ups and they feel the same when you are weaving.  I find the vertical has better balance, since the lower lamms are a little heavier.  In either case, balance can be adjusted by tying up an extra treadle, sometimes to just the first two lower lamms. 

Most weavers in the US put the countermarch on their loom and then do not take it off to tie up as a counterbalance.  It just seems more convenient to leave the countermarch on.   In Sweden, they are more likely to use a counterbalance tie-up, even on the drawloom.  There is a six shaft drall pulley which is used on the drawloom.

Joanne

Wed, 08/19/2015 - 16:06

Erica J

Thanks JoAnne,

Your response is very informative, as always! There is so much to try! :)

I think I have my drawloom on with the vertical countermarche all tied up quute well again. I may try tge drall pulleys, but probably not until I've woven a fair bit of damask on the current set up. Not much since messing about with what is working well!

Wed, 08/19/2015 - 21:21

cottageweaver (not verified)

I don't think I've seen these - are they still made?

Thu, 08/20/2015 - 08:40

kerstinfroberg

6-sh dräll pulleys are still available for the Göta loom (the folding one), but I doubt they will fit a (any) "real" loom. OTOH, with 5 pulley levels an "ordinary" dräll pulley can be used for 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 shafts (provided you have a suitable tieup).

Dräll pulleys can also be used with horses, like this:

(but it would be a nightmare to balance, I think...) Somewhere I had a real photo of a 16-shaft (maybe 20) loom, operated by a professional linen dräll weaver, with that type of pulley/horse useage, but the photo got lost somewhere between computers.

Thu, 08/20/2015 - 12:34

ShawnC

This is a lovely discussion! I have the Damask pulleys (for up to 10 shafts) and some long-eyed heddles I plan to use for Damask weaving with a sword on my CB loom after I complete a couple of other 'normal' projects. This loom (a Berga Savonia made by Varpapuu) is the first CB loom I've used. I have come to appreciate it very much. I've been hauling around books on weaving damask for quite some time, so excited to finally give this a try. I'm looking forward to more discussion!

Thu, 08/20/2015 - 14:40

Erica J

Shawn,

I'm glad you are enjoying the discussion as well. When you get to your damask set up. There are several threads here and in the Drawloom Group, that I think you will find helpful. It was this group and sitting through Becky Ashden's entire video that finally got my drawloom set up!

If you can get to one of Joanne Hall's workshops first, I think that would be extremely beneficial. I still plan to see if I can plan a summer trip to the US and squeeze one in.

Thu, 08/20/2015 - 20:21

Joanne Hall

We get the six shaft drall pulleys with Myrehed drawloom shipments. 

Joanne

Thu, 08/20/2015 - 20:38

kerstinfroberg

... just wondering... why manufacture a 3-level dräll pulley? When a 5-level (10-level, even... but I doubt they exist) would be more versatile?

(not even a question, or, I guess, a rethoric question)

Fri, 08/21/2015 - 00:53

ShawnC

Erica,

 

I'm glad you've revived the discussion. I've watched Becky's video twice now. I'm sure I'll watch it again. Watching it, reading Damask and Opphamta, watching, reading, ad naseum, helps a whole lot. I also found some wonderful old Swedish weaving books, with some opphamta as well.

Sat, 08/22/2015 - 03:39

Joanne Hall

The cost is a little less, not much though.  We have both and get requests for both.

Joanne

Mon, 08/24/2015 - 01:05

cottageweaver (not verified)

Joanne, thanks.  I'd be interested in these.  I'll email you.

I have a couple different shapes of the 5-level pulleys (for 10 shaft).  The smaller set could be handy at the drawloom, though, since space it tight.  I did use my 5-level ones for 4 shaft broken twill and they worked fine.   I've also used them for rep weave.

Mon, 08/24/2015 - 08:36

Erica J

I just want to say thank you to everyone for a great discussion! I love it when a topic takes off like this!

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