This is my first time posting to a web group or forum, and I have finally gotten the courage to introduce myself and ask some questions. My name is Diana and I have wanted to learn to weave for over 25 years. I finally decided to just go for it as I am not getting any younger. Last month I purchased a Schacht 20" Flip Rigid Heddle loom and a good amount of 3/2 pearl cotton in various colors. I jumped in and started weaving 2 placemats in plain weave using 8/4 cotton warp for the warp and 3/2 pearl cotton for the weft. They came out pretty good for a start. The only thing is one is about two inches longer than the other, as I finished the first and then rewarped and did another. I can fully understand needing a template to determine lengths. I am now working on a scarf made of worsted wool (totally differnt than working with cotton) in a 5 dent reed.

I was surfing Craigs List a few weeks ago and found a Leclerc 36" Artisat floor loom that was being sold by a woman whose mother had owned it for many years before she passed. It was used in upstate New York for many years and had been in storage in So Cal for the last 4. Needless to say, the offer was so good, I couldn't pass it up so I jumped at the opportunity. I now have it in my living room, have cleaned it up, inspected it, replaced rusted reeds and am ready to start my first project on it.

I have purchased several videos, read several books, watched lots of YouTube videos and haven't a clue of what to start on the floor loom. I reached out to the local guild but it seems they are defunct, and I do not have any weaving shops/teachers within a 2-3 hour distance from my home. I have a lot of 3/2 Pearl cotton and am looking for ideas of what to try on the floor loom. What is the minimum warp length for that loom? I have to calculate just how many yards of 3/2 pearl cotton I have, but I kinda went a little overboard on purchasing it....it was pretty... and the first thread I have ever really worked with.

I do not knit, crochet or sew so fiber arts is completely new for me. Your input and ideas would be greatly appreciated!

Comments

Tue, 04/26/2016 - 11:23

Sue in VT

Welcome to a world of learning that will keep you interested!  You know, with all that 3/2 yarn you could take your placemat patterns and extend them to make some great table runners.  You'd get lots of experience on your new floor loom AND create gifts for all your family and friends.  As you purchase new yarns, you'll find you're glad you have the odd tubes of 3/2 because of weave structures that require differing thicknesses of yarn (as with overshot).  Even if you think you have no use for it, suddenly an idea or pattern will emerge and you'll have the perfect yarn waiting.

Tue, 04/26/2016 - 17:07

artemiskirby@y…

I appreciate your information. I have a basket full of yarns that I am excited to put on my loom. But unlike my rigid heddle loom, I am not sure what is the minimum length I need to warp?

Tue, 04/26/2016 - 19:56

sally orgren

Why not plan another 2 placemats for your floor loom, using the same materials as your RH project?

• The sett would be the same (the number of ends per inch). The sett for 8/4 cotton (carpet warp) is typically 15 ends per inch or less. How many warps per inch did you get on your RH?

• You have to make sure your new reed would accommodate your sett. You can find online sett charts. If you have a 15 dent reed = 1 warp per dent. If you have a 12 dent reed, try sleying 1,1,1,2 (repeat) for 15 epi.

• How many warps did you wind for your RH placemats? Wind the same number. If the placemat was 18" wide at 15 epi = 270 warps.

• You would need to add about 1 yard to your planned warp for loom waste. So if your placemats are going to be 20" long x 2 mats = 40" + 36" for loom waste. (Estimate 2.25 yards). A little extra to accommodate for take up and shrinkage is always a good thing.

• You'll need a warping board to wind the warp. Look up references on how to use a warping board.

• Once you have your warp chains (yes, there should be more than one chain for a warp this wide), you'll need to transfer them to the loom. This is where videos and books would be helpful.

Debbie Chandler Learn to Weave; Cay Garrett Warping By Yourself; and Peggy Osterkamp Warping Your Loom are well-illustrated resources if you prefer old school books.

Joining a guild, even if far away, might be helpful if they have a strong library, so you could borrow DVD's and other resources.

Welcome to the rabbit hole!

Tue, 04/26/2016 - 22:26

artemiskirby@y…

Sally,

That's a great idea! I do have enough materials to do that. I also just bought a warping board and have the Debbie Chandler book which I have been diligently reading.

The only reed I currently have for the floor loom is a 10 dent. And the reed I used for the rigid heddle was also a 10 dent. My placemats were 14 wide and 20 inches long. So this should be an easy one to replicate and see the differences.