Hi!

I'm Franco Rios from Sacramento. I have been weaving for the last couple years. I also like to spin.

I'm interested in seeing more info about backstrap loom weaving.

Have a good day!

My blog Franco's Fiber Adventure

http://francosfiberadventure.blogspot.com/

Comments

Mon, 09/21/2009 - 19:38

bolivian warmi

Hi Carolyn,

Well the good news is warping for the backstrap loom is EASY-straight off the lom stake and onto the loom bars-no cutting or threading-install some string heddles and you are set. We are running a beginner weave along to get familiar with the loom, opening the sheds, making string heddles etc and you are welcome to join in. We haven't started weaving yet and folks are getting all their sticks and bits to put a loom together.

I am going o send you a PM (message) with more info about the group forum.

Welcome!

Laverne

Tue, 09/22/2009 - 11:25

g0ukb (not verified)

Hi - I'm Brian from England - if anyone is curious the weird user name is my ham-radio callsign so my other hobbies fit in with my technical work in computing.

Weaving was intended to be a relaxing, practical escape from a job where I actually produce nothing tangible. However I seem to get precious little spare time to weave and so tackle simple projects on the Inkle looms (I have 3, floor, table and mini). My 4/8 shaft Ashford loom has a sample warp on it but ...

I'm particularly interested in South and Central American Weaving and am in awe of the beauty of work produced with very simple backstrap looms. I do have a couple of good backstrap books and a home-made set of parts for a backstrap loom but have yet to use them. Hopefully I will find time to take part in the next beginners weave-along. I'm pretty familar with pick-up patterns on the Inkle so hopefully once i have the technique for the backstrap loom I will soon become inventive.

I have a blog which, sadly, is quite rarely updated but if anyone is interested there are pictures of some of my inkle pick up patterns, a tablet weaving project I've  left unfinished and a few of my 4 shaft projects http://loomatic.blogspot.com

 

 

 

Tue, 09/22/2009 - 13:10

bolivian warmi

Hi Brian. Welcome! I checked out your blog-really nice bands!!  I have that Lida Hendrickson book too and just love all her gorgeous lettering. I am trying to transfer her designs to double weave so I can do them on my backstrap but that is a project that keeps getting interrupted.

Backstrap weaving will be perfect for your campervan trips. You can even set it up outside, tie up to a tree and use sticks and bits lying about as your cross sticks and heddle stick!

There is till time to join this beginner weave along-we are still getting loom parts together. However, the instructions will alwyas be there so you can follow those any time you like-always more fun and motivating to start something with a group though.

Which backstrap books do you have?

Laverne

 

 

Tue, 09/22/2009 - 17:41

g0ukb (not verified)

Thanks for the compliment - I'm still learning the Inkle loom but enjoy playing with pick-up patterns. Sadly the campervan rusted away underneath us but we still camp in tents and are hoping for a new campervan as soon as we can afford one. On a recent vacation a backstrap loom would have been ideal - I had loads of spare time but quite a few flights so even my mini-inkle would have been an inconvenience and candidate to get broken.  Also Liz (my wife) and I do electronics and ham radio with Boy and Girl Scouts so it would be cool to use free time attached to a tree by a length of warp! It might even get inspire some of the youngsters to want to weave.

As for books - I love books and have way too many - Ebay is often a great place to indulge quite cheaply. I have the following that are relevant to backstrap weaving:

Backstrap Weaving - Taber/Anderson

Weaving on a backstrap loom - de Rodriguez/Ziek

The Art of Bolivian highland weaving - Cason/Cahlander

Double woven treasures from old Peru - Cahlander

 

Brian

 

 

 

 

Tue, 09/22/2009 - 17:53

bolivian warmi

My backstrap loom goes on flights with me everywhere. I declare the wood when I enter a country but have never had any problem with that.

I have those books that you listed above. The Taber/Anderson one is wonderful for getting started and I love both Cahlander's books. In fact, I am doing the balanced double weave in her Peru book at the moment. This technique is not woven here anymore but I want to learn it in order to repoduce some pre-Columbian fragments that I have. Someone told me that this technique is still practiced by one group in Mexico. A lot of people find Cahlander very ''dense''. I think I was lucky to have been able to go to Peru and learn with my first teacher shortly after picking up her book so that on my return, things made more sense. Once you work out her system, she is a lot easier to follow.

Again, I got the Rodriguez/Ziek book before actually going to Guatemala last year.   

Those are all lovely books to sit and drool over and the  best ''how-to'' ones around.

Laverne

 

 

Wed, 09/23/2009 - 23:28

jenadina (not verified)

Hi, I'm Jen :) I'm relatively new to backstrap weaving; I've woven my backstrap, a card-woven bookmark, and a random strap. My project for the back-to-school weavealong will be a scarf if it turns out.

I'm a homeschooling mama to a 6yo boy. Besides that, I'm a private English tutor in Mexico.

I like to make stuff and I hate to clean house. I spin, sew, knit, and crochet. I adore weaving and hope to be good at it someday :)

 

Nice to meet you all!

Thu, 09/24/2009 - 01:18

bolivian warmi

Hi Jen,

I teach English too. Where in Mexico are you? Do you have a photo for our page ''My little corner of the world''? Here's the link.

www.weavolution.com/node/5128

Laverne

Thu, 09/24/2009 - 16:14

jenadina (not verified)

I'm in Tijuana. It's super ugly here, but if you want me to post a picture, I suppose I could take one...

Thu, 09/24/2009 - 22:30

bolivian warmi

Yes yes we want a photo, super feo o no! I have never been to Tijuana-never been to Mexico for that matter.

Fri, 09/25/2009 - 17:42

Aquinnah (not verified)

 It would seem I put my intro in the wrong place. sorry! I didn;t spot it. 

 

Aquinnah

Mon, 10/12/2009 - 13:47

Aunt Janet (not verified)

Hey Mandolinchick,

   Fellow mandolin/strap weavers/players unite.  Isn't this backstrap stuff fun!  I'm looking forward to doing the double weave bit.  Have you gotten started yet?

Aunt Janet

Sat, 11/14/2009 - 01:24

dashiemouse (not verified)

 Hi everyone!  I'm Sasha and I don't weave at all yet :)  I've been knitting and crocheting for forever, and just recently learned to spin.  I've always been fascinated by weaving, and many years ago I tried to teach myself to weave on a backstrap loom, but the combination of a) never having woven before and b) my instructions being for card weaving, but with no diagrams made it all but impossible to figure out.

I'm really looking forward to making a loom and experimenting with weaving.  I have my first project all charted out, but silly grad school is taking up too much of my time to start right now.  I'll probably try to get set up over Christmas break.

Thanks so much for this fabulous resource!  I'm so glad I found this group :D

Sat, 11/14/2009 - 22:48

Caroline (not verified)

hi Sasha,and welcome! I first used a backstrap with card-weaving years ago, following the instructions in the Rachel Brown "Weaving Spinning and Dyeing Book". I hooked up to a curtain rail! I still hook up for card-weaving rather than try and use a loom.

Laverne has lots of information and tutorials here and is busy indexing it all so its easier to find, and she also has links to off-site photos and videos so you can see exactly what it is you are supposed to be doing, so there is plenty to read about. If you get confused or need to ask a question, just start a new thread and someone will be along to answer - once the threads get to more than 30 postings long it gets hard to locate new posts and your question can get lost or over-looked. This problem should be fixed next week when the forums get an overhaul.

In the meantime the most important information has been fixed to the top of the forums and there are a bunch of tutorials to take you from getting your loom together to weaving pretty bands with doubleweave.

Thu, 11/19/2009 - 16:07

Kimo (not verified)

Hi Everyone--

I'm a very new weaver, just learning the basics of backstrap weaving after putting together a loom this week. Laverene's article on Weavezine helped answer my questions, so thank you for such a great article!

I picked up knitting (on round looms) about three years ago and have gradually added some simple weaving (on square looms like the 4" Weave-it). About a month ago, I met a weaver and after spending an hour chatting about weaving, I found I had a real interest--but no $$ to buy a loom. So, I was encouraged to give backstrap weaving a chance. I'm so glad I did! It's fascinating. I'm really looking forward to learning from this group.

Kim

Thu, 11/19/2009 - 16:17

bolivian warmi

hi Kim and welcome,

I love your avatar. I think your cat is ging to enjoy your backstrap loom! Mine is just plain bored with it now. She lies on the bed while I weave. I tie up to the bed so she gets jiggled about as I beat in the weft.

Take a look around the forum and check out the tutorials. If you have any questions just start a new topic thread. Sounds like you will be up and weaving soon if you have already put a loom together. We all look forward to hearing about your progress.

Laverne

 

 

Thu, 11/19/2009 - 16:38

Kimo (not verified)

Thanks for the nice welcome, Laverne. I can see that this is "the" place for information about backstrap weaving.

My cat! I thought I had him trained to just sit and watch the yarn, but when I started with the loom this week... well, let's just say he lost it and pounced! Of course, he's so cute that I forgive him every time.

Kim

 

Tue, 10/10/2017 - 17:32

new_weaver

Hello, I am Sue from Virginia and I have just recently started learning about backstrap weaving; I have always wanted to learn how to weave. I use cut off broom handles for my backstrap loom. I made a backstrap just last week on my loom which is my first project ever. Before I made a backstrap for my loom I had used a strap from off of a suitcase I think??? I find that weaving is very relaxing except for sitting in the floor part; I sit on three pillows for a cushion but still have a bit of trouble with my back. I would love to learm more about backstrap weaving and how to do the motifs..... I hope that is the right name for it. I love the designs; I would love to learn how to do native american designs along with that of the Navajo and Pueblo tribes.

Group Audience
Backstrap weaving