Thought I'd see if I could draw on others' experience here. I have a demo upcoming at a Wool Arts event to support local farms and I'm bringing a 4H Harrisville studio 22" floor loom and a Leclerc Medico table loom that'll be new to me (don't even have it yet). I feel I should use wool, even though it's not required. As this is taking place in a barn, I'm not keen on letting people treadle on the Harrisville so I'm looking for ideas to show the flow of the work myself but also have something that gives a "wow" factor as the design develops without being hard for me to stop and start (I know, that's everything at once!); I'll warp something on the table loom that'll be hands-on for spectators so probably just a simple point twill or rose-path there or even a tartan, which everyone seems to love. I don't often weave with wool anymore. Anyone have some "this worked great for me" memories to share here; or even "don't do this!" I have two weeks to prepare and Harrisville Designs is local to me so I'd love to use their yarns and have Shetland in the stash. I'm a moderately experienced weaver, love overshot but am thinking I should stick to one shuttle for simplicity sake. This loom, I should add, is an older one with only 4 treadles and direct tie-up so a complicated tie-up and simple weave isn't the answer. This isn't usually a problem for me at home but in a demo setting? Caution is the better part of wisdom, I think.

Comments

Sun, 09/24/2017 - 12:27

Erica J

Hmm I am having a think. I don't have any good suggestions yet!

Mon, 09/25/2017 - 12:08

Nanefire

Would love to know just what kind of weaves worked for others when they demo'd in the past.

Mon, 09/25/2017 - 12:48

Lainey

any chance you can get a knowledgeable helper?  It may be useful for one person to be at the loom "doing" and the other explaining, answering questions and assisting with handloom.  also lots of samples for them to see/feel/examine. (put them in plastic baggies) If you are active in a local guild or studio having their info. available (brouchure) is useful if anyone wants more info.  Most important is engaging people by starting conversations so they are not just walking by. as far as a project I would go colorful and easy.  The handloom could have more of a saori feel - lots of choices of fiber, not trying to maintain any overall set pattern. Maybe having some draft drawdowns so they can try so dif. designs or just to show the amazing variations you can get.  (put in plastic sleeves in binder) Good luck.

Tue, 09/26/2017 - 21:58

Michael White

Cheryl has been doing demonstrations on a HD 22 inch loom for 40 years. Keep it simple and keep it bright. Put something on the loom so you only have to use one shuttle. Any of the twills will work. Just remember where you are weaving and put something on that your can throw a way if need be when done. Durning our last guild outing we had one of Cheryl's HD looms set up for people to weave on. We are going to do this again in a few weeks at Mule Days at Callaway Plantation, https://www.facebook.com/pg/MuleDaySouthernHeritageFestival/posts/

 

Wed, 09/27/2017 - 16:46

sally orgren

Any twill is great, and a colorful, eyecandy warp.

I use 5/2 cotton for the warp as it is very sturdy, less expensive than many other materials, and comes in lots of colors.

Consider that you may leave the loom unattended for a bathroom break and find someone liked to beat, a lot, while you were gone, and repeatedly pulled the weft very tight across the fell line. Suddenly, you now have selvedges that are frayed and may break easily. (That is why I would use cotton for warp and feature the wool for the weft.)

Show folks (or better still, allow them to try it themselves) how to weave plain weave, then a simple advancing twill, then a reversing twill, and then a fancy twill.

You can also lift just one level of a table loom, and show how that shaft is now activated, or "on". Lower the lever, it's now "off." So we have 1 or 0. Some bright visitor will likely recognize what this means. Then you can explain the computer & weaving connection!

I am preparing 2 looms this weekend for an "adult weave-in" to be held at the NPS on October 7th. We'll have 5 looms available, for 5 different time slots = 25 new adult weavers (hopefully)!

I also bring a sheet that diagrams loom part names (for table & floor looms), weaving resources, regional places to take lessons, and a copy of the draft they wove.

Wed, 09/27/2017 - 19:01

Nanefire

Thank you, Sally, for all that shared experience!! I particularly appreciate the "heads-up" about what can happen when I leave the loom for a break! Will keep this firmly in mind. In fact, I'll be re-reading your email several times for tips.

 

Fri, 09/29/2017 - 13:57

sally orgren

So I am quite familiar dealing with "unattended" looms that have been investigated by critters, both 2- and 4-legged, or winged, or that have a tail, or that think the warps are tasty because a visitor with sticky hands touched a specific spot, etc. If you want to look on the positive side, dealing with these unexpected situations makes you a better weaver, and certainly a very good warper!