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Shuttles, waprs and more

Showing posts with label looms. Show all posts
Showing posts with label looms. Show all posts

Friday, July 22, 2016

Oh, What a Tangled Web We Weave When We First Practice.

Things have taken a turn to the weaving. My weaving stockpile has been evolving. What once started as a rigid heddle from Ashford, 8 shaft Kirsten loom and two old 4shaft looms. I now have swapped out my Ashford rigid heddle from a Kromski Harp Rigid Heddle of the same size (80cm), a 30cm Ashford Knitters Loom and my new pride and joy an Ashford 8 shaft loom (60cm). So right now I have 6 looms (one got sold already). So my Ashford Rigid heddle, 4 shaft and 8shaft Kirsten are all getting themselves put on eBay and awaiting new homes.
Curious Kitty wondering what new product is this mum?...

I'll do a review on the rigid heddles now I have had a chance to try three and also explain why I would still want a Majacraft Dynamic Heddle. I will also show my new baby in another post. However this time, I thought instead of equipment I would actually show the damn things being used!

So my Ashford Knitters Loom came with a double heddle block and extra heddles. So what does an inexperienced person who has only done two plain weave scarves do? Set up and work a double heddle and learn two new weaving skills!
A trial of patience!

On Ashford's site they have a pattern for a shuttle holder. So I'm still weaving it but wanted to share my progress.

The camera hides the flaws!


So many sheds!
This pattern not only required two heddle, but also two pickup sticks inserted behind the heddle to create two more sheds.
Brooks Bouquet being the fancy part!
This holder not only uses plain weave, but also two-layered weaving and Brooks Bouquet.

Hard to capture the bottom black layer being separated out





When it gets completed it will hopefully look similar to this ----------->
I am not doing the repeats of Brooks Bouquet, with just one between each section.





The pattern is fairly good, but I have found missing information about the desired length of the entire project or the length of each section. So I am just eyeballing it. I am making each holder the height of two shuttles and hoping for the best.

I am also working very very very! hard on my edges. As I am trying different techniques it is not 100% consistent though I am seeing progress. It is hard when weaving the bottom layer as not only is it slightly hidden by the top, but I used the suggested black which is almost impossible to see to check my edges. If I were doing another I would put the lighter colour at the bottom as the pattern is reversible so it doesn't matter.

Saturday, January 23, 2016

The Dream List

Golding - Triple flyer - Taking Flight II
What triggered this post is I have been drooling after a particular wheel (those who have read previously can already guess) to the point I would watch videos on it and I think I have read every blog post about it. Strangely I have never tried it, so it is not like my traveller when I tried it beside the ashford kiwi and knew it was the best choice for me. It's interesting how my list changes with new discoveries. So this will be a sort of series every now and again to see how and why certain items pop on my list. This is also a practical list, so while I would love a Golding's Spinning wheel some cost more than my car!










Customised Aura for Woolwench.com
*BOUGHT*
So very soon (once I put in my research proposal this coming week) I am going to put an order in for a Majacraft Aura, hopefully with some customisation on it.

So why the Aura? I am not sure what got me into Majacraft (like how I don't know how I got into spinning), I must have seen one on a blog or facebook group. I love the style of it and after watching videos on its innovative tension system. I understand people either love it or hate the tension system. I did look out for places that have one to demo but unfortunately it was not meant to be. So I will be buying one untested, but I feel that seeing that I already own and like a Majacraft wheel that the chances are slim I'll dislike it. As for the tension system, I am so new to spinning I think I could easily switch between systems and learn to love one easier than someone who has spent years with a particular system.

So this wheel will be my present to me after all the stress and anxiety of this research proposal and also hopefully be a congratulations on passing the first hurdle in my candidature. These wheels take awhile to come as they are from NZ and also hand made, especially if I get one customised. So by the time I hear feedback on whether I can go forward on my research. I am very stressed about this. While I believe my supervisors wouldn't put it in if they thought I would fail one supervisor makes me doubt myself so very much. So present!


So what else is on my list (with less words!)
Majacraft Fusion Engine Drum Carder 
I already have an Inwood drum carder that works fine, but what I appreciate about this is:
- Interchangeable Drums (so you can use the same carder with different tpi cloths)
- Drums are designed to fibre doesn't catch in the sides (demo video)
- Handle folds in
- Additional injection tray for artbatts
- Gears over band or chain to drive the drums

I already have nice wool combs and while I would like a newer blending board and carders (any brand really I haven't found one type that is above and beyond any other brand) the only thing on my "need" list is cotton carders.

LOOMS!



I haven't talked about much beside spinning as of yet really. I do have an ashford rigid heddle, but now I have seen more I would prefer either the Majacraft dynamic heddle loom or Kromski Harp. Why do I prefer them? They both have the ability to fold up (like the Ashford Knitters loom), but both also have a warping board on the bottom which is invaluable for other looms as well and one less piece of equipment. Both also have stands, what I would need to figure is which sizes I would prefer, prices of extra equipment like heddles and the variety of size and adding a second heddle.


Floor loom wise I am enamoured by Saori looms, but they are limited in the number of shafts they have. However a floor loom would require my own house to put it in. So a floor loom will be put in the "wishful thinking" category unless I got my hands on a baby wolf 8 shaft.

Now just have to win a couple of million for all of this and a place to put all these items in. However a person can dream!




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