Magnets! Or Rigid Heddle Upgrade

When I was considering buying my now pre-loved Kormski Harp Loom I had been investigating its options. Before I swapped out this out over my Ashford Rigid Heddle I had to be sure it was worth it. It was the same size as my rigid heddle (80cm), fits Ashford Heddles (sweet!), folds (oh thank god that size of loom is insane to carry, I would hate to try the 120cm!). The only negative seemed to be the ratchet and tension. Kromski has now addressed that and all their new looms are now Kromski Harp Forte! The main difference being the plastic ratchet pawl system had been upgraded to a metal one that included a rare earth magnet that acts as a lock system similar to the Ashford one. They also sell upgrades for older looms. So I spent the evening pimping out my Harp Loom to a Harp Forte with double heddles. 

I put in an order with the only Australian Kromski dealer KraftKolour. The upgrade was only $39 and the second heddles $35, which is comparable to Ashford price for a double heddle. The difference being Kromski just adds an additional set behind your current heddle blocks. Ashford, you have to remove your heddle block and put a new one on that holds both heddles. I will have to do a comparison on heddle blocks and how they are made as I am noticing some differences where there might actually be a winner and something to consider for someone looking between the looms. Shipping was a decent price and decent time frame. Nothing interesting to say of the dealer as everything happened smoothly and as expected. 

So I spent about an hour assembling both products, though the second heddle installation was 2 minutes!

Instructions that ended up in the bin!

So I had previously seen a YouTube video by Paradise Fibers and was very glad it was available and well done because the instructions were just black and white pictures....

This was very easy to follow along and I was very glad to have it up on my tv while I was assembling it. 

Assembly was pretty easy per se and only required a common Phillips head screwdriver. The demonstration uses an electric screwdriver just for speed of disassembling the loom.

Lots of screws! And my remote to stop and start the video.

 There is a bit of dissembling to do....actually a lot! So it is more time-consuming than difficult.

The video suggested removing the front and back cloth beam, but I didn't and had no issues. So one less item to worry about.

Installing the ratchet and pawl system is very easy, especially is you put together the loom originally (which I didn't). The hardest part and the one that caused the most swearing is the rare each magnet.

This magnet will stick to everything and you will spend 5mins trying to pry the two magnets apart from each other and then swear when you hear them click back....

This part requires a bit more skill, but if I can pull it off anyone can. You do need a bit of hand strength or a good drill at this stage as there is no pre-drilled hole for the magnet to be screwed in. So you need to position it and then screw it in. It is completely possible, but you need some strength. I have pretty sucky and weak joints so I would say it would be easier for others without joint problems.

New metal ratchet vs old plastic

While the change from plastic to the metal ratchet and pawl is obvious, metal is more hard wearing and can hold a much higher tension. What the rare earth magnet does is to keep the pawl close to the ratchet and not just relying on gravity. Ashford has a similar lock feature, but it only works to lock the ratchet in place once you are at the tension you want. When you unlock it is loose. I do really like this as I sometimes don't have the finger strength to unlock the Ashford ones and I can see them breaking over time.

Kromski new lock system

Ashford lock system

Putting the second set of heddle blocks on was super simple! Just line up with the pre-drilled holes, insert the one screw and tighten. DONE!

Old vs new

It will be interesting to compare how each company approaches the double heddle spacing and how the blocks are shaped. I have a feeling I may like this one over my knitters loom version. Though I still think the winner heddle blocks will be the Majacraft magnet ones I am keen to get and try.

The only thing to consider is with the rare earth magnet is if you have a pacemaker etc. I do have internal bling, so I just avoided dropping it near my internal metal. 

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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.

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Winter Wool Fest!

As I mentioned in my summary post my credit card got a huge working out at the Sutherlands Winter Wool Fair held by Sutherlands Spinners and Weavers. This group is very close, but does its classes when I am at uni sadly.

As you can see I have already started on one

I went there on a mission. It was 2 days after my birthday and I had missed the Canberra Wool Day. My first stop after saying hello to some friends was straight to Frank Williams Spindle booth. A friend who had gone to Canberra had bought one and I just had to have one after seeing it. I knew I wanted a small one, but was hard put deciding between the small and mini. So I got both! I had a great chat with Frank while I stood there spinning the different spindles (had to have the right spin as well as the looks). I even suggested/asked if he would possibly do distaffs as many of us were looking for some, but were only able to get them from America at a steep price. He seemed quite keen and is going to check things out after Bendigo Wool Show (wish I could go!).

After getting my first buy I decided to do a general look around before purchasing more.

My next purchase was at Virginia Farm Woolworks, they had a lovely set for scar felting with lots of little fun things to add. I also spied one of the Majacraft limited edition coloured bobbins (they are my local Majacraft dealer). While, there were some jokes about it spinning differently they started bringing out these limited edition yearly colours last year. This was right when I started spinning, so I am going to get one for each year of spinning and put the years on them to mark each spinning year. 

Lime bobbin! Scarf is grey and black with mauve

Then I stopped in at Glenora Weaving and Wool and fell for some silk for knitting and also the pin looms I have been seeing such cute designs from. 

Lovely coloured silk! Now for a pattern!

Finally I hit up Feltfine and got some felting supplies with this cool water, wetting bulb thingy.......look like an apple. It sprays water nicely and I have seen it in action before. I also fell in love with another silk colourway and got another skein. 

Water spray thingy!

I picked up two more items from general stands including a lovely merino/silk top that actually matched the tie-dye top I was wearing and a Kumihimo starter pack that has the disk. 

Fun day!

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Weaving

Yes, I actually do something with my looms....well I do now! So I went early to Petlins and learnt (reminded) how to warp up my rigid heddle loom in preparation for a Mobius Scarf.

I picked up some of Ashford Tekapo 8ply Yarns. THese have a nice soft feel that a lot of wool yarns seem to be missing which is lovely. This is also the first time I have changed colours. My first scarf was just one colour for both warp and weft. 

So I have managed a few pattern repeats (instead of working lol), so I can see how it is working. I didn't spend a lot of time thinking out the pattern so we will see how it goes. I am working very hard keep my edges and beating even. 

I am finding the colours very Spring like. How I picked the colours was very random, they just happened to be stocked this way. 

Though I think I have a bit of a critic of the colours or pattern.

Yummy!

All mine!

I have been finding the book I bought with it has been a wonderful primer. I can't wait to try other patterns now I have become for confident with the loom. 

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Recent Acquisitions

I have had a little buying spree thanks to lots of luck.

This warping board I got off eBay. To buy this size upfront is $140AUD and even the smaller one is over $100. So I was very glad to get this one for under $70. The lady I got this one was lovely and we had a great chat and she also went to Petlins. So I got to send her regards when I went to spinning later that day. 

I also got this from the lady I got the warping board off. She was unloading a couple of her looms as well (which I bid heavily on until they were over my price range. She kept her rigid heddle and wheel and the space is now for her pottery. 

While at Petlins later that day we found they had reduced their boxes of Ashford samples and I managed to grab this one that has the silk Merino blend. I say grab because there were a few of us watching each other carefully. I feel like I should have grabbed one of the merino colours for blending. However, I had a big day of spending. I also picked up a lambs skin that I am going to cut into treadle covers like seen here.

With all the work I had been doing get yarns ready for the next show I had a lot of plying. With all that plying I realised I needed a tensioned lazy kate. I was sick of getting piggy tails. The little chicken was along for the ride!

I also got an order I had previously made. A friend and I were lamenting the loss of the Lace Flyer and its insanely high ratios for the Ashford Wheels. We found out the whorl for the Kiwi would give some quite high ratios so I grabbed on. I have yet to try it as my Traveller is being borrowed at the moment. I can't wait though since seeing how fun lace spinning can be!

While not purchased this week I got this in the mail from Ixchel, which is her Frida Adventure. They are the same fiber, I just wanted one un-dyed. These contain Navajo Churro, Angora, Cashmere and Agave Cactus Fibers. The cool sheep and cactus sold it for me and it is soft, which is nice seeing the Churro is not the finest micron sheep. I am now awaiting for her Viking blend!

I stopped in at the Guilds Market Day and checked out their shop as well.  I picked up some Ginned Cotton in preparation for the cotton section of my CCHS. I love the feel of cotton!

The Guild meeting also had some Sheep owners selling their lovely fibre. Kurrambee Coloureds. My only regret is I didn't buy more. These staples are so well separated and so easy to prepare. I have put some into one of my competition entries for the Hawkesbury Show. I love this natural grey colour. 

At the guild store they also had bags of alpaca for $2 a bag, so I grabbed 2! It is nice and soft and quite a nice colour. At the guild store they also had bags of alpaca for $2 a bag, so I grabbed 2! It is nice and soft and quite a nice colour. 

Finally, I picked up some handmade Lucets at the guild. A standard 2 prong and in the bag a 4 prong. While I have never used these cord making tools they were $1 and $2.50 each so I grabbed them!

Lincraft had a sale around easter so I picked up two of these Spaghetti Yarns (they are super heavy). While it is hard to tell it is a mauve colour. I think I will make a rug. 

I also saw these and thought they reminded me of the colour-way for Dr Who's. Now to find a pattern that also reflects Dr Who! They are also soft and light! 

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The Show!

As I mentioned in my previous post I actually got placed in the state agricultural show I entered on a whim for practice. I actually found out a few days later that I had won more than I was told, my friend wanted me to find out the extra myself so I could enjoy seeing the win. Alas someone else beat me as I was phoned by the show committee to let me know I had also won a prize for the most textured yarn and if they could pass on my info to any local newsgroups that ask. So I said yes and did a little dance! I must admit I had the only entry that could fill this entry, but I have been assured that if they didn't like it they wouldn't have given the prize at all this year. So hint to enter as much as possible!

3rd Prize for 11-17WPI

2nd Prize for 21st Century Fibre Class

The 21st Century also won the most textured yarn - list of elements.

I didn't find the show that interesting beyond the craft competition section, I did find some kid mohair to buy that I was after for part of the CCHS.

Cleaned as well!!! 20.5microns

Apart from that, I felt a little disappointed as there was very little craft wise to buy compared to other state fairs where I have been introduced to and purchased certain art/craft. It was also very cold, very wet and easy to get lost. When I eventually found what I thought was my exit I found I was on the entire other side of the fair and had to walk all around it to get to the bus. Thankfully there were shuttle buses to the parking areas or else I would be missing right now. Thanks to my health my legs/joints really suffered. Next time I will only just attend the craft exhibition after the judging.

The crafts was really interesting and I discovered some sections I would like to enter next year, now that I have a year to prepare. I also got to see what I can live up to!

21st Century Competition

Mixture of competitions, the 3 at the back didn't get placed.

Now onto general craft I found interesting!

This one first prize and also Best in Show

A Large crochet version of a pattern I have completed myself.

Needle Felting - glad I didn't enter if this just got Highly Commended

Some Embroidery work 

Cross Stitch, I have heaps I could have entered!

Hardanger, something I am interested in learning

Lace work I think...

Tatting - another I want to learn!

Cool tatting!

More cross stitch, most of my work is framed and ineligible :(

Even more! Glad to know I can use kit designs 

Some of the winners on cross stitch - I'll have to post some of mine as I have heaps of completed work

Crochet Tartan, will do one of my clan Gordon!

Embroidery and some bear

lace knitting that was insanely cool in person

Very cool patchwork with one of my favourite topics

The winning cross stitch - I wonder what they judge it on?

Pillow with hardanger

Another winning cross stitch category (frames don't have glass)

Won the best use of Fibre in the spinning comp, person also won many other skeins

Best of weaving!

Not an actual entry, but the award for the above weaving. How cool is this!!

Finally the best part of the show!

Nutella Donut!! Eating Nutella out of a syringe is the best way!

Next year I am aiming to enter more spinning categories and hopefully, some items from handspun yarn, weaving, crochet, tatting, crochet and knitting if I can. Now a year to prepare and entering other regional shows as I can. 

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