Spring this Summer
So, I had lunch today with an old, old friend — someone I haven’t seen in seven or eight years — and we got to catching up. What have you been doing? What are you doing these days? Blah blah blah. I think there was much verbal diarrhea on my part, but somewhere in the midst of all that, I blurted out, “I’m going to be a weaver.” And you know, it felt so good.
Yep. As an early birthday gift to myself, I ordered a floor loom. An 8-shaft Louet Spring 110 (44″) parallel countermarche loom. My excuse is that this birthday is a big deal. In a super cheesy way, it’s the beginning of a new phase in my life (although, did I just hear Jacey say that “30 is the new 20″ in her new podcast?) and this loom, both symbolically and practically, represents change, flexibility, new pathways and learning opportunities.
There was some urgency to place the order with Louet because they don’t keep the floor looms in stock (within Canada) and the containers only come over from Holland every two months or so. If I didn’t order by their deadline, I’d have to wait until September and you know how bad I am at waiting. Plus, I want to get a headstart on gifts. After placing the order, I talked to my weaving teacher and got her blessing for the new loom. I’m all set.
As for the loom itself, it’s a countermarche-type loom. I’ve been doing much research on the different kinds of looms (jack, counterbalanced, and countermarche) for the past few months and was positive that I wanted something quiet and versatile. Like different spinning wheels or different knitting needles, each kind of loom has it’s own pros and cons: Jack looms tend to be easier to tie up and use and they accommodate uneven tie-ups but they can be really noisy! Counterbalance looms are quieter, form better sheds (some of the warp goes up and the rest the warp goes down making a big shed) but don’t accommodate unbalanced weaves. Countermarche looms have the best of both worlds — they are quiet, give big sheds and accommodate unbalanced weaves, BUT they require twice as many tie-ups which often discourages people from ever changing the tie-up. In fact, after ordering the loom and then starting to read Peggy Osterkamp’s section about countermarche tie-ups in her book “Warping Your Loom and Tying on New Warps”, I thought “crap, what I have I gotten myself into?!?”. But, I am using this as a challenge to myself to become confident and efficient with all the little intricacies of the loom.
Thanks to Ahrisha, Stef, Arianie and Brooke who made suggestions and fielded my questions about floor looms. The combined knowledge of these lovely fibre artists is a force of nature.
And here’s a list of starting points and reference materials that helped me during my search:
- Learning to Weave by Deborah Chandler
- The Weaving, Spinning, Dyeing Book by Rachel Brown
- Buying Your First Loom (HGA)
- Which Loom Should I Buy? (HGA)
- Things You Need to Start Weaving (HGA)
- Selecting a Floor Loom (Joanne Hall)
- Countermarch Info (Joanne Hall)
The loom is scheduled to arrived sometime near the end of June — just in time for the transformation of our house into a real working studio. I’ve already picked a paint colour for the new weaving/spinning/fibre room. Now all I have to do is start dreaming up and planning new projects!
Tags: buying a loom, loom, louet spring
Congratulations - that’s a great way to mark a milestone. I hope to mark a milestone of my own that way someday.
Congratulations! Use it well!
oh, i’m so excited for you - i was waiting to see when you’d get yourself a loom! can’t wait to see your creations….i once commented that i wish i could try spinning, and you suggested a spindler to start - so i got myself a top whorl and priscilla gibson-roberts book - but i think i need a live teacher…..
wow! congratulations! seeing that reminds me of how my mom had a loom when we were kids and i remember playing around on it.. playing with the foot levers and watching the parts go up and down. then she sold it
my parents also sold the player piano which was pretty cool too.. MEMORIES!
Congratulations! Can’t wait to see the weaving projects.
Great! You deserve it. Time really flies, it seems like it’s only a while ago when I read your post about your 29th birthday. You mentioned once that you might fly to New Hampshire to visit the sheep your friends adpoted for you, how’s that sheep doing? Are you looking forward to getting its fleece?
Have a good weekend!
Ooh, congratulations! I really have to learn how to weave one of these days . . . not that I’d have anyplace to put anything like that . . . but a rigid heddle loom? Entirely possible . . . in theory!
oh, congrats! how exciting - and an excellent birthday present, good call. it’ll be really fun watching you fix up your studio. as always, i’m living my weaving life vicariously through you - until i move to a bigger space, that is. though i did rent a little table loom a couple of weeks ago…
What a great birthday present for your “29″th birthday! So which room is going to become the new studio room? It is so, so exciting.
Happy Early Birthday!
congrats on the new loom! i bet it’ll be beautiful! i can’t wait to see what you weave up.
when is your bday? happy early bday!
Are u still dying yarn to sell? Very exciting.
How great! Can’t wait to see what projects you’ll come up with
Congratulations! Years ago I had a Louet Hollandia (earlier model than yours and only 4 shafts, but otherwise very similar). I loved it. It does make a great shed, and the texsolv heddles are pretty quiet. But if you live in an upstairs apartment and you beat firmly, you will hear about it from the neighbors downstairs. Ask me how I know this.
Great loom, though.
Congratulations and happy (early) birthday! It is wonderful how you’ve sort of progressed with fiber arts, exploring so many different aspects.
First visit to your blog, and wishing you a hearty congratulations on your loom purchase! Sharing your interest in weaving…took lessons in Feb from great Irish woman…loved the delicate tension between order and potential chaos of the warp threads…borrowing a Dorset loom…bought a Kessenich of my own…waiting to ship it to Ireland…sturdy for rugs but small, foldable…space is limited in Dublin houses…some happy successes…and humbling failures…looking forward to a life of learning the craft. All the best to you!
Wow, congrats on your new loom! I’m sure you’ll wow us with your creations.
A spinning wheel and now a FLOOR LOOM! ! !I can’t stand it. I will be watching your Blog for the continuing saga of the new loom. It’s only 4 weeks till it arrives and that day will be joyous. Take lots of pictures and we want to see you sitting at the loom. My first sit & weave at a floor loom was at this years Maryland Sheep & wool festival. I’m hooked so there is one in my future too. Have Fun!
Congrats!!! Great gift and I agree 30 is the new 20. I would rather be closer to 40 than to 20 anyday. (lol). Of course I’d like my behind to look like 20 over 30, but the trade offs are worth it.
Congratulations! Fun and adventure await! And, yes you can use handspun for warp. I do it all the time.
That is so exciting!
Congratulations!! I had seriously contemplated that same loom, until a 48 inch Macomber fell into my lap and that was that….LOL.
I have enjoyed catching up on your blog…..you have been busy!!
What a fabulous thing you did for your birthday! I look forward to reading more of your fiber and artisan adventures.