#Backstrap Loom Weaving

[languagexs]

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The rare Ixil Language of Guatemala's highlands enables nuanced cultural expression for 90,000+ Ixils. But without conservation efforts, will this minority Mayan dialect survive?

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[landofla]

I know I rarely post anything original or personal here. One of the major things I do offline is fiber arts. Spinning, Knitting, Weaving, Dyeing fiber all that kind of stuff. A few months ago a post was going around about the "lost art" of spinning. (Yeah not the kind in the health club, the kind where you get yarn when you are done) I have taken a lot of classes from a lot of different teachers. Abby is by far my favorite teacher. I think she has a handle on the material and a WAY to communicate about what needs to be done that is unbeatable. Right now she has a special on a membership that includes her whole entire backlog of online classes that goes back to the fall 2020.

Quote Abby: "MAJOR DEAL at https://www.abbysyarns.com where if you sign up for a full trimester membership you’ll get a month for free and you won’t pay again until September!!!!" Classes include all 4 of the spinning basics classes as well as intermediate and advanced topics, like fiber prep, drafting methods. plying structures, mastering long draw, mastering short draw, spinning for socks and a whole lot more.

[intolaurel]

I've woven something! Yesterday I spent almost 6 hours weaving on my backstrap rigid heddle loom, and started + finished this band. It's meant to go around a hat (will share pictures later) as a replacement of a panter-print plastic band that was on it before.

[cadere-art]

I've been having computer issues big time (corrupted system files and source image after a failed update yay!) and it's been sucking hard BUT I've managed to get myself weaving again while my husband fights my computer!

[ninalanfer]

A while back @optimistinchief wanted to see how my string heddle setup looks like. And now finally I'm playing around with some more swatches. Which means string heddles.

It's really very simplistic. And I'll try to demonstrate to the best of my ability.

One stick per shaft. Here I'm testing some straight draw twill. 4 shafts.

Here I've picked up shaft 4 (because where I live we count the shafts as beginning in the back. 1, 2, 3, 4. So the shaft closest to you will be shaft 4. I realise some of the world count them the opposite way. So felt I needed to clarify.)

Here I've pulled up shed 2. So shaft 2 and 3.

So to weave a straight draw. I pull up shed 1 (shaft 1 and 2), then shed 2 (shaft 2 and 3), then shed 3 (shaft 3 and 4), then shed 4 (shaft 1 and 4). And finally I start from the beginning again, circling through them over and over.

I learned how to pick up the string heddles from Kerstin Neumüller's book Simple Weave. But I'm sure there are other sources for it out there. It's a really ancient technique, so there ought to be.

It's not difficult. It just takes a while. But considering the alternative is to manually pick up every shed with like a pick-up stick, it's still faster than having to do that.

Hope that's helpful.

[tyrhinosaurus]

Making some progress finally on this wip that's been on the pile for a while.

It's my homespun wool, Dorset horn potentially? And then dyed with some commercial green, and black tea for the brown.

Took a little time to get back into the swing, but its going really well tbh, not making many mistakes touch wood.

[drelmurn]

Part 2, llamas Boogaloo! The Ace version of these fine llamas! Not quite sure I like how the middle is turning out, the reverse colors mean there's some funky looking parts where the colors change, but it looks mostly okay ad I weave more, so I'm optimistic!

Patterns once again from Laverne Waddington's backstrap weaving website.

[calendae-creations]

I finished weaving my new backstrap last night! It took me all morning to set up the warp and loom, all afternoon to weave it, and all evening to take it off the loom and finish the ends, but it's done! I'm so happy with how it turned out!

Like my art? Want to see more, buy my textiles or jewelry, or commission something? Check out my ko-fi page and shop, or message me here on tumblr!

[disgruntled-lifeform]

Do you know what kind of loom you want to learn to use? I have a rigid heddle loom, so I’d be happy to talk shop about that if it’s a loom you’re interested in.

I have a zero knowledge base atm when it comes to weaving, I *think* the ones I've seen at my local guild is a rigid heddle loom though.

I think learning to work a backstrap loom would be neat skill to add to my repetoire.

If you had any 100% beginner friendly educational material on the rigid heddle loom for me to orient myself with, that would be awesome!

If I get the chance to use the loom before I get a teacher then I want to not break the machine as I teach myself >.<

[angelicuscadere]

Hello! I have seen an image of (I think) you responding to a tweet about having a loom. If it is you, may i ask what type of loom you are using? I don't have much money or space but have been thinking about getting into weaving, and I would like to do more research on the type you have. Thank you :)

The loom I have is a backstrap loom! I bought mine from HarvestLooms on Etsy, but you can also easily make your own with a wooden broomstick an a saw - the sword or batten will be the hardest part to self-source and is the reason I decided to buy mine instead of making it. The loom I have (this one) costs ~70$ CAD including shipping which I dare say is really quite affordable.

Backstrap looms are great for weaving warp faced fabric, especially bands and other narrower pieces - you can do large pieces on them as well, but it's more difficult. They're super super portable - i often roll up mine and carry it in my backpack. The only thing you need is a good anchor point : a tree, a fence, a railing, a column, or a *very* heavy piece of furniture (like a bed).

If you're interested in the backstrap loom I'd recommend you check out this blog: its got all the ressources I used to learn!

[exculis]

I want to weave but my stupid loom sucks and is small and I don't have any weaving yarn anyway

[bismuthburnsblue]

aside from my loki woes, ive been reteaching myself tablet weaving!!

[pastelispunx]

Tablet weaving in a backstrap loom! Let's call the heart pattern that emerged a happy accident. This is my first ever attempt at card weaving and I definitely messed up the intended pattern but now that I've worked out some of the kinks it's looking cute!

It is in fact a mess tho

[coffeeworldsasaki]

I already have 3 weaving projects haunting my mind in case anyone was wondering how I'm doing

[cadere-art]

WIP of my current project, a reinterpretation of a specific archeological type of andean slings.

[gwenaldy]

hrmmmmm... cheesecloth