A Christmas Gift to Myself...

It's been a long time since I've done any weaving. Over a year, I think. And I've missed it!

I started weaving back in the 70's. I remember purchasing my first loom from California through the Whole Earth Catalog (remember that?) and bringing the huge box home from the freight station sticking out of the trunk of our '52 Chevy. Those were the days!!! I used that loom off and on for about ten years before I decided on an upgrade. I sold it to a good friend of mine and she's still using it.

My next loom was a Schacht Baby Wolf (the one in the pictures). There have been many looms in the meantime, but the Baby Wolf and my big Norwood are my favorites.

A few years ago I was lucky enough to find a used computer dobby for the Baby Wolf. That's the wooden lump on top of the loom.

There are three different things that determine the weaving pattern of the finished fabric.
The order that the threads are drawn through the heddles (those little wire things), How the harnesses (the wooden framses that hold the heddles) are tied to the treadles, and in what order you press the treadles with your feet. With the computer dobby, I program all these things into my computer weaving program and the machine does the selecting. All I then have to do is work the treadles.

The thinking is done beforehand so the weaving is easy!

The dusting off of the loom took some time. It needed a few minor adjustments due to the fact that a lot of the nuts and blots had loosened. And thank goodness the antique computer is still running (chugging) along. The Schacht loom company no longer makes the dobby mechanism so this one has to last for the rest of my lifetime. It still runs on Windows 98.

And here I am happily weaving away!

Even though I love the computer technology, I am a very traditional weaver. One of these days I want to weave an overshot coverlet. I at one time thought that spinning all the wool for it would be a wonderful project. Don't think I'm gonna live THAT long!!! hahaha!

These are some of the Christmasy fabrics I have woven in years past. The red and green striped runner has tiny gold threads running through it that did not show up well in the picture.

I'm heading back to the loom before I have to start cooking for our Christmas Eve party at Brad and Kami's.

Have a very Merry Christmas, everyone!