Posts tagged Weaving
Schacht Cricket Quartet | Pre-order Now

The all new Cricket Quartet reimagines Schacht’s most popular rigid heddle loom, the 15″ Cricket, and transforms it into a multi-purpose 4-shaft weaving loom!

This skilfully engineered add-on achieves a generous warp width of 34cm, plenty of room to explore endless shaft combinations.

Made from high-quality maple ply, the design Incorporates smooth action levers to raise and lower shafts, extended back beam for clean sheds and a pivoting beater to maximise weaving space.

Available now to pre-order at the special introductory price of AUD$690*.

*Expected delivery, Spring 2022.
*Hurry, this offer is only available until August 31st 2022, after this date the RRP will be AUD$780.


FEATURES YOU’LL LOVE

  • Generous 34cm (13.5") weaving width

  • Smooth action levers to raise and lower shafts

  • Extended back beam for clean sheds

  • Pivoting beater to maximise weaving space

  • Clean crisp aesthetic

  • Made from high-quality maple ply and hard maple

  • Made in USA


KIT INCLUDES

1 x Cricket Quartet system (unlacquered)

1 x Reed, your choice of 6, 8, 10, 12 or 15

300 x Texsolv heddles

Please Note: The Cricket Quartet is only compatible with the 15" Cricket loom. The 15" Cricket loom is sold separately. Find it HERE.

CUSTOMISATION AND ACCESSORIES

The Cricket Quartet is compatible with a range of Cricket loom accessories. For custom order enquiries please get in touch to discuss your needs. We would love to help you out!


Schacht Cricket Quartet

Meet Our New Schacht Looms...
Easel Weaver - Schacht - Loom & Spindle-1.jpg

Lilli Looms and Easel Weavers in-store now!

I know how much you all love frame-looms so I've added not one but two new looms to our line-up.

First, the Schacht Lilli Loom. An all-inclusive weaving tool kit perfect for beginner weavers exploring the possibilities of frame-loom weaving.

Whether you’re keen to learn traditional tapestry or free-form techniques, the included tools provide the opportunity to explore a range of weaving styles.

Next, the Schacht Easel Weaver. In three compact sizes this picture-perfect portable loom is ideal for sampling, swatching and on-the-go weaving.

It has a unique design feature – a funky fold out kickstand, allowing for comfortable table-top weaving and admiring you work while on display.

Shop these two beauties HERE.

Enjoy!

Andrea - Loom & Spindle


 
 
 
 

LET’S GET STARTED…

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Introducing The Schacht Inkle Loom

Introducing Schacht Spindle Co.’s Inkle Loom, perfect for weaving bands and belts.

We were impressed by the generous warp length of 2.5 meters, open side for ease of warping, and a tension bar with an easy-grip knob for fine adjustments as you weave.

The all timber construction is second to none and built for years of heavy use. We love the silky smooth hard maple that is left unfinished for a clean and crisp aesthetic that will appeal to the modern weaver.

It arrives fully assembled and we’ve included a Schacht belt shuttle and a 25 pack of weaving cards so you can use it straight out of the box!

Inkle Loom - Schacht - Loom & Spindle-2.jpg
Inkle Loom - Schacht - Loom & Spindle-5.jpg

FEATURES YOU’LL LOVE

  • Warp width of 11cm (4.5")

  • Generous warp length of up to 2.5m (8.5') when using continuous warp method

  • Warp tensioning knob

  • Made from silky smooth hard maple timber

  • Made in USA

Louët S95 Victoria - Loom & Spindle-13.jpg
Inkle Loom - Schacht - Loom & Spindle-8.jpg

OUR INKLE LOOM KIT INCLUDES…

  • 1 x Inkle Loom with adjustable warp tensioning bar

  • 1 x Belt Shuttle

  • 1 x Weaving cards, 25 pack

  • 1 x 8 Page instruction booklet

Find the complete specifications HERE.

Inkle Loom - Schacht - Loom & Spindle-9.jpg

SCHACHT INKLE LOOM

Introducing the Schacht Arras tapestry Loom

We’re so pleased to share the latest edition to the Schacht tapestry loom line-up - the Arras Tapestry Loom.

Schacht have taken a classic loom design with all the conventional elements of traditional tapestry weaving and applied a modern design aesthetic and innovative technologies to produce a functional and ergonomic loom fit for today’s weaver.

Starting with a base of hard-wearing maple timber, the solid construction will endure high tension warps typical to tapestry weaving, warp after warp.

Built for comfort the loom is loaded with adjustable features to aid warping and weaving, plus ergonomic handles and grips for fine tuning.

A generous warp width, mechanical shedding device, colour-coded warp guides and cartoon holder provide endless possibility for when inspiration strikes.

The Arras Tapestry Loom is a serious but user-friendly upright tapestry loom with all the bells and whistles that will no doubt suit both the passionate tapestry weaver and the beginner with optimistic enthusiasm.

FEATURES YOU’LL LOVE

  • Durable and hard-wearing maple construction guaranteed to withstand the rigours of high-tension tapestry warps.

  • A generous weaving width of 50.8cm (20'') and warp length of 114cm (45'') using the continuous warping method. Its modular design will allow for a future upgrade that will include a beam kit with ratcheted cloth and warp beams.

  • The loom can be warped in a horizontal or vertical position, improving your efficiency and comfort while direct warping.

  • Both loom height and weaving angle can be adjusted to suit your working conditions ensuring optimal comfort.

  • Precise controls with ergonomic hand grips for fine tuning warp tension.

  • A Smooth-working, hand-controlled shedding device that can be adjusted vertically to suit your working height. Conveniently, the hand lever can be installed on the either the right or left side of the loom.

  • Includes four warp guides fixed at 4, 5, 6, and 8 dents per inch. Warps can also be doubled in the dents increasing the sett range to 10, 12 and 16 ends per inch.

  • A handy cartoon holder that snaps into place below the warp guide.

  • At 4.6kg (10lbs) the loom is portable, folding support legs make it convenient for travel or storage.

OUR THOUGHTS

We think Schacht have really out done themselves here in terms of their thoughtful design and overall functionality of the working loom.

With so many great features we encourage you to check out the product specifications and inclusions.

We think this will be an exceptional and long-lasting tapestry weaving loom for weavers of all skill level.

We look forward to the official release in April 2020.

The Arras Tapestry Loom is available for pre-order now!

 
 

Let’s get started…

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Swatching with Cotton Fine: A woven Sampler in Plain-Weave
Loom & Spindle - Cotton Fine Swatch at 10epi-14.jpg
 

Swatching with Cotton Fine

A woven Sampler in Plain-Weave

With the recent introduction of Cotton Fine to the Loom & Spindle yarn range, we’ve been excited to explore our new yarn.

Our first swatch is a woven sampler in plain-weave, woven at a sett of 40ends/10cm (10epi) on a rigid heddle loom.

Our aim was to explore the fabric’s hand-feel, interaction of colour and the effect of using a finishing technique to full the fabric and set the fibres.

We’ve detailed the project below to offer insight into our planning and methodology, and our thoughts on the resulting fabric. This recipe is a great starting point if you want to have a go at swatching for your next weaving project!

 
Loom & Spindle - Cotton Fine Swatch at 10epi-16.jpg
 

PROJECT

A woven sampler in plain-weave, woven at 40ends/10cm (10epi), using Cotton Fine By Brown Sheep Co.

Loom & Spindle - Cotton Fine Swatch at 10epi-3.jpg

AIM

Weave a plain-weave fabric in Cotton Fine to explore:

  • The fabric’s hand-feel at a sett of 40ends/10cm (10epi)

  • The interaction of colour when using three shades; and

  • The effect of using a finishing technique to full the fabric / set the fibre.

 SKILLS

  • Calculating yardage

  • Warping a rigid heddle loom

  • Preparing the warp for weaving

  • Hem stitching, to secure the warp and weft

  • Balanced plain-weave

 TOOLS

 MATERIALS

PLANNING

As the materials and tools were pre-established, planning was limited to determining an appropriate size for the sample, approximating the metreage required, and defining colour placement. 

SIZE

It was determined that a sample size of 30cm x 45cm (12"x 18") would be sufficient to examine hand-feel, colour interaction and allow for any shrinkage that may occur during finishing.

METREAGE REQUIRED FOR WARP

  • Length of piece, 45cm + extra length for warping, 60cm (30cm each end)
    Total warp length, 105cm

  • Warp width, 30cm X No. warp ends at 40ends/10cm
    Total no. warp ends, 120

  • Metreage required for warp:

= No. warp ends x Total warp length
= 120 x 1.05m
= 12600cm or 126m

METREAGE REQUIRED FOR WEFT 

  • At 40ends/10cm, No. weft passes over 45cm = 180

  • Metreage required for weft:

= No. weft passes x Warp width
= 180 x 30cm
= 5400cm or 54m

TOTAL METREAGE

  • Total metreage required

= Warp + Weft
= 126m + 54m
= 180m

COLOUR PLACEMENT

  • The placement of colour was kept simple, the three colours being divided in blocks evenly across both warp and weft.

  • Warp, 40 ends per colour

  • Weft, 60 ends per colour (or 15cm of length, per colour)

 NOTES

  • These calculations tell us that at 196m per skein, one ball of Cotton Fine would be enough to make a sample of this size. 

  • As the plan was to use three colours in equal quantities in this piece, we divided the total metreage by three to determine the amount for each colour, 180m divided by 3 = 60m per colour.

METHOD

STEP 1

The rigid heddle loom was warped and colours placed as per the planning notes.

Loom & Spindle - Cotton Fine Swatch at 10epi-9.jpeg
Loom & Spindle - Cotton Fine Swatch at 10epi-8.jpeg

 STEP 2

3cm of ground weave was woven with leftover Cotton Fine to help evenly space and tension the warp.

STEP 3

Weaving began using the first colour in the sequence,.

Once the fabric was established, a row of hem-stitch was used to secure warp and weft at the beginning of the piece. 

Loom & Spindle - Cotton Fine Swatch at 10epi-4.jpg

STEP 4

Weaving continued, changing colours as required until each colour section was completed. 

Once complete, a row of hem-stitch was used to secure warp and weft before cutting the piece from the loom. 

Loom & Spindle - Cotton Fine Swatch at 10epi-5.jpg

FINISHING

The sample was finished by undergoing a full wash cycle in a washing machine and dried in a tumble dryer using a regular heat setting.

This treatment contradicts the recommended care instructions for Cotton Fine, but we thought this experiment was warranted to help set the weave and allow the fibres to bloom.

INSIGHTS AND OPPORTUNITIES 

THE FABRIC

The resulting fabric has a great lightness and after finishing is quite soft to the touch. 

At this sett, the fabric feels smooth and has excellent drape. 

Though it’s not a firm weave, the fabric feels like it would be somewhat hard-wearing and have some longevity when used in pieces that will see some wear-and-tear. 

THE COLOUR

The effect of the bold colour blocking produces a homey fabric and in the chosen colour palette has a somewhat vintage feel. 

Working with three colours allows for endless permutations that can be used to influence the look and feel of the fabric.

APPLICATIONS

From our results we think the fabric would be best suited to household napery and table linens.

The drape suggests that with a bit of fine tuning there is scope to work the fabric into garments, maybe simple summer tees and tunics. 

We would like to experiment next by working the yarn up at a finer gauge with the aim of creating a denser fabric that could be used for towelling applications in the home – washcloths, tea towels, etc.

 
 
Loom & Spindle - Cotton Fine Swatch at 10epi-15.jpg


Let’s Get Started…

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