Wednesday 9 September 2009

Weavemaster loom

updated 14/04/2022 

I expect it is normal for new weavers to start with a simple loom, maybe a small second hand 4 shaft table loom, or a rigid heddle loom, just to get the idea of what weaving is and see if they like it. I started with an 8 shaft Toika floor loom, after a couple of years added a table loom to the collection (8 shaft Leclerc Voyageur) and now I have bought my first dinky little 2 shaft loom, a dear little vintage Weavemaster. Why? Because I wanted a truly portable loom that works like any shaft loom and can be used to explain weaving to people who have never seen handweaving before - and I meet many of them! A rigid heddle loom may be fun to weave on, but not as versatile as this little shaft loom. I also have the thought in mind of all those 2 shaft weaving possibilities I've never tried out, from saori weaving with interlocking weft to simple hand manipulated lace, and the many combinations of different thread types and colour & weave interactions. Somehow trying these has never been a priority on the 8 shaft floor loom! The Weavemaster loom has simple twisted steel wire heddles, set in steel frames. It has a choice of two positions for the beater & reed (see the slot on the side of the loom here, with two round rest points): There are simple levers on the side to lower the shafts (rest position for them is raised) sorry this photo has somehow got in upside down, just imagine you're leaning over the top of the loom from the other side and looking down from above... The front and rear cloth beams have a simple ratchet and pawl on one side, with a wooden knob on the other: The shed on this little loom is a good couple of inches, but as there is little space between the heddles and beater I shall probably carry on using the little stick shuttles it came to me with, although I can get a small Leclerc boat shuttle through without problem. It came with a "colour and weave" pattern set up and the weaving started, so for now I'm continuing with this. How small is this little loom? 17 1/2 inches (44 cm) total width, 15 1/2 inches (39.5 cm) front to back, 13 1/4 inches (33.5 cm) tall. It weighs 7 lb (3.17 kg).


EDITED 14th April 2022 to add the following in response to a query in the comments about how to fit extra heddles to a Weavemaster Loom

I don't have this loom anymore, so cannot inspect the shafts to see if they can be taken apart to put new wire heddles on the rods that carry them within the frame. However, I believe what I would do myself is fit string heddles. With this in mind, I recommend the following resources created by Andrew Kieran, who I knew as a fellow Weave Ring blogger, one of the links on the left is for his blog, Weave4fun Andrew studied Design for Textiles at Herriot-Watt University as a mature student and then worked for a while as a loom technician at the university, so he really knows and understands looms and weaving. (Hi Andrew! Maybe you will come across this, hope life is treating you well.)

Andrew created some excellent Youtube videos, and I recommend two in particular to Weavemaster owners. The first shows how to create string heddles. I've done this on my own loom when I found I needed an extra due to a threading error. Once you have located / sourced a suitable fine smooth yarn they are simple to make. The second is Weavemaster Loom Basics.






24 comments:

Charlotte said...

It's very neat - ideal for teaching. Hope you enjoy it!

Life Looms Large said...

Wow - it is a cute little loom!! I'd heard of Weavemaster, but wasn't quite sure what the looms looked like.

I've jumped around among looms - 8 shaft baby wolf, rigid heddle, 12 shaft Toika, tapestry loom. Hopefully I can hold steady at 4 for a while now!! But you never know!

Enjoy your Weavemaster!! A new loom always opens up more possibilities.

Sue

Amelia of Ask The Bellwether said...

That is a cute little loom! and the thought of having one for teaching, what a good idea -- I've been struggling with showing rigid heddle weavers lately, the connection between multi-shaft loom weaving terminology and rigid heddle terminology. Woosh! it's more complicated than I'd thought (grin). So a simple little loom like this would be quite helpful. Great idea.

Meg said...

Yes! Same reason I hang on to my rigid heddle! Enjoy this loom, Dot, as much as the others!

Lynnette said...

Never too many looms I say! I think it's wonderful that you're willing to spend time to educate people on weaving basics. Too often we show novices our biggest and most complicated looms, and I'm sure we scare the pants off them! I can't wait to see all that you find can be achieved on 2 shafts.

Trapunto said...

That is a sweet loom, and really well suited for it's purpose. It looks so friendly!

Anonymous said...

What an adorable loom! I have a soft spot for small and portable things. And for vintage and uncommon items. Nice pictures of the loom.

Leigh said...

What a great find! Cute too. And I love log cabin weave so that sampler looks mighty good to me.

T.G said...

Hi Dot, very interesting blog! This is completely random but I live in west London and i'm looking to sell the loom we have that occupies the garage. The loom was made my George Wood (I didn't have a clue who he was, so when I googled his name, your blog came up, hence how i found you!) and since my knowledge of looms is completely non-existent, I was just wondering if you knew where I could look to sell it and how to find out how much it's worth. The loom actually belonged to my mother who sadly passed away a few years ago but I seem to remember her buying it for a few thousand pounds back in the day (around 20 years ago!) Thanks so much for your time

Dorothy said...

Hi T.G., I hope this loom finds a good home (unless I can tempt you to take up weaving yourself!)

The place to sell your loom might be via this website:
http://www.theloomexchange.co.uk/
You will find other George Wood looms advertised here. They are very good and very well made looms, but less fashionable than some of the modern looms which tend to be more compact.


You could also try contacting Handweaver's Studio, who are near Finchley Park station, for advice:
http://www.handweavers.co.uk/

Anonymous said...

I love these cute little looms. I now have a collection of 23 looms, big & small. I love them all so much as they all have their own personality and weave differently. Some are young new & eager and others are old hard to get going but produce beautiful work....while some may have only 2 shafts but are keen to have an adventure♥ I blog about as many as possible. Love your work, happy creating.
Cheers
Shirley Treasure♥

Anonymous said...

I have a Weavemaster 4 harness loom.
My aunt and uncle brought back to the USA with them 25+ years ago.
I was gifted the loom about 6 years ago and finally went through it and replaced cords, cleaned up the reed.
It has a nice size shed, I think it's a keeper.
Karen in Wisconsin

momasungup said...

Hello,
I know of a Weavemaster loom for sale, but, on studying your photos it seems as if there is a part missing. The seller states that the loom is in working order, but that the slots on either side she presumes are for some sort of clamp. Is there any way I can forward the photos to you so that you can take a look at them and give me your advise.
The sale finishes at about 10 p.m. this evening, Sunday 28th March. Thank you.
Regards, momasungup

Dorothy said...

Hi Momasungap,

if it's
"Old Weavemaster 12" Two Shaft weaving loom" in Sleaford Linconshire, please don't buy that one unless you want to do some woodwork and buy a reed (which might cost as much as the loom).

The part it is missing is the beater and reed, which you can clearly see in the last but one photo of my loom, and the slot is described and photographed in my 4th photo.

Unknown said...

Hello again,
Thank you for your prompt reply.
It seems the loom we were speaking of was one and the same, since it was being sold by someone from Lincolnshire.I'm so glad I asked you for your advise before purchasing it. Thank you again.
Regards, momasungup.

joel dewberry fabric said...

Wow. Very clean. I love it!

Unknown said...

Hello not sure how to do this but i have a weavemaster 2 shaft loom and i am having great difficulty in finding the right size inserted eye heddles please could you tell me if you know where i can buy them from mine is the same as yours also how do you re thread the pully system many thanks for your help.

Dorothy said...

Julie - you will need to make string heddles with strong cotton or linen as no-one sells heddles for these looms now. I think you can see how to tie the shafts in one of the photos: from the centre of the shaft, up to one side of the wooden peg, then run to the lever on the opposite side and tie it on. Use strong linen, cotton, nylon cord or texsolv if you have any. You can find strong nylon cord sold in hardware shops as "blind cord". I hope this helps!

Unknown said...

Thank you for your help pleasure speaking to you i have sent a message to Greg and hopefully he will get back.
Julie

Unknown said...

Hello Dorothy

Just an update to thank you for your advice, i now have a working weave master, i received my reed from Greg Meyer yesterday, all i have to do now is learn how to thread the heddles up.

Julie

Anonymous said...

I just picked up a wee two shaft weave master loom at a garage sale - $NZ20. It is a bit rusty and there is a little borer in one cog but these are easily fixed. I am looking forward to getting it cleaned up and into working order. It was too cute to leave behind!

Cleland/Downie said...

Hi, and thank you for all the helpful info on here. I've never done any weaving before but
I've just been gifted a 4-shaft Wood Weavemaster. It's in reasonable condition for its age but the heddles are showing some corrosion. However, the gift included a bundle of shiny new ones! I'd love to have a go at replacing the old ones. Do you know of any literature I could buy to help me refurbish?

Dorothy said...

Hi Cleland/Downie, I have just updated this post in response to your comment. I hope you find the new information helpful. Have fun with your little loom! You can weave all kinds of beautiful cloth with this simple loom, they should not be underestimated, no modern 4 shaft will enable you to create cloth this loom could not produce. I recommend Anne Dixon's Handweavers Pattern Book for showing many of the weaves you can create.
https://uk.bookshop.org/books/handweaver-s-pattern-book-the-essential-illustrated-guide-to-over-600-fabric-weaves/9781912217908

Cleland/Downie said...

Thank you so much, Dorothy, I'm going to enjoy experimenting! And huge thanks for the pointers to Andrews videos and Anne's book. This has opened a whole new world for me and I can't wait!