I have been warping the Mirrix this morning, getting ready to weave. (Ah! I like the sound of that!) There was some discussion recently on the tapestry list about setting up small looms, so I thought I'd post a bit about how I set mine up it, in case it might be helpful.One 'helpful hint' I can give is to put a piece of black paper between the front and back warps, so you just see the front warp threads when picking them up to put in the string 'heddles'. (I could tell you that Booker is pointing to the paper in the above photo, to be helpful, but he is actually saying to me, "PLEASE let me see if copper pipes taste good! And let me see how quickly I could turn all that into a billion small pieces for you to pick up.")
What the list discussion was about was how to weave comfortably with a small loom. I posted that I use a cheap painter's travel easel to put my loom on. You can see it above. The loom fits between the top and bottom adjustable canvas supports. That isn't really enough to keep the loom securely on the easel, so I also use a short-ish bungee cord, hooked on the side bars of the loom and going under the legs of the easel. That holds it all together nicely.
You can see in this photo that I can now have the loom at any slant I like, out over my lap as I weave. I can also adjust the height of the easel, so it really can be 'custom fit' to make the weaving comfortable for ME.
I warped the loom in my sitting room. It is upstairs, and is without a doubt the warmest place in the house. I may stay in there to weave, too! Across the room, many ancestors and family members watched as I worked. I think perhaps they would enjoy my company if I stay here to work. Gussy has also claimed this room as his domain until the spring thaw, but he will just have to share.
9 comments:
Hey, I didn't know Booker was a pointer (yuck, yuck, yuck!!)
Hi there! Sounds like you're feeling better. That's great. I was glad to see your easel in action. Looks like it works really well. Good luck with the duck! Can't wait to see it in progress.
Booker is enormous! What an elegant dog... but where did that cute puppy go?
Thanks for sharing the easel. I see a trip to Hobby Lobby in my near future, as I seem to have that comfort issue with weaving at a table level and that looks like a lovely solution. Milo's duck looks like a fun project, enjoy..
Tommye, he's more of a destroyer, at this point!
I am feeling better, Liz! Thanks.
Cally, the cute puppy has turned into a big dog, but he still has that puppy mind-set. Which is not always that cute, in a big dog!
Sue, I hope the easel helps you as much as it does me! Table level is very uncomfortable for me.
Hi Kathy,
I'm interested in the loom on easel idea. I have struggled forever with being (un)comfortable and/or not being able to see what I'm doing. I think I'll have to give the easel a go. Thanks! Hope you're feeling better.
I love the post on setting up your Mirrix and am looking for a painter's easel such as you've used. Would you mind saying what size your Mirrix is? Thank you, Lisa
Lisa, my Mirrix is 16" wide, which actually means I can weave about a 12" width.
Your blog gives me ideas. I have a Zach that I will be getting the easel for. Thank you!
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