Floor Loom Weaving at Home: First Project

After taking a weeklong weaving class at Sievers School of Fiber Arts last summer, I decided it was time to get brave!  I started this project in July of 2021, one month after the weaving class.  This project was done on a Wolf Pup LT loom, purchased used, in 2020.  I did not yet know how to weave on a floor loom at the time I bought my loom!  The Wolf Pup, made by the Schacht Spindle Company, has an 18" weaving width.  I had researched small floor looms before purchasing a loom.  I bought the loom via the facebook group "The Weaver's Marketplace".  My husband and I drove to Iowa to pick it up.

 

The following photos tell the story of my first project.  Enjoy!

The warping board was one of many accessories that came with my loom.  Winding the warp is the first step in weaving! 

 

The wool yarn that I decided to use for the warp is hand dyed.  The color is “Great Grey Owl”.

I relied on notes and photos from my June 2021 weaving class to jar my memory on how to dress a loom.  I warped the loom from front to back.



A peg, attached to the side of the loom, is inserted in the frame of the beater to hold it upright while warping the loom.  The peg is pulled out before weaving is started.





Sleying the reed involves pulling thread ends through the reed.  One thread goes through each slot.







Lucky for me, the back beam can be removed on my loom.  This makes threading the heddles easier.






Getting the warp ready for weaving.

I used two treadles for this "plain weave" project.  Remaining treadles have been dropped to the ground (so they don’t get in the way).

Weaving has commenced!  The weft is composed of assorted art yarns, along with some of the same yarn I used for the warp.  I was not using any pattern for this scarf.  It is a spontaneous, organic creation! 

Finishing and mostly finished!  I like the undulating edges.

Beginning Weaving: Floor Loom

In June, 2021, I had the great fortune to take a beginning weaving class at the Sievers School of Fiber Arts.  The class was taught by Susan Frame, of Osseo, WI.  Susan was an excellent, patient teacher.

The weaving class took place in the Sophie Studio at Sievers. We learned to weave on Schacht

Baby Wolf looms.

The lighter colored loom in the bottom right of the picture below is the newest acquisition for the school.  The classroom Schacht looms are made of maple.  Maple darkens with age.

The type of yarn we used for our two projects (table runners and/or scarves) was pre-selected for us.  We did get to choose our own colors to work with.  We used "Cotton Fleece" yarn for the first project and "Cotton Fine" yarn for the second project.  Both yarns are by Brown Sheep Company, Inc.

The loom shown below is the one I used in class.

Teacher samples of table runners are hanging on the rack.  These represent 

what we made as our second projects.

Winding yarn onto a warping board.  Susan (teacher) showed us how to move the warp 

from the board to the loom.  We warped our looms from front to back.

Photos below: first one shows the 12 dent heddle in position for "sleying" the reed.  

This is one method of doing this task (there are others).  Subsequent photos show 

warping the loom, hemstitching, and finally, weaving!  We used a twill weave setup.

Different patterns are created depending on what colors you use and in what order

you use those colors.  I like the blue and white color combo!

Once our first pieces were off the loom, we chose colors for our second project, a 

"gamp".  Often these are done in a rainbow of colors.  We were free to choose our

own colors.   As you can see, I opted for jewel tones (my favorites). Students could

pick up to 7 colors plus a border color, or, use repeats of several colors.  The loom was

warped in a prescribed order.  The goal was to weave 7 blocks x 7 blocks, following a

pattern.  Some students repeated the pattern.  After weaving my seven blocks, I 

decided to weave free form to finish my table runner.

Photo of me, taken by a classmate (Mary).

 

Shown below:  My table runners, draped over a beautiful basket I purchased at the Sievers Gift

Shop.  The table runners still need a bit of finishing work.  I am pleased with how they 

turned out.  I learned a LOT in this class! 

Class photo and "graduation" certificate. 

Sievers School of Fiber Arts

I was a student in the weeklong "Beginning Weaving: Floor Loom" workshop, held in June of this year, at the Sievers School of Fiber Arts. The school is located on the north side of Washington Island, WI.

Before the workshop commenced, I spent time touring the school buildings and the wonderful Sievers Gift Shop!

The school was originally set up to feature weaving classes.  Offerings have since

expanded to include other fiber arts.

Below:Administration building and gift shop.

Side entrance to the gift shop.


There were many temptations inside the Sievers Gift Shop!  These photos,

taken with permission, give you a glimpse of the wonderful goods available 

there.

I kept visiting this beautiful basket (below).  In the end, the large basket came home with me!






A Sievers loom is on display in the gift shop!  Weaving demo’s are done on 

this loom.

The refurbished barn across the street offers event space and a women’s dormitory.




This building is the “Teacher’s Cottage”.


The Sophie Studio houses looms for weaving classes.  My next blog post will

feature many photos taken inside this studio.




Walter Studio is adjacent to the the large barn.  A Shibori Dyeing class was being

held in this studio.