Long Thread Media serves content for the handspinning, handweaving, and traditional needlework communities online, in person, and in print. The company was founded by Linda Ligon, Anne Merrow, and John Bolton to publish Handwoven, PieceWork, and Spin Off, as well as offer information, education, and community to crafters in those fields.
So so helpful. Thank you. I am getting ready to try a fairly fat hand dyed yarn and you helped me understand what I am getting into and how to be successful with it.
I have been using a charkha since mid 90s - traditional book. Loaned it out and not sure who has it - so daughter got me a deluxe. I figured I could learn more and bought your wonderful video a couple weeks ago. I no longer have my loom - a great way to use lots of charkha spun yarn and want to use the yarn for knitting. HOW can I spin it just a little thicker? I want to do a two ply abut “fingering” weight to be knitted on size 2-3 needles. I can do it on the wheel but would like to do more with the charkha. Maybe it’s impossible. I’m making the camelion shawl in a half “pi” shape (have done several wool shawls that way) and just wish most of my yarns were a tiny bit thicker. I know I could do three ply - but I prefer two for many reasons. I have gobs of lint (all colors mostly from Fox fiber) as well as roving in about 5 natural colors and some dyed colors blah blah. Love hand carding lint and adding goodies - I’m, hopeless. thank you.
The wheel Judith is spinning on is a Schacht Ladybug, and the lazy kate in front is also made by Schacht. We don’t believe that the frame kate in the back is still being made, but there might be other makers with similar tools available online. Enjoy and happy spinning!
apparently the Romans used these (not necessarily with backstraps but we don't know how they exactly did it, we just have the rigid heddles) so reenactment purposes is my main interest in these, real fascinating stuff
EXCELLENT video! Thank you! One of the things I do to open up the tops fiber before spinning is to hit the entire length with steam. I use a steam gun, but you may also use steam from a kettle. You want to be very careful, of course, not to burn yourself. It's like magic watching compacted roving/tops puff and balloon open. Thank you for this lesson in spinning directly from the fiber. I'm trying to move away from fiber prep such as rolags or dizzing.
Ok! The rubber bands are sophisticated weaving technology! Thank you for helping me with my tensions issues. I have been having a hard time with the tie on stage. <3
Thank you so much, great video! :) Just a question: given that you know the lenght of the band you need to weave, how long shoud your threads be at the beginning? (eg twice the final lengh, three times the final lenght...?)
Great question! It greatly depends on the size of the warp and weft yarns as well as how densely you weave. Kate often adds about 25% take up for the band styles she weaves. She suggests making a small sample as she did here to determine take up. Then, you'll need to add several inches of waste in the front of the band (tied to the waist) and about 12 to 18 inches of waste at the end of the band.
This was perfect, excellent, exactly what I needed. I am planning to weave a belt for a traditional costume here in Norway, and I have never used this kind of loom before. I needed these basics before launching in to the more difficult pattern picking of the belt! Time to pull out my own handspun that I've never found a use for to teach myself the motions!
Here's what I did for the last vintage pattern I worked on. I used the stitch guide accompanying my pattern to map the terms to their modern-day equivalents. Then, because it was a shorter pattern, I transcribed the entire pattern into modern terms and followed that as I crocheted. You can also find a local crochet group to meet up with and see if anyone has experience with translating vintage patterns. Often, getting a few folks together really helps. Good luck with the pattern, we hope it works out!
Bonjour bravo pour la Vidéo. ! Je veux comprendre comment lire les patrons.. sur le vôtre dans la vidéo.. doit -on aussi calculer les fils de la bordure chaque côté ou c'est seulement le patron du dessin? Tous les patrons se lisent-ils de la même façon
The pattern shown in the video is one for Baltic pick-up and is different than other inkle patterns. If you want to learn more, Angela's video is a great resource: learn.longthreadmedia.com/courses/baltic-pick-up-on-the-inkle-loom. Angela also shared with me that her favorite book for this is Anne Dixon's "The Weaver's Inkle Pattern Directory." It contains lots of plain weave patterns and many specialty techniques including Baltic and other pickup with a good selection of charted designs. This is an excellent resource for anyone with an inkle loom. Happy weaving!
I'm a sewer and Nalbinder . Thank you for concise and easy to follow instructions ! many band weaves look very tedious with: turning cards, picking up and dropping the threads and going up and down with the shuttle thing that goes back and forth is too much for me ! this kind looks very beginner friendly . I would have to get the tools - but $30 for two items from the shop you suggested ? totally worth it !
You might enjoy checking out the show notes page for this Podcast episode: littlelooms.com/long-thread-podcast-annie-machale/. On it we've included links to go check out some of Annie's amazing work. We hope that helps!
How would you finish it if you were patching a hole? Is there a specific way or would you just have to make the patch big enough that you’d have fabric around the hole to weave the tails into?
It would depend quite a bit on the base fabric. There are so many variables that it just depends on the situation. Generally, as you say, making the patch big enough to cover the hole and weave the ends in is great. Luckily, if you are working a darning-loom patch over a hole, the patch stabilizes the area and prevents the fabric near the hole from being pulled and stretched. Happy mending!
Nice video. I also have an Alex Ver loom. Super high quality item and well worth the minor extra expense over the cheap ones. The dome in the wood part helps a lot.
I’m completely shocked that there are no comments here. Yes! Knitting saved my life. Thank you for caring enough to share. For all the drama we’ve seen in the knitting world, this should be shouted from the rooftops!❤🎉🎉🎉🎉😊
I have never used a Darning Loom. Can you use embroidery thread for this kind of darning, or do you have to use yarn? I found this video very helpful, thank you so much.
Very good questions as an interviewer, by the way. You brought out very interesting information with thoughtful questioning. She is a great example of a ‘degree not needed where a skillset is present’.
I am definitely a slow knitter. It can take over a month for a pair of socks. However, i am not knitting for socks, i am knitting to learn and becoming better at a hobby that frankly I don't need, but then gifting. Reply
