So last week, I decided to start wishing for a loom. This all started with my friend Heather of Loonsong CSA on Manitoulin Island who is a weaving teacher and possesses several looms. She showed me a few of them and I was instantly enamoured by her 24″ table loom. Then, as I said, last week I decided that I would try to manifest one for christmas.
Sure enough, my mom and I are boutiquing in Surrey on Saturday, and WHAM a used loom for sale, $29.99! ( Keep in mind that I know next to nothing about weaving or looms.) I know that there are thingies (shafts or harnesses) that move up and down, and a squisher (beater bars and reed) that moves forward and back and a little zoomy thing (shuttle) that goes in between the strings, back and forth. I didn’t see the squisher, but the little rods (swords) were there to hold it in place. The cloth (aprons) was all ripped and there was only one rod (warp rod). Other than that, it looked like a loom, and had a manufacturers sticker on it, so I bought it, hoping that I could find the dude who made it and get parts!
My mom and I got it home and looked the dude up on the web - Harvey Darnel of Mainland Cottage Crafts and found, not surprisingly, that his company no longer exists. So, I found a Leclerc dealer on Orangeville, Ontario - Camilla Valley Farm Weavers’ Supply. She was super helpful, and is sending me parts in the mail so that I can try and repair it. The beater bars probably wouldn’t fit, so I am going to attempt to build that piece myself.
I know that things outside of oneself cannot impart happiness… but wow, this loom comes darn close!