Wednesday, September 7, 2016

4 Now 4 Later

Yep, another Schacht loom has landed, this time a Baby Wolf, 4 now 4 later. A wider replacement for the Gem II. At 26" weaving width this is a perfect bridge width  to the larger looms.



 Schacht considers this a portable loom. I have to say, it's pretty heavy. I couldn't move it to a workshop by myself, but maybe someone younger and stronger could, although, I'm pretty strong.  This beauty was ordered through my LYS, The Web-sters. It saved me some cash (which I spent on a castle tray and extra reed), to have it shipped there and I picked it up within minutes of it arriving. It was carted right out to my car and the carton just fit into the back of the Subaru. Whew! The loom fit and finish is as nice as you can get. The maple Schacht uses on their looms is some of the best quality I have seen. Clear beautiful furniture quality. And it is certainly easy to use. It took me half a day to do a careful job of installing the castle tray and getting the heddles on, all the tie-ups etc. In under 3 hours I had him warped and threaded with a 5 yard warp in a nubby silk noil yarn for a couple of birch bark runners.



 The main weft is a lovely handspun wool from a fellow blogger. I'm thinking one of these runners should really be heading back to her.



 The one that stays will become a wall hanging.

The long carriage bolts on the front beam have been replaced with carriage bolt knobs like the back beam has.



That allows for the front beam to be removed to thread since I warp back to front. It made a huge difference in comfort and speed. There is a barrel nut in the beam, so you have to set that correctly when replacing it, but it is a small price to pay for the better access. I will probably switch the plain bolts for knobs on Fiona the wolf pup since the set up is the same. Oh and the new loom's name? Why Shrek of course. :-)

I'll be participating in Spinzilla again this year with the Web-ster's team and give some cotton roving a whirl on the wheel.
colorway:Tex-Mex.
Of course I have ounces and ounces of some wonderful wools too should cotton be a non-starter for me. This beautiful fiber came from the Etsy shop of Robin Edmundson.

The Hogwarts towels continue



with the bronze and blue of Ravenclaw. I might not get a Hufflepuff since that warp is looking pretty close to the end. We'll see since I do love their colors and their mascot. A badger!

And speaking of badgers, a double gauze fabric adorned with them and made into a Grainline Tee came out of the sewing salon last week.



A few things hit the cutting table and some linen pants are almost done. It was a slow week up there with all the excitement of a new loom.

The fall garden is full of California Fuchsia (Zauschneria) and various salvia's.



 It's all a wonderful chaotic jumble at this point and I smile every time I walk by it all. Of course once fall really sets in there will be a reckoning for my lazy ways with the garden this year, weeds will need to be pulled, some things cut back etc. But not today!

Parting shot: The magnificent seven.
Spike, the resident alarmist, keeps watch.

10 comments:

Peg Cherre said...

Took me a while to find Spike. If you hadn't said he was on watch I don't know if I would have :-)

Coco said...

I love the birch bark and hogwart pieces. so different, so pretty.

The garden looks great - hard to believe it has matured so much since you and Gene started it.

Kim said...

Oh I am so happy for you on the new loom. You do such beautiful work.

Valerie said...

I agree with you on the Baby Wolf as a workshop loom....I've helped lug too many of them at workshops and conferences.

As always, your productivity amazes me. Love the Birch Bark pieces...great concept!

LA said...

Congrats on your new Baby! You'll be ordering those extra four shafts before you know it!!! I really love your magnificent seven...even better than the movie!

Judy said...

Congrats on your new loom! It's always fun to welcome a new loom to the collection. Lovely weaving with the yarns that you're working/playing with. I'm curious to hear how you like spinning cotton!
Have fun with your new loom.

Mary said...

Gene will need to build an addtion to the house so you can have a weaving studio :-) I saw some badger fabric on Etsy and thought of you-glad you saw some also.

Theresa said...

Mary, I do have a weaving studio! I'll need a second one. Seriously, With a little colonization, everything
fits fine.

Judy, I'm pretty smitten with Schacht products. New Baby Wolf Shrek is a dream to weave on. In fact I think I have a stable of some of the nicest weaving looms around.

LA, Yep and a stroller, but in all honesty, I can keep busy with 4 shafts for a very long time.

Valerie, The Pup is much easier to haul around and weaves just as well. Of course it is much smaller too. The birch bark is looking pretty nice this time around. Oh and good to hear from you!

Kim, Why, thank you!

Peg, Someone is ALWAYS on watch but usually it is Spike. Only Pogo is missing from that pic, and he hangs with his favorite person Gene. I am only around to serve meals in his world.

Theresa said...

Coco, Sadly it isn't looking like Hufflepuff is going to make it for a towel o this warp. I like the concept enough to repeat it sometime though.

Sharon said...

You've been busy! I've lost track of your looms but it sounds like the Gem II got replaced by the Pup. Certainly 26" is a very nice width, I agree. I've lusted over a Pup for years so I'll vicariously enjoy yours. I keep my two Gilmores busy and honestly don't think I could put a third loom to use at this point in my life - but I can have loom envy :)