For some reason, I haven’t been taking too many pictures lately. On the other hand, a lot of what we have been spending time on doesn’t seem really picture or blog worthy. I mean, how interesting could it be to see a picture of us mowing the (very big) lawn, planting shrubs, watering the field, or weeding the garden?
However, I am considering buying another loom, so here is a picture:
It’s a Herald loom – they were built in Lodi, Ohio and the company is no longer in business. I haven’t been able to find out too much about them on the internet. The current owner lives up the Twisp River, and she bought it from someone on Whidbey Island. It is a 48″ wide, 8-harness jack loom and some of the other women in my guild have given it good marks. Apparently it has some features in common with Gilmore looms. It is currently residing at our guild room, and if I do buy it that is where it will have to stay, as I certainly have no room for another large object here! It needs some TLC – last week I made 80 new tie-up cords out of Texsolv for the treadles, and have started giving it a good cleaning and waxing. I hope to get a warp on it by next week and see what it feels like to treadle, how good a shed it makes (the space you need to throw the shuttle through), etc.
Here at home on the Macomber, I have been steadily weaving away on “rag rugs”, trying to build up some inventory and work my way through the large amount of fabric and mill-end selvage material I bought with the loom 2 years ago. So, a gallery of recent rugs:
wool blanket cut into strips
wool blanket, each side a different color, cut in strips
wool blanket, each side a different color, cut in strips
wool flannel, purple and red
bright red wool blanket and accent stripes
Blue jeans denim; that's a shadow, not dirt (I hope)
5 shades of denim in repeating sequence
Pendleton blanket fringed selvage
Twisp of Fate 
Katie, if you go to
http://www.ravelry.com/groups/loom-reviews
and post a thread asking for info from owners you may be able to find out a lot about this loom. I’ve only heard good things about it.
Love the rugs!
Thanks, Holly! I am giving this a try.
[…] 15, 2009 by Katie After spending a fair bit of time and effort cleaning up and trying out the Herald loom that is for sale up at our guild meeting room, I decided it just wasn’t what I was looking […]
I bought an old 4 shaft herald floor loom on Craig’s List. I’ve been trying to find out how old it is but it works great. Wouldn’t mind getting rid of some of the rust from the shaft frames though.
I’m curious as to how you sell your inventory? I live in the middle of nowhere, so a guild is out of the question, but I love the sound of yours!!
Fortunately there is an active arts scene in the Methow Valley, and I have my work at 2 galleries, one in Twisp and one in Winthrop. A lot of “west-siders” come here for recreational opportunities, or have second homes here. I could do the farmer’s/craft market in Twisp in the summer but it is too much work for me. I prefer to just go through the galleries and pay a commission. Then of course there is the annual guild sale, and last December I did one of the holiday gift shows at the Winthrop Barn. If I didn’t have these outlets I guess I would consider Etsy. Good luck!