Loom

G453

Hi I was just wondering does anyone know of anybody with a loom they no longer use or want? Would like my own but they are so expensive to buy new!

briscotti

Hiya! I asked this question to many people too, with no avail
I did manage to find a vintage loom for sale on Ebay though! It is only a table top one and can weave up to 16" width. It is called Spears Weaving Loom size 4. I have made a scarf using it and it was a great taster of weaving for cheap! (Approx 40 euro?)

G453

Wow really. Any of the ones I've seen are a few hundred, I'd want to be certain I'd still keep up weaving after college before I went spending that sort of money. Could you tell me are you a member of the weavers guild? is it worthwhile to join?
Thanks for your help!

briscotti

hey again, aw sorry I didn't make myself very clear! The loom I got is vintage and was considered a 'toy' at the time - it is very basic but it has a heddle and allows you to make scarves which is fabulous! the heddle isn't levered which is a bit tedious but it produces wonderful results for the cost.

I am not a member of the weavers guild as I only hobby weave at home, however I have seen some beautiful work from the members on the website.
Are you beginning weaving this year in college? I would love to weave in college! If you are worried about having to buy your own loom, I imagine you should hold off until a year or so into your course, when you will know for sure if you want to continue - and then would know what best to look for too!? You might even get lucky in the mean time!

G453

Oh my bad. I've been doing it for 3 years so I'm definitely interested! Only thing I'm worried about is spending a lot of money on something I can't use after college. Job prospects are very unclear at the best of times in this profession. Thanks for your help. At your suggestion I checked ebay an am looking at a 8shaft loom going for 80euro so far, hopefully it wont go up much more because its just what I was looking for.

briscotti

I hope you won your bidding!!! That sounds like a great bargain. Do you study weaving in NCAD or are there courses somewhere else too? Do you have photos or keep a blog for any of your work? I would love to see what 3 years of studying it lets you achieve as it is definetly something I want to pursue in the future!

Also thought i'd just mention that if you do want to sell on your loom in a few years you should keep me in mind I would love to own and use one but currently don't have the space....maybe by the time you get sick of it i'll have my homemademansion (tm) \o/ and i'd also recommend listing some of your items for sale on www.etsy.com or selling at some handcraft / art fairs around Dublin! Best of luck!

Saz1

Hiya,

I've just finished college at NCAD. I did textile design, weaving to be exact. I also am in the look out for a loom!

Do you know of anywhere I can get my hands on one?

Greentopia

Saz1 wrote: »

Hiya,

I've just finished college at NCAD. I did textile design, weaving to be exact. I also am in the look out for a loom!

Do you know of anywhere I can get my hands on one?

If you can make your way to Naas Co. Kildare Craftspun Yarns have some Ashford looms from New Zealand! here

I'm thinking of getting one but I don't think I have the room for it in my small apartment that's already overflowing with arts and craft stuff

G453

In the end I managed to get my hands on a second hand 4shaft, totally by chance. It was handmade by someone so a total bargain, just what I was looking for!! Thanks for link of place in Naas, I need a warping frame asap, the loom is a bit useless without it.

A blog is still on my to do list, once I get it sorted I will be sure to let you guys here know though Saz1 have you anything set up? I'd love to chat to you more about weaving, no one else in my class understood it at all.

Saz1

So I've tried contacting my tutor from college to sort out a loom, no answer!!! I have had a lot of interest in my work, but without a loom it's useless!

I've tried google, blogs, societies but still nothing. Why is it so bloody hard to get one! It's not fair!
The only place that was decent in price was the one in Naas, but they have Ashford, whereas I want a Harris loom (with a dobby box), and the fact that I want a 16 or 24 shaft has made my search even harder!

G453 glad you got a loom at last. The place in Naas sent me a brochure today, they have winders, and anything else you might need.
If we can help each other out we might eventually be able to get sorted!

Greentopia

G453 wrote: »

In the end I managed to get my hands on a second hand 4shaft, totally by chance. It was handmade by someone so a total bargain, just what I was looking for!! Thanks for link of place in Naas, I need a warping frame asap, the loom is a bit useless without it.

You're welcome, glad you managed to find one! handmade too... score!

As I've said I'm not a weaver (knitting and sewing's my thing) but if any weavers here are looking for any help or support don't discount Ravelry. It is primarily for knitters, crocheters, dyers and spinners but there are weavers on there too with their own groups.
It'd help to get your work out there too (over a million members) and you could link your blogs, facebook/twitter page or whatever, or Etsy sites on there in your profile.

G453

I went to GMIT and our own lecturer was of similar help. :P Did you find NCAD good for weave? I often think I should have just gone there but unfortunately family reasons meant I needed to be close to home.
Would love to invest in a 24shaft dobby myself but I didn't want to make the investment before I got started a bit. I must ask them for a brochure too.
Was it at your end of year show you got the interest? I have no idea how to get myself up and running! Have you done any work experience?

G453

And I always did discount Ravelry just for that exact reason!

Greentopia

That's so crap Saz1 that you can't get the one you want. You've tried the Spinners and Weavers Guild I suppose? or contacted the Crafts Council of Ireland? Fix it Friday on the Ray Darcy show?? clutching at straws here but you never know!

Some things are impossible to get in this country, it's so frustrating. I had to get the spinning wheel I wanted imported from the U.S.
Obviously posting a loom unless it's a very small one (and it's sounds like it's not) is not an option for you.

Best of luck in your search, hope you find it. Would love to see your work.

Greentopia

G453 wrote: »

And I always did discount Ravelry just for that exact reason!

Well there ya go
Had a quick look there and while there's no group for Irish weavers, there are plenty of other weaving groups including several for the U.K.

Saz1-you could ask in the Irish Knitters or Irish Spinners groups on Ravelry if anyone is a weaver and know of anywhere you might be able to get the loom you're looking for.
There are a few members of the Spinners & Weavers Guild there.

MacLav

Hello

Does anybody know of any weaving courses in Ireland. preferably in North West as live in North Donegal

Thanks
A

briscotti

Perhaps you may be led in the right direction here http://weavespindye.ie or maybe on the woolly way of Ireland blog which is just amazing for textile info - they list courses so I would suggest it to be worth a look! I think I remember a woman in Mayo offering weekend felt spin and possibly weaving courses on her farm though admittedly I may be mistaken though hopefully not. Anyway, Best of luck hope you get sorted!