Weaving loomatic

Well I have not blogged for a while - I've been busy weaving of course. But now there is some big loom news I couldn't bear to keep from you.

Here is a picture of my new loom and a picture of one of the metal adjusters which are a part of this loom's genius. It also has warp and cloth beams which, like Popeye, have been strengthened with iron.

This is the loom I had been looking out for these last few months. I can now weave rugs, as well as lighter fabrics. It is a bit too wide for me but maybe it is possible to weave wide without a fly shuttle device - I shall find out.

In case you are wondering, it is a Swedish countermarche, eight shaft loom. It was designed by Ulla Cyrus in the 1940s. I am currently dipping into Ulla Cyrus' book about handweaving which is proving very useful for assembling a dismantled loom. I don't think these looms are made any more, the Glimakra Standard loom is probably its closest relative. My loom is now on its third owner. It is probably getting on for sixty years old and has the appearance of having led an interesting life so far and looking forward to lots more weaving projects. I hope we shall become great friends.