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Crazy as a Loom

Friday, April 23, 2010

Heart be still.




I have a wonderful customer, whose name is Louise. I love making rugs for her, because she tells me the colors, and basically says, "You go, girl." She gives me creative license to make rugs I think she will love. And so far, she has.

These are the latest.
From Crazy as a Loom

And they were fun to make.....it was like painting with fabric.

From Crazy as a Loom


Figured I should get back to business......so I put a placemat warp on the Hammett.

From Crazy as a Loom

Problem was that the Hammett loom didn't come with a crank.
I had an old crank, that nowhere near fit.
But lucky for me, my neighbor has a machine shop.
And he loves a challenge.
Here is the old crank that didn't fit anything, with a new part welded on the end to fit the Hammett. There is nothing as annoying as a loom without a crank.
No more.
From Crazy as a Loom

He also made two more cranks, for the two other Hammett looms that I have in the barn. (yes, there are looms in the barn, too, and yes, I know I have a problem)
From Crazy as a Loom

From Crazy as a Loom


Now one of the Hammetts in the barn, was missing some parts.......but when you know your stuff, you know your stuff.
My neighbor is an "artist" with metal, and that is no joke.
The black parts are original, the silver parts he made.
From Crazy as a Loom

I know this is probably a boring post....but honestly, when you do what you do, and you are just plain damn good at it, well, that is pretty special.
And these metal parts, fashioned out of new metal to replace missing pieces, that will now bring an old loom to life, well, they make my heart skip a beat.
I warned you, I am easily amused.
Now I just have to figure out which looms are staying, and which are not. I have 15 looms, and I honestly don't have room for 15. So something has to give.
I may have to ............OH NO.....sell one.
I can't even believe I said that.

I must have a fever.











12 comments:

LA said...

How cool is that! Your neighbor is very talented! It sure comes in handy to have someone who can replicate those loom parts.

weaverpat said...

There is a dear little old man in our town who is my 'parts fabricator'. I don't know what I'll do when he's gone, but right now I love him!

The thought of selling a loom is like getting rid of one of your children. I know you can't weave on more than one at a time.....but they all have their own special personalities.

Anonymous said...

You may have to enlarge that porch you are building to help handle some of those 15 looms! LOL

Di

Hilary said...

Lucky you and talented him. I love the colours in those rugs.

ethelmaepotter! said...

Umm...15 looms? 15?

Do you have something on each one of them at all times?

I love the pastels mixed with the dark stripes in these rugs.

KarenInTheWoods said...

Hilary.... shame on you! this is not a boring post in the least!!! Ohhh exciting to see the loom parts and I know what it is like to get looms that are missing pieces. What a great metalworker you have doing this for you. There are always folks looking for those parts.

Your rugs are great too...

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Karen and Steve
(Our Blog) RVing: Small House... BIG Backyard
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Sweetpea said...

BEAUTIFUL rugs and BEAUTIFUL metal work! Lucky you to have such a neighbor... :>]]

bspinner said...

My Hammett didn't come with a crank. What do you expect for $25.00 right? I worked in the office of a machine shop a one of the guys made one for me.

Love the rugs!!!

Lynn said...

I only have three floor looms and none of them is a rug loom. And yet there is all this fabric under my bed ...

One of these days I'm going to come visit and free you of an extra loom! ;~)

Joe said...

I'm trying to get an old Hammett working and it's missing the lever with pawl to advance the cloth beam. You have a picture of an original next to a copy on this web page and I was wondering if you could take a picture with a ruler or tape measure next to the lever so I could get dimensions to make one.

Unknown said...

Hi,

I noticed you have a Hammett that you crafted handles for. I have one that also is missing a take up handle and a warp beam handle. Any picture you could post of what it looks like installed and fabricated would be great. Thank you so much for your help. Love your site...Someday, ahhhh

Ccourville said...

Oh my gosh! Your neighbor made you a new cloth beam handle ( with pawl thingy)! !!! 13 years later is he willing to make another?.
I need one for my Hammet loom I am restoring. If yes, how much would he charge?
Thanks,
Carol Courville

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