Dawn Brocco's Life & Design Blog

Lately, I've been thinking about a loom - again. Hubby thinks we should have hung onto the 45" Rio Grande walking loom I had before we moved here, as the prices have risen substantially in the past 12 years. But I knew there'd be no time for weaving and no place to set the loom up - not with kids, us and B&B guests filling the house.

And that's fine. I traded up from the 22" folding Harrisville 4H, 6T (noisy!) jack loom to the 36" Union, 2H rug loom (without the shelf on top), then to the 45", 4H, 6T counterbalance Rio Grande, which was a kit that I put together myself. Scroll down for the Standard Model. Note the price! When I bought the kit, it was on sale, about $750, excl. shipping - maybe 15, 16 years ago!

I always look for tools that are an improvement on the previous ones. The next one will either be a Glimakra or a Cranbrook - overhead beater, always counterbalance. I didn't like the jack loom at all, and countermarche? Seems too complex. Counterbalance is smooth treadling. Or maybe I'll find an old wood barn loom - because Glimakras and Cranbrooks, even used, are not inexpensive. For rugs, the loom just needs to be sturdy - solid beams, heavy and deep from breast to back beam.

My handwoven rag rugs, now nearly 20 years old, which have been machine washed and throughout their life, are finally falling apart. I want to weave new ones. I want to weave new blankets and maybe new curtains, also new dishtowels. The ones I wove maybe 15 years ago are shredding.

But it's the rag rugs (and table mats and stair runners) that I always want to make. The reusing of worn out sheets, flannel shirts, jeans and towels, by the addition of some cotton warp, just feels good. These things would just get thrown out, as they're past being donate-able. It's exciting to see a pile of old clo' and old sheets get turned into something new, functional and colorful.

Sure, one can buy cheap rag rugs, made overseas in some sweat shop. Will they last 20 years - not on your life! Will they help reduce what we throw away - nope. Can you even imagine how much fuel it takes to get these goods halfway around the world? These old ways can help serve a purpose today, in this time of global crisis.

That's what I love about quilting. It provides a way to reuse materials. I still have the twin size quilt I made when the kids were toddlers - about 24 years ago. Made out of old jeans, the kids worn out printed cords, and my maternity jeans and cords. I used an old, worn out wool blanket as the filler and an old sheet as the backing. Sewn and quilted on my cheapo $100 sewing machine.

And of course, the 2 hand sewn and hand quilted wall pieces, made from the 1" square fabric samples that Gohn Bros. sent me (again, eons ago), for some minor fee, when I was shopping for yardage. These wall pieces cost nothing but time to make.

I think that's why my mind returns to loom thoughts every so often, once a year or so. It's because it's been a LONG time since I've taken literally nothing and turned it into something.

Today - more progress to be made on the next baby blanket design - should have it done in a day or so, then to write the pattern and do the photographs. Should get a fire under my butt, as I have 3 other designs that need pattern-writing as well, and the having to clean for the showing this Sunday is inching closer.

Onward.