Drawloom Conversion

The basic loom - the Lilla (small footprint) vertical countermarche loom from Öxaback. 8-shafts, 8 treadles. 100cm weaving width.

The Myrrehed extension - custom made for my loom. The extension puts added distance between front and back to make room for the pattern shafts.

Building a drawloom requires that the loom be warped step by step during the construction of the drawbridge. Here is the loom with the warp beamed and threaded through the pattern heddles. Pattern heddles are first divided into groups corresponding to the number of threads in a pattern unit - in this case 6 - and each group weighted with a u-shaped weight or lingo. At this point, all pattern heddles are held on the heddling bar awaitin later distribution to the pattern shafts. Cords through the frame at top are from installing the pull cords and handles in the draw bridge.

Front of loom at the same point.

Note that the countermarche jacks have been reversed so the short end now points upward - to avoid conflicts witn the draw bridge.

The next step is to move the ground shafts back near the pattern heddles, hang them in the shaft holders and thread them. This is accomplished by sitting inside the frame of the loom and sleying the heddles in a straight draw following the order of threading in the pattern heddles. Since the ground heddles have a 6cm eye they are easily threaded using only fingers.

Here is the loom from the front showing the draw

cords and handles installed.

Now the ground shafts have been moved back into position just behind the beater, the reed has been sleyed (hanging just in front of the ground shafts BEFORE) they were moved forward.

Then the pattern heddle groups were distributed on the 21 pattern shafts needed to complete this project. The pattern heddles are hanging on two

sticks supported from the loom frame and only move upward when one of the pull cords is activated.

Loom from the side, showing the arrangement of shafts weights and other loom parts. Tie-up is still not completed.

After tying up the countermarche (for drawloom weaving only one up and one down) elastic bands need to be attached on the sice of the loom toward the window to insure that shafts return to "neutral" after readling a shot.

Sept. 6, 2004 - Labor Day - The loom is finally completed, warped AND IT IS WEAVING BEAUTIFUL CLOTH.

First warp 900 ends of 20/2 cotton sett at 60 epi (24/cm) - weft 20/2 mercerized cotton, possibly other fine linen and

cotton threads to test how the fabric develops. Pattern threading - 21 shaft straight draw + x-shaft. Ground

fabric, 6-shaft satin.

2005 - One year later - the drawloom has now been completely set up with all 50 pattern shafts. The pattern being woven is the sheep from our company logo to be used as "advertising" on our stand.

The "console" of the loom as it appears to the weaver. Quite an array of "sticks and string" but once understood, it is a quiet and fascinating place to weaver.

The arch of cords from the comber board make a lovely display in their own right - loom seen from the side.