Posts in News
Introducing the Schacht Arras tapestry Loom

We’re so pleased to share the latest edition to the Schacht tapestry loom line-up - the Arras Tapestry Loom.

Schacht have taken a classic loom design with all the conventional elements of traditional tapestry weaving and applied a modern design aesthetic and innovative technologies to produce a functional and ergonomic loom fit for today’s weaver.

Starting with a base of hard-wearing maple timber, the solid construction will endure high tension warps typical to tapestry weaving, warp after warp.

Built for comfort the loom is loaded with adjustable features to aid warping and weaving, plus ergonomic handles and grips for fine tuning.

A generous warp width, mechanical shedding device, colour-coded warp guides and cartoon holder provide endless possibility for when inspiration strikes.

The Arras Tapestry Loom is a serious but user-friendly upright tapestry loom with all the bells and whistles that will no doubt suit both the passionate tapestry weaver and the beginner with optimistic enthusiasm.

FEATURES YOU’LL LOVE

  • Durable and hard-wearing maple construction guaranteed to withstand the rigours of high-tension tapestry warps.

  • A generous weaving width of 50.8cm (20'') and warp length of 114cm (45'') using the continuous warping method. Its modular design will allow for a future upgrade that will include a beam kit with ratcheted cloth and warp beams.

  • The loom can be warped in a horizontal or vertical position, improving your efficiency and comfort while direct warping.

  • Both loom height and weaving angle can be adjusted to suit your working conditions ensuring optimal comfort.

  • Precise controls with ergonomic hand grips for fine tuning warp tension.

  • A Smooth-working, hand-controlled shedding device that can be adjusted vertically to suit your working height. Conveniently, the hand lever can be installed on the either the right or left side of the loom.

  • Includes four warp guides fixed at 4, 5, 6, and 8 dents per inch. Warps can also be doubled in the dents increasing the sett range to 10, 12 and 16 ends per inch.

  • A handy cartoon holder that snaps into place below the warp guide.

  • At 4.6kg (10lbs) the loom is portable, folding support legs make it convenient for travel or storage.

OUR THOUGHTS

We think Schacht have really out done themselves here in terms of their thoughtful design and overall functionality of the working loom.

With so many great features we encourage you to check out the product specifications and inclusions.

We think this will be an exceptional and long-lasting tapestry weaving loom for weavers of all skill level.

We look forward to the official release in April 2020.

The Arras Tapestry Loom is available for pre-order now!

 
 

Let’s get started…

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Summer Spinning With Louët
Loom & Spindle - Hand Spun Yarn

We've spent our summer spinning up a rainbow on one of our favourite wheels, the Louët S17.

What can I say, the S17 didn’t skip a beat as we worked our way through 300g of stash fibre to come up with six yarns for Andrea Mowry’s Nightshift shawl.

Working from prepared wool top and spinning for a worsted weight 2-ply yarn, the project spun up quickly and we had our palette ready to go in under 4 weeks!


In other news, we’ve been busy adding all our 'in-stock' Louët inventory to the online shop.

It’s now just a click of a button to shop parts and accessories for our Louët spinning wheel range.

You’ll also find a new addition to our lineup - the Louët S95 Victoria spinning wheel. 

The S95 is arguably the lightest (just 3.6kg!) and most portable upright double-treadle spinning wheel on the market today.

Our first S95 wheels will be arriving mid February, pre-orders are now open.

+ FOR A LIMITED TIME LOUËT ARE OFFERING A FREE 40CMX60CM LISA FRAME-LOOM VALUED AT $129 WITH EVERY S10C PURCHASE.
*Offer ends 30th April 2020.


S17 Spinning Wheel
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S10c Spinning Wheel
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Studio Projects

A little of what we’ve been working on…

Spinning from our stash for Andrea Mowry's Nightshift shawl. We used one of our favourite wheels, the Louët S17.

Spinning from our stash for Andrea Mowry's Nightshift shawl. We used one of our favourite wheels, the Louët S17.

 
Testing out some stranded colourwork in Bio Shetland by BC Garn. This cute child's sweater is a free pattern by Junko Okamoto - Child and Mam ( Child ).

Testing out some stranded colourwork in Bio Shetland by BC Garn. This cute child's sweater is a free pattern by Junko Okamoto - Child and Mam ( Child ).

 
More colourwork... and a steek! This is the Tiger Lily shawl by Amirisu Magazine featuring Loch Lomond Bio in silver, graphite and schwarz.

More colourwork... and a steek! This is the Tiger Lily shawl by Amirisu Magazine featuring Loch Lomond Bio in silver, graphite and schwarz.


Thank you for reading!

Like to stay in touch? Subscribe to the Loom & Spindle e-newsletter and get a 10% discount on the Loch Lomond Bio range!

 

More studio projects…

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Shop Origin Story
Loom & Spindle - New Shop - Social.jpg

Shop Origin Story

I like to think I always base my big life decisions on logic and reason, but when I set out to find a studio-shop space last year I felt an unshakable sense of destiny creep in. Here’s my (shop’s) story…

Cue the chimes, we’re heading back in time…

*Don’t forget to scroll right to the bottom to checkout the transformation!


My first visit to this particular shop space when I was around 15-16 years old (maybe 2001-02).

At the time I was obsessed with leatherwork, I had borrowed all the books from the library and was on the hunt for supplies and more know-how.

Being a Frankston local all my life I knew of one shop – Don’s Custom Leatherworks.

A hole-in-the-wall type establishment with one narrow staircase leading up to the unknown.

My curiosity was peaking, what or who would lie within?


On entering Don’s shop I recall being in awe of all the sights and smells.

All the tools and materials of Don’s trade on hand.

Experiencing a craftsperson’s workshop, with works in progress to explore and finished objects to marvel at.

Though the memories of my few visits have faded, I do remember Don’s willingness to help me get started. Setting me up with the leather and tools I would need, him offering advice on how I might go about my projects.

I have a feeling he thought I was just some crazy kid (this was during my hippie phase after all!) but Don helped me complete several projects so I’ll be forever grateful.

Don and his shop left me with one lasting realisation – that it was possible to be both craftsperson and business owner.

And though I held this realisation closely and likely never told anyone until recently, I envisioned a life where I was creator, craftsperson and teacher.


Back to present day, I was contemplating that next step for Loom & Spindle and came across the real estate listing for Don’s old shop.

That unmistakable feeling of serendipity hit hard.

I dismissed it (I’m a logician after all). I had a million reasons why this could be a mistake… or even fatal for my business.

It kept playing on my mind, I couldn’t shake it.

Just one inspection wouldn’t hurt, hoping that would appease my logician brain.

But we know how this storey ends, I signed the lease!


I’ll let the images below tell the storey of the shape the shop was in on my first inspection.

There were bars on all the windows, nails sticking out of the floor, and the agent showing me around almost had an asthma attack due to the amount of dust in the air.

But it had great bones as they say – timber floors, high ceilings, copious amounts of natural light. The perfect character-filled hideaway for the intense focus and creativity required to run a business.

Without a doubt the opportunity to create my vision was here.

Thanks Don, for letting me make your home my home!

PS: Don sold me a leather punch which I still use at the office almost every day! Kismet!


Before

After

 
WELCOME: Woolsey XL
Loom & Spindle - Woolsey XL


THANK YOU FOR YOU INTEREST IN OUR LTD ED. WOOLSEY XL, IT HAS NOW SOLD OUT. SHOP OUR CURRENT YARN + FIBRE RANGE HERE.


Welcome Woolsey XL

The latest edition to the Woolsey weaving range is Woolsey XL, a super bulky roving yarn destined for bold texture and big finishes!

Perfect for soumaks, knotting and inlays, you can incorporate Woolsey XL into any tapestry inspired project to create super-sized texture and lots of woolly warmth.

The light twist added during milling provides a subtle structure that improves the overall workability of the yarn, when compared to working with unspun roving or top. Something that will definitely come in handy when working your favorite weaving stitches.

Given the lightness of twist this yarn is prone to pilling. It is best suited to tapestry projects that won’t see a lot of wear-and-tear such as wall décor and decorative home furnishings. 

THE YARN

FIBRE CONTENT: 100% Superwash wool
CONSTRUCTION: Single ply, light twist
WEIGHT: 200g (7.05oz)
LENGTH: 30m (32yd)
ORIGIN: Made in Turkey
CARE: Cool hand soak, lay flat to dry.

WORKING THE YARN

Woolsey XL is intended for tapestry style weaving projects where bold textural elements or woven inlays are desired.
The yarn can be worked by hand using long or short lengths.

Loom & Spindle - Woolsey XL-19.jpg

FINISHING

Steam blocking may be used to reinvigorate and set the fibres. To steam block, set your iron to a temperature appropriate to the fibre content of your piece. Lay your piece flat on a heat proof surface, place a damp towel over the area that requires blocking. Gently move the iron across the surface allowing the steam generated by the damp towel to penetrate the fibres beneath.

GAUGE SUGGESTIONS

This yarn is intended to be woven in a more free-form style utilizing soumak, knotting and inlay techniques. It’s generally unrestricted by gauge, but for best results we recommend a wide sett of 4-5 epi (16-20ends/10cm).

 
WELCOME: Angora Nep By AVRIL
Loom & Spindle Avril Angora Nep

WELCOME ANGORA NEP

Angora Nep by AVRIL combines a luxurious blend of wool and angora with flecks of nylon nep to produce a charming tweedy lace-weight yarn suitable for tapestry weaving, weaving for yardage, and other popular fibre crafts.

Being a rather delicate yarn, a spinning oil is applied during milling. As a result, the true texture and appearance of the yarn remains hidden until a final wash fluffs and softens the fibres.

With the yarns unique construction and a palette of 13 light and dark hues, Angora Nep is perfect for building your own yarns and blending colours to create one of kind textures and palettes. Simply combine multiple stands to produce unique fabrics and stunning colour work – think elegant gradients and soft transitions!

THE YARN

FIBRE CONTENT: Wool 65%, Nylon 25%, Angora 10%
CONSTRUCTION: Two plies, light twist, water-soluble spinning oil applied during milling
WEIGHT: 50g (1.7oz)
LENGTH: 400m (437y)
ORIGIN: Made in Japan
CARE: Cold hand wash

WORKING THE YARN

Angora Nep is suitable for most fibre crafts, including tapestry weaving, weaving for yardage, knitting, crochet and felting. You’ll find a list of suggested gauges for various projects below.

If you intend to felt your piece or apply a more vigorous finishing technique we suggest working the piece 10% to 20% larger than the intended size. It’s highly recommended that a test swatch be made, applying your intended finishing technique to assess the variables of the fabric you’ve crafted.

FINISHING

To remove the spinning oil applied during milling, prepare a bath of tepid water and if desired add a few drops of mild detergent or wool wash. Immerse the finished piece and allow to soak for 10 to 15 minutes. Lift the piece from the water and allow to drain. Gently remove excess water by pressing the fabric between layers of a dry towel. Lay flat to dry.

The texture and appearance of your fabric can be manipulated by using warm/hot water and agitation. Be sure to test the effects of these variables on a sample you’ve swatched before applying them to your finished piece.

GAUGE SUGGESTIONS

TAPESTRY WEAVING (WEFT FACED WEAVES)
4 epi (16 ends / 10cm) – 8 strands
6 epi (24 ends / 10cm) – 6 strands
8 epi (32 ends / 10cm) – 4 Strands

WEAVING FOR YARDAGE (BALANCED WEAVES)
12 epi (50 ends / 10cm) – 1 strands
10 epi (40 ends / 10cm) – 2 strands
8 epi (32 ends / 10cm) – 3 strands

KNITTING
Needle size 2.75mm - 3.5mm (US 2-4) - 1 strand
Needle size 4mm - 5mm (US 6-8) - 2 strands

CROCHET
Hook size 3.5mm - 5mm  (US 4-8) – 1-2 strands

FELTING
Determine gauge by working a test swatch in your preferred craft and apply your preferred felting technique. 

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