Answer to Comments and Beaters

We had a great time at "Transforming Textiles", the HWSDA (Handweavers, Spinners, and Dyers of Alberta conference). I do hope my participants in my workshop had as much fun as I did. What a creative group.

Sorry it has taken so long to answer Nancy's questions. First she asked where I get my indigo. Whenever we can we head for the coast. Usually I can squeeze in a little shopping and I go to Maiwa in Vancouver. My son and his partner have also sent us gifts of natural dyes from there. They do mail order but the shop is such a wonderful place.

Nancy's next question was about the flying shuttle and I must confess I do not like weaving really wide fabrics. I have done so on occassion but do not enjoy it as much as more narrow pieces. Thus my choice of a 32 inch 24 shaft AVL. My pleasure in weaving really comes from obtaining a rhythm and throwing the shuttle back and forth. I still have a flying shuttle on my 48 inch AVL (just in case) but have sold the one that was on my 45 inch Colonial. For me I get really good selvedges with end feed shuttles.

However AVL suggests you offset the warp slightly to use the flying shuttle and not center it in the reed like we normally would. Since I have never tried this I cannot say if it works but hope this helps. "If you will be using a flyshuttle and are planning a narrow warp, you need to offset the warp 4" to the right instead of centering it."

My older AVL has an underslung beater and my Colonial has both overhead and underslung and can be changed. Since I have owned several looms over the years and have usually bought most of them previously loved, it gave me a chance to try out lots of different types. Each has there own good and bad points and it really just depends on what you like. Usually I use the overhead beater style with the Colonial because I really like the smoothness of the action. Like a counterbalance loom it is easier on the body. So my choice of beater for my new AVL was the overhead style.

The AVL overhead beater has a pin that will lock it in place so that it does not move when you are threading. The system itself with tilting and push arms make it a breeze to operate and I am really glad I choose this style of beater. It move effortlessly.

My new loom is overdue for a warp. At Christmas break, I usually make a list of things to make for our local weavers Christmas sale and next on the list are some tea towels. Off to warp!