This is a really special vintage loom from my collection that I have had for a few years. It is also called Lancashire's Smallest Loom, made by A Chesstok of Manchester. Original cost was 5/- or Five shillings which translates to 25 pence in the current currency.
It is a little mending weaving loom and here it is in use.
The idea ( briefly) is that the warp is formed over the hole to be darned by making stitches opposite the hooks and looping the yarn over the hooks in turn, then taking another stitch opposite the hooks. You then weave and change the shed to give plain weave by pushing the metal oblong at the top which tilts the hooks to the right and left in turn. Once the weaving is complete, the remaining 3 sides are stitched down to the garment. Ingenious.
Here I am using a contrasting thread to show how it works. You can make the weaving as small as you like. The width is constrained by the width of the loom ( a bit over 2") but the length could be more. I will be taking it with me tomorrow as I am helping at a Costume and Textiles Association event in the Bridewell Museum tomorrow on ' make do and mend'. I think the participants might enjoy seeing this lovely vintage item.
Tom of Holland has described it's use in detail on his blog of 23 June 2011
That is cute and so useful, I want one.
ReplyDeleteThey do crop up now and again on a well known auction site!
ReplyDeleteI HAVE ONE OF THESE SPEEDWEVE MARK2 WITH INSTRUCTIONS. HAD IT FOR MANY YEARS AND DARNED MANY SOCKS.
ReplyDelete