I'm a Weaver

Finally the big reveal... I've now had my loom for well over 2 weeks but only just got around to moving it into my "craft room" where it now basically uses all the available floor space. After a certain amount of research and guess-work, I have come to the conclusion that this is an Artisat loom. It folds front and back (although when warped this releases the tension so I don't know that I'll be doing it that often).


I've already warped it and woven a bit, using some coned yarn I picked up in the Romni basement a few months ago for another project, and I've been weaving using sock-yarn scraps I have a big bag of so there are some wacky colours happening and my selvedges are terrible. I really need to find some time to take a class or coerce some of my experienced weaver friends to come to my house and give me some pointers. At this point I'm totally winging it based on the little information I was able to find on the internet and my own innate sense of mechanics.


It seems to be in very good shape and was obviously well cared for by the previous owner. All the parts move easily, there is no visible rust on the reed or heddles, and it actually still smells like wood (I LOVE the way my loom smells, when I walk in my craft room now I take a big deep breath of the delicious smell of maple).


It came with a 12-dent reed (that is 12 slots per inch) which works for some of the super fine yarn I'm using to warp it right now but probably won't work for heavier weight yarns. So I guess I'm going to have to spend a little more money on a reed with fewer dents -- I'm thinking an 8-dent for sock-weight and either a 6- or 4-dent to accommodate up to worsted weight. If anyone with some weaving experience can suggest a more appropriate reed size for sock weight and worsted yarns that would be awesome :) I want to be able to make big cushy woven blankets and I have visions of cozy plaid baby blankets for all of my friends' babies.