My textile studio
Am busy setting up studio spaces for making my textiles. I have been involved with textiles for a long time -mainly as a feltmaker, weaver, dyer and dressmaker – and have collected lots of wonderful yarns, fibres, fabrics and books.
I’m really lucky to have some spare rooms in my house. So, instead of spreading all over the house when I’m in creative mode, there are dedicated spaces for each textile activity. A felting studio is downstairs with access to outside, with an adjacent bathroom for wet felting and dyeing of fibres, yarns and fabric.
Floor looms in the weaving room
My various looms and a fibre preparation area occupy the family room, which has a great view across to the Brindabella mountains. Storage and textile finishing processes now happen at the other end of the house, along with an office space.
It will be great to be able to have functional work spaces, so I can work on different felting and weaving projects at the same time. But can I keep the dining table clear?
F i b r e r e f l e c t i o n s 
What a wonderful space! Is that a Thorp countermarche loom on the front of the photo? If it is, may I ask how are the lamms tied to the treadles? I have a Thorp but have found it hard to get the pegs to secure the cords to the underside of the treadles………
Well its not such a tidy space at the moment and I have a few more smaller looms now, and yes, its a Thorp countermarch.
I feed the cord through the holes in the lamms and treadles, then poke straight nylon pegs through the end of the cord under each treadle at the right height. They seem very secure and don’t pop out at all. Also, as the lamms are so thin and tend to catch on each other, I loop the cord through itself over the lamms, rather than using pegs.
I hope this helps, and let me know if you’d like me to send you an image of my tie up.
Yes, please to an image! I find it hard to get the pegs in under the treadle and last time, it took ages……just wondering if there is an easier method!?
The Thorpe loom in the main photo. I was using one in the 70’s for ten years. Now fifty years later I have put it back together and getting the lams tied to the treadles has given me grief. Is it possible to get some more photos posted to give me some clues.
Ray Miller
0439012011
I know I’m 6 years late here, but I acquired a Thorp Countermarche loom last year! It looks just like yours and I’m curious to see the treadles. I was told the one I have was a computer assisted loom at one time and the lams and treadles are home made. I have considered remaking them because they could be better. If you could post any pics I would be very grateful!
I also am using a Thorpe loom and would love to see any pictures of the tie up.
Beautiful studio, I’m so envy! I’m working in the kitchen and table is never clear:)) xx
I am so jealous of you for having two beautiful looms and a space with so much light (I suffer through England’s winter when the hours of light are so few.) What are the next project you have planned?
This is my favourite room with its large windows and great light all day. It does get rather hot in the afternoons at the moment as its a hot summer here! I feel for you at the moment, experiencing all that terrible weather.
I’m weaving some large striped plarn bags with a cotton warp on the paler Toika loom at the moment. This rug loom has a heavy beater which is ideal for compacting this kind of weft into strong fabric.
Over a couple of years I’ve accumulated a stash of supermarket bags in blues and neutral tones that I sorted into similar colours/ tones, cut into loops and chained together to make the plarn. Have made two large bags so far and will make smaller ones with the remaining plarn. It does use a tremendous number of plastic supermarket bags, but I like the idea of repurposing these bags.
WOW you have two floor looms? Are those 8 harness? I took weaving when I was in art school and though I appreciate weaving, I am a surface designer. I would love to see some of your weavings.
Yes, they’re both 8 shaft looms – one has a double back beam which is great for my silk and wool weaving. I too learnt weaving at art school and combine it with my feltmaking. I’ll post some images of my weaving soon.