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Backstrap Loom Set: End Bars, Shed Rod, Heddle Rod and Sword
A backstrap loom is a few sticks: two end bars hold the warp, one tied to a post and one to a strap round the weaver's back. A shed rod woven through the warp opens one shed; a heddle rod tied to the other warp threads by string loops opens the second; a flat sword beats the weft in. Make the sticks and the strap.
The picture: a backstrap loom from Nahualá, Guatemala, with its end bars, rods and woven strap.
Beginner
A day
Instructions
1
1
End bars
End bars
Saw two straight shafts a little longer than the cloth is wide, smooth them and drill a hole near each end for cords.
Materials for this step:
Straight Wooden Shaft2 piecesTools needed:
Tenon Saw
Spokeshave
Hand Drill
Ruler2
2
Shed rod and heddle rod
Shed rod and heddle rod
Shave a thick round rod for the shed rod and a thinner one for the heddle rod, both longer than the warp is wide. Sand them glass-smooth so the warp slides.
Materials for this step:
Straight Wooden Shaft2 piecesTools needed:
Tenon SawSpokeshave
Sandpaper3
3
Sword
Sword
Shape a flat hardwood strip into a sword batten: one edge thin, both ends rounded, smooth all over.
Materials for this step:
Hardwood Strip1 pieceTools needed:
Sloyd Carving KnifeSpokeshaveSandpaper4
4
Strap and heddle string
Strap and heddle string
Cut the leather strap to fit round the back with a loop of cord at each end for the lower end bar. Wind off a ball of cotton heddle string (step 5).
Materials for this step:
Leather Strap1 piece
Cotton Thread40 mTools needed:
Sloyd Carving Knife
Scissors5
5
Heddle string
Heddle string
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Materials
4- 2 piecesPlaceholder
- 1 piecePlaceholder
- 1 piecePlaceholder
- 40 mPlaceholder
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