My Aunt Ellen busy making rugs on the Union #36 loom.
the loom today
This is a photo of my Aunt Ellen who use to make the most beautiful rag rugs on her mother's Union Loom Works #36 rug loom. Auntie passed away in 1974, but I can remember her sitting at the loom in my grandfather's barn making rugs.
The loom had belonged to my grandmother, whom I never knew as she passed away a couple months before I was born. The loom was then passed to my Aunt and after Auntie Ellen passed away, my Aunt Gert got the loom. While I was at my aunts today I took some photos of the loom.
Back side of the loom. You can see the 2 wooden pedals that you treadle the loom with under the loom that are connected by chains
cranberry boxes filled with cut and sew strips of fabric rolled into balls that are used in making the rag rugs.
the 2 wooden foot pedals
partially made rag rug and 2 loom shuttles on top and the strings (warp)
partially made rug
side of loom
a better view
I found this image on Pinterest of the wooden piece that tightens the warp to the fabric as I forgot to take a photo of that piece.
I just did a google search to learn a little more about this loom. If anyone who reads my blogs has made rugs on a loom I'd love to hear from you as I don't have any idea how to set the loom up with the strings (warp) or anything else about the loom.
I found info on this loom by doing a google search.
Elaine
3 comments:
I'm in awe, Elaine! This post looks like it came from a museum. Do you follow Gene Black's bog? He is a talented guy, and weaving is only one of his creative pursuits. If you scroll down on his blog up you will see some of what he does. His loom isn't like this one on your post, but he is a wealth of knowledge and may have some answers to your questions.
http://blog.geneblack.com
I'm going to point him to your past as well. Good luck, this is a treasure. Hey, I just thought, maybe combine this loom with all your vintage sewing machines, and then you can open a museum. ;)
What a great family treasure!
In the first photo, Aunt Ellen appears to be weaving on a double treadle, barn loom, not a Union 36 loom. These were big, clunky looms - note the heavy side boards running parallel to the floor. Many rugs were woven on the barn looms...in Canada, largely by itinerant weavers who moved between farms weaving up yarns the household had spun.
The Union 36 loom has crossed boards at the sides, not horizontal beams. They also have double treadles, and are used primarily as rug looms, but are much smaller in construction than the barn looms.
Our Hand Weavers and Spinners Guild uses both of these looms for demonstration purposes.
Michele B.
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