So Easy! Weaving bands on a Clover Bloom Loom

Plain weave band weaving on Clover Bloom Cage Loom. So easy, fast and fun!

[@UkeHer]

I am wondering how you feel about your Bloom loom now as some time has passed? I, too, am enchanted with Matteo Salusso’s looms. Hard to find information about either of these looms on the web…

[@k9nething]

Hi there. I quite enjoy it, and for me it works very well for some things. I like it particularly for tight cotton plain weaves it works nicely for bands although the smaller one would ve even easier to use for small bands. My rigid heddles are more versatile and I fear it is likely not as versatile as a Salusso loom, I have yet to get my hands on one of those though, so I can't say for sure.

[@mastinomama8939]

Thanks a lot, Nannette! This loom is on my wish list since you introduced it... budget does not want it yet, though. Would you do a video about weaving with the Clover and warping it? Pretty please?

[@k9nething]

Mastinomama Sibyl Ramkin LOL! It is such an enchantingly clever loom isn't it? I have been thinking about trying to do a video on it in English as I could not find one. Even though the instructions that come with the loom are fairly easy to work out, I know how much I would have welcomed a little more support myself so... yes, most likely I will give it a go. I do want to get a little more fluent with it first .😉

[@mastinomama8939]

@@k9nething Looking forward to this, ohhhh yes.... BTW: are the "feathers" (as they call the heddles) heavy, or are they easy to slide backwards and forwards? There are other looms with similar heddles (American construction), but all those seem quite bulky. The Clover, however, seems elegant and easy to use.

[@k9nething]

The "heddles" are substantial, but I do not find them at all heavy as they are used. They slide easily on the runners on the sides. I did find out with the 7.5/8 dent that if I tensioned the warp too tightly it did not want to slide. It turns out to be a pretty nice self regulating system. It is a super slick loom. I am only familiar with American made looms with slotted "heddles" that are limited in warp length and cost prohibitive. The reason I have this loom is because it is the closest I could come to those made by Matteo Salusso in Italy. I have coveted one of his looms since the first time I stumbled upon one of his videos. I find them inspiring and instructional. Check him out! kzbin.info/www/bejne/hpqklIykjNqfl6s

[@kevinolson1102]

@@k9nething I think a near-duplicate of Matteo's heddle could be cheaply made from a length of plastic drain pipe, with the slits cut using a hand miter box. De-burring the cuts may be a pain. A stiff rotary brush or bottle brush type of cylinder hone run through the inside of the tube after slitting might help. I have a cheap Pony brand miter box, but a good old Stanley miter box would likely give straighter cuts with a fine blade. To efficiently use a table saw or radial arm saw to slit the tube, I think you'd want to make a device similar to a box-joint jig to repeat the kerf spacing (and use a really thin blade, too). I haven't tried making one yet, but the ease/speed of warping the loom with a tubular heddle makes the effort of cutting it appear to be worth the time and sweat at the first use. His heddle also allows for the use of pick up sticks, controlled warp swapping, and more. I'm not sure if 4 shaft weaves could be done, though, as can be done with a standard rigid heddle loom (with enough heddles, that is). However, for basic weaves, his tubular heddle looks to be the cat's pajamas, at least for a tyro like me.

[@k9nething]

Kevin Olson I wondered if you followed through and made your version of Matteos's "heddle"? the one thingfor sure it would have over the Clover would be the ability to do pick up as you can put the stick through and keep the warps in line. I don't think the method I have used to keep them in place n the Clover (hair bands) is good enough for pick-up work. You can definitely play around swapping the warp threads. I hope to get to do some toying with that soon!

[@TroyBrophy]

Bought one of thesse hoping to learn about weaving. I've never done it before. Unfortunately there's very little in the way of English instructions, and my Japanese is no match for the instruction booklet.

[@k9nething]

It is a little tricky! I found the video that came with mine was the most helpful.

[@dee1tee2]

Hi, would you recommend the Clover Bloom Loom over something like the Ashford Weaving Rigid Heddle Loom?

[@k9nething]

I would not for myself personally, as I believe it is too limited, but I like working with double heddles and also pick up sticks and some of those things are not possible as far as I can figure out with these looms. However, if what you want to do is only plain weave, sakiori or more saori type weaving then I believe it works wonderfully. This loom enables fabulous selvedges and is clever, pleasant to use and sweet to weave on. I have it in addition to a few Ashfords. I am planning on keeping them all.

[@elizabethpfields8462]

Where can you purchase such a loom

[@k9nething]

Amazon! www.amazon.com/Clover-handloom-bloom-feather-japan/dp/B00165JIKG/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1548978547&sr=8-3-fkmr0&keywords=clover+handloom+bloomcage There are two sizes. This one is the larger one but the smaller would be even easier for bands. And currently you can get the additional heddles for the smaller one on Amazon.

[@EsteeDarla]

is this like tablet weaving?

[@k9nething]

This is plain weave. It is similar in that it is a band but a completely different technique. Cards are threaded and rotated to give involved patterns and give quite a different result.

[@EsteeDarla]

@@k9nething oh ok I want to buy one of these. I like doing things more with thinner threads or yarn like sock yarn witch one would I look for?

[@EsteeDarla]

so I could only do plain weaving type things on it? and this purple shade one can I use thin threads and like finger weight yarns on easy?@@k9nething

[@k9nething]

@@EsteeDarla If you want to weave bands you may also like to investigate Inkle looms, and also tape looms. It really depends upon what you want to make. More people seem to use cotton silk or linen for bands than wool although sometimes folks use wool too, it is just a little trickier

[@EsteeDarla]

@@k9nething what I'm trying to make is stuff for my grandkids like throw plakets things like that to