Weaving & Yarn Spinning Equipment
Many people still enjoy the ancient crafts of weaving cloth and spinning yarn. Today's weavers can choose from simple wooden frame looms to large floor looms with a complex system of pulleys, levers and foot treadles. Likewise, some yarn spinners use simple hand spindles, also called drop spindles, while others use sophisticated spinning wheels.
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Table Vs. Floor Looms
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Table looms - those small enough to sit on a table - are portable and cheaper than floor models and are recommended for beginners. Floor looms, however, allow you to create larger and more complex pieces.
Mechanical Looms
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The three main types of mechanical looms are counterbalance, countermarch and jack. The first two allow faster weaving and provide quieter and smoother treadling, but jack looms cost less and are smaller (table models are usually jack looms). They're also able to be folded.
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Weaving Accessories
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Weavers will also need a variety of other accessories, including bobbins, bobbin winders, shuttles, heddles and reeds. Weaving benches are an optional accessory.
Hand Spindles
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Hand spindles consist of a shaft with a weight (or whorl) at one end. Various types of hand spindles are in use today, including bottom (or low whorl) spindles, top (or high whorl) spindles and Navajo spindles.
Spinning Wheel Types and Accessories
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There are several types of spinning wheels: great wheels, Saxony wheels, castle wheels, Norwegian wheels, Charkha wheels and modern wheels. These models differ both in appearance and the arrangement of their components. Electric spinning wheels are also available. Accessories for spinning wheels include ball winders, threading hooks, skein winders, niddy noddies, lazy kates and spinning stools.
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