Overshot by Maria Weber
The “Heddlers” had our first/organizational meeting just before the pandemic closed things down. Thanks to the efforts of Donna Eash, we’ve been able to meet via Zoom and the group is thriving. While most, if not all, of us also weave on other types of looms, there is something about the Rigid Heddle (RH) that captures our imagination. I’ll let the gang tell you why the RH is part of their weaving work.
Tell me a little about what kind of weaving/projects you do on your Rigid Heddle loom.
- I started to say I just do straight weaving, but I have woven with VCR tape… and feathers!
- I have done yardage for several garments and several art pieces.
- I am a “color and texture” person, more than a pattern weaver.
- I compare weaving to painting. I like playing with the color repeats/combinations and texture accents.
- I made a ruana, some scarves, napkins, and dish towels. I am going to focus on textiles for the home in the future
- I’ve done some towels and a bathroom curtain. I want to branch out to making fabric for clothing.
 Plain Weave at its Best
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 Inlay
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Why do you like it?
- It is super easy to warp – in fact even fun.
- I can travel with it when I want to take it on vacation with me, and I actually have. It can sit in the back seat without my project being disturbed.
- I can keep learning about things to do on it.
- It is easy to start with and yet it has allowed me to grow with my weaving.
- I like the fact that I can carry it outside to weave on a pretty day.
- I very much enjoy doing public demos and RH looms make that very easy to do.
- I like being able to fold it, take it somewhere, or store it if I need the space without disturbing my work.
 Saori Style by Sue Griffiths
 Adding in beads and such.
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 Rug by Joan Beebe
 Working with a variable dent reed loom
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An addendum from Mary Roper:
Push, Put, Pinch, Pull, Pat. . . .
. . . or How The Summer Weaving Program at the Masonic Home for Children at Oxford became The Christmas Weaving Project, which then became The Masonic Home for Children Weaves!
It all began when one girl asked “Can you teach me to weave?” It blossomed when the awesome people at the Triangle Weavers Guild loaned the Eller Girls 3 rigid heddle looms for that first program. It was such a huge hit! We haven’t stopped weaving.
A total of 10 Children between the ages of 3 and 13 have experienced the joy of weaving since then!
I now have 7 Girls in Eller Cottage. 2 know how to weave and will soon be learning about warping the loom as we endeavor to teach the other 5 Girls to weave! I also have 1 of the middle school boys interested in weaving! The children have told me that weaving calms them down. This is so important here in the group home where things change so often.
None of this would have been possible without the awesome support and encouragement of the TWG and the Heddle to the Metal Rigid Heddle Loom Study Group. We are all forever grateful for your love and support! You add joy to the lives of the children at the Masonic Home for Children at Oxford.Thank you so much!
Push, Put, Pinch, Pull, Pat. . . .
. . . or How The Summer Weaving Program at the Masonic Home for Children at Oxford became The Christmas Weaving Project, which then became The Masonic Home for Children Weaves!
It all began when one girl asked “Can you teach me to weave?” It blossomed when the awesome people at the Triangle Weavers Guild loaned the Eller Girls 3 rigid heddle looms for that first program. It was such a huge hit! We haven’t stopped weaving.
A total of 10 Children between the ages of 3 and 13 have experienced the joy of weaving since then!
I now have 7 Girls in Eller Cottage. 2 know how to weave and will soon be learning about warping the loom as we endeavor to teach the other 5 Girls to weave! I also have 1 of the middle school boys interested in weaving! The children have told me that weaving calms them down. This is so important here in the group home where things change so often.
None of this would have been possible without the awesome support and encouragement of the TWG and the Heddle to the Metal Rigid Heddle Loom Study Group. We are all forever grateful for your love and support! You add joy to the lives of the children at the Masonic Home for Children at Oxford.Thank you so much!
Scarves made by Oxford students, completed before the second week of December