inexpensive looms (not inkle or frame)

ah, I was just about to suggest ebay... :ack: oh well....

Why not try some kind of online classifieds? like Craig's List or kijiji or something? There are often good deals that way, and you never know what you'll find... just a thought. I've no idea what looms go for, but I know places like that often have good deals on things in general.

 

So I'm not sure if you'll get this, but hey, maybe it will be usefull to someone.

I recently made a rigid heedle loom out of PVC pipes. Pretty cheap and all I had to get for tools was a saw, I already had a corseting awl(they run about 8 bucks and are super sharp). I pocked holes and wound wire around the top of the frame to help keep the thread in line and with the help of the awl put screws through the bottom bar to help hold the thread, although you could just tie it in place.

You can also make it extendable by cutting the pipe that goes on the floor and getting connectors. Then if you have something shorter you are working on the loom isn't as huge. To make life lots easier get a reed. They range from 20-30ish dollars depending on how big you get them.

If you do wind wire around the top be sure not to get it too close to the connector. The pipe has a tendency to pop out at inopportune times.

This link has a bunch of different sizes.

Over all it probably cost me 40 dollars, which is a lot better than the 200+ you would pay for a Schacht or the like.

 

hey drumminmama, check out mother earth news (motherearthnews.com) - they have some archived articles from way back that talk about how to make your own loom. here's one:

http://www.motherearthnews.com/Do-It-Yourself/1994-08-01/Weave-With-a-Hand-Built-Loom.aspx

also, i got a book recently at the library that was called "weaving without a loom" that had a TON of great ideas and different patterns to get you started. maybe check your library for stuff like that?

i don't know what inkle or frame are so i'm sorry if i'm totally sending you in the wrong direction