ok I've gone and bought rigid heddles

[abendgules]

 ...now I'm looking for instructions on using them.

Unfortunately, most of them involve buying a loom to fit the heddles in. Intawebs, you're letting me down? how can this be an unknown art, with fully half the web dedicated to fibre crafts (the half that is neither cats nor pr0n)?

Is the only method of using them with a loom? or is there some backstrap method? queneva ? henrytroup ? jahanara ? anyone?

Comments

[not-justagirl.livejournal.com]

here is a link to Mrq_Laurellen's entry on rigid heddles... and she does a back strap!

http://mrq-laurellen.livejournal.com/424446.html#cutid1

hope it's helpful!

[purple-peril.livejournal.com]

I can't see any reason why you *can't* use a backstrap. Try it!

Backstrap weaving is your friend.

[alysdewiteby.livejournal.com]

I think you want to look into backstrap weaving. I've stayed clear of it till now, because I have to occasionally extract a hound from the bin or open the door, and I don't like being tied in to my work (I use a RH loom on a stand for that very reason), but that's the way to go for you, I think. That, or buy a loom.

The online guild of weavers, spinners and dyers recently did a workshop on backstrap weaving, I believe. Would you like me to see if I can get permission to pass the notes on to you?

Alys

Re: Backstrap weaving is your friend.

[bend-gules.livejournal.com]

Some guidance would be splendid, thank you.
I've found plenty of photos of S. American weavers, w/ and w/out rigid heddles, and assorted simple looms w/ RHs, but no how-to instructions for warping up a rigid heddle for backstrap, which I would have thought was a pretty basic process.
I'm wary of a loom because of prev. mentioned cluttery-fying the flat, and greater expense than my level of interest in weaving truly warrants. I'm a bit of a love-em-and-leave-em weaver, whereas most of the sites I've found are clearly for weaving junkies...

[purplemermaid.livejournal.com]

Warp it as for an inkle loon - tie one end to you ( generally use another length of woven braid round my waist) and one end to a fised point (I use the metal bar of my sofa bed and weave. When your arms can't reach the point where you are passing the shuttle, adjust the woven stuff on your 'belt' and continue. In July I can see if my Dutch blacksmith friend is making 'locks' still - they allow your to easly adjust your weaving as you go but you can detach the lock from you 'belt' quite quickly if need be.

[purplemermaid.livejournal.com]

Opps - the first seven words are not very clear ... or splt correctly. But I could some and show you.

[henrytroup.livejournal.com]

The ur-method is two sticks:

• lay out a warp of length l (try about six feet the first time)
  
• roll l-a bit of it up around stick #1, with cloth or cardboard to keep it from tangling
  
• thread the heddle
  
• tie ends to stick #2
  

P.S. I crossed London twice in a dead tearing hurry - last Tuesday from Gatwick to London City Airport, and this Monday from Euston to Victoria back to Gatwick. I hate hurried travelling.