An introduction to tramps, shafts and stilts
Sitting at the loom and sending the shuttle through the thread is like a rhythm in the body. Every detail of the loom – from the treadles under my feet to the shafts and the pegs in front of me – works together to create beautiful textiles.
I have two Glimåkra looms in my workshop: a Glimåkra Ideal of 1 meter and a Glimåkra Standard of 1.35 meters. Both looms have accompanied me through both joys, but at least as many frustrations. But fundamentally there is a huge fascination in mastering an old craft and the experience of being in flow is often liberating.
This spring I am looking forward to expanding my workshop with a brand new digital loom from AVL in the USA.
Some people ask if it's not cheating or if I shouldn't weave anymore. Yes, I should, and it's not cheating. I promise to show you everything when it comes.
Trampers and stools – the engine of the loom
Below the loom are the tramplers – the “pedals” I press to control the shafts. When I step on a trampler, the associated shafts raise or lower, creating the cavity called the skein. This is where the shuttle flies through and the pattern in the fabric begins to take shape.
The tramplers work closely with the loom's stools, which are the bars that sit underneath the loom and connect the tramplers to the shafts. The stools are like the loom's wires, ensuring that everything moves precisely and in time. With multiple tramplers and shafts, I can weave complex patterns where specific trend threads are raised and lowered in a carefully planned sequence.
Shafts and beams – the heart of the loom
The shafts are the frames where the pins hang. Each trend thread is pulled through a small opening in the pins, which determines how the thread moves when the shafts are activated. The pins are small but indispensable. They keep the threads in check.
My Glimåkra Standard has ten shafts and treadles, which gives me the freedom to experiment with more advanced patterns.
When I weave, the shafts become almost like a dance, raising and lowering the threads in time with my feet on the treadles.
When I get my computer-controlled loom from AVL, I get 24 shafts and an infinite number of treadles, which are controlled by a computer.
I'm looking forward to it! And I can't wait to show it to you.
