Hi, and thanks to all for being here. First of all, I don't weave, myself, so I beg you to excuse any terminological miscues! My daughter (12) is the weaver, and she has a 20" RH loom. It is a Guild 20" frame weaving loom that I picked up second hand. She is able to set the back on or against a table, which holds that steady, but she says bracing the front against her hips is uncomfortable and so I have been called in to figure out a way to secure it. Before I get all "Dad" on the thing and over-construct something, I thought I should ask whether there is a standard solution. Is there a position that isn't uncomfortable? Is there a construction project that gets the job done and isn't crazily overbuilt?

I'll try to upload a picture when I get one.

Comments

ricatlga

Floor stands for rigid heddle looms are out there and not too expensive.  Use "rigid heddle floor stand" as your search string.  Even if you choose to make something yourself, that will give you ideas.  I use a floor stand with my rigid heddle because at home I don't have a suitable table to prop it up against.  Good luck.

10ashus

I am the size of a 12 year old and use the table tilt method. I have used the kitchen table or a TV tray.

Is the wood of the loom too heavy for her? A rigid heddle stand would be the answer.

Is the edge touching her sharp? Consider sandpaper.

Is she sitting too close to the table? Adjust the angle of the loom by adjusting her chair or the table height. The loom should rest in her lap for light balance, not jammed into her stomach or hip for resistance.

Good dad to devote time to your child's interest in this craft. 

Renee-weaves

Thanks for those suggestions. Maybe I will build her a stand, we'll have to see.

10ashus: I don't think it is too heavy for her, but I think she might be sitting too close, or at the wrong angle. She definitely has it jammed into her hips, as you say. If resting in her lap, should it be close to level? It seems like otherwise just resting in her lap wouldn't keep it braced against the table edge. (there's a rabbet at the back that she uses to catch the table edge.)

10ashus

I found a photo showing a weaver with rigid heddle at a table. I think Franco is a Weavolution member. 

http://francosfiberadventure.blogspot.com/2013/04/beka-loom.html

Littlehomesteader

I have an old Ashford RH loom and it digs in to me too.  I've looked at newer models and they've now rounded off the corners at the front of the frame, so a file and some sandpaper are on my shopping list.  The picture you've been shown in another reply has the weaver holding their loom at a quite steep angle.  It will be ok used a bit shallower too.  You could also google ashford nz and find their website, where there are videos of how to warp up, and I remember seeing a woman grab her loom and  putting it on her lap to start work, again at less of an angle.

There is quite an area of weaving to do between the front roller and the reed, and what feels best to weave it changes as you proceed .  I find the working position more awkward the closer the working edge (fell) is to my body, so there may not be an ideal way to sit with it slanted on your lap that suits all of that area.  If your daughter finds it quite stiff to bring the reed in towards her, to beat the yarn into place, she may indeed be pressing the loom too hard into her body for that reason.  That could be about the warp being a bit thick for the heddle, or the weaving getting a bit too tight and drawn in at the selvedges, which pulls the warp threads inwards so they are slanting and getting friction from the heddle/reed, which makes you work harder to beat, and so push the loom into your tummy.  Sloping the yarn more before beating each throw may help there.  The tension on the warp also makes a bit of difference to how tightly you weave the selvedges, and so on.

Just a few thoughts, but I'm not experienced!  I hope her enthusiasm grows!

Rick Martin (not verified)

I've tried to find him here and have found only comments with his name, not him as a member.  My loom looks very similar to this, and if I hold it flat I lift the heddle and put on top of the block and it's fine.  But the amount of space between the bottom of the loom and the table is so small that I don't get a good shed in the lower position.  If I tilt it then I'm unable to balance the shuttle on top of the block as the block is tilted and there's nothing to hold the heddle in place so it falls off.  Anyone have a suggestion, or can tell me what I'm doing wrong?Up PositionDown Position

Rick Martin (not verified)

I've recently gotten an old Schacht Rigid Heddle Loom and I can't quite figure out how to get a good shed.  In the pictures you can see what happens if I leave it flat on a table.  The up position produces a great shed, but the down position doesn't.  If I tilt it (back on table front on my lap) then there's nothing to hold the shuttle in place in the up position so the slant causes it to fall forward if I don't hold it in place which is awkward; however, the down position then is great.  Any ideas of what I'm doing wrong?  Up PositionDown Position

Rick Martin (not verified)

I've recently gotten an old Schacht Rigid Heddle Loom and I can't quite figure out how to get a good shed.  In the pictures you can see what happens if I leave it flat on a table.  The up position produces a great shed, but the down position doesn't.  If I tilt it (back on table front on my lap) then there's nothing to hold the shuttle in place in the up position so the slant causes it to fall forward if I don't hold it in place which is awkward; however, the down position then is great.  Any ideas of what I'm doing wrong?  Up PositionDown Position

bsp21

Although this post looks to be from a few years ago, I thought I'd mention that I sit in a dining room arm chair and rest the front of my 20 inch Schacht RD loom on the arms.It works well as there's no pressure on my body and the angle is good for weaving. Propped this way, I get a decent shed in the down position, though not quite as big as in the up position. I do hope you've found a solution for your daughter and that she's still enjoying weaving.