I live in the south of England and was employed as an Occupational Therapist in Community Mental Health until 3 years ago. I have always made my own clothes and used to knit on Passap double bed knitting machine. This all changed when I renovated an old Bergman loom which I hadI had inherited but thought was beyond repair. With the help of several bloggers I found out how to put it together and started weaving. The last year has been a time of discovery and excitment. I am learning everyday and hope to weave something really beautiful one day! Soon perhaps.
I read a lot and am particularly interested in theology and whatever the opposite of fundamentalism is. Recently I have been exploring both mine and my husbands family trees. We have 4 children and 7 grand children, though at the moment none seem interested in the past they are all too busy living now!!
Hi Deborah. I am looking over your blog with much interest this morning and now realize that if I don’t hurry I’ll be late for work – drat! I’ll be back to browse some more. Your weaving interest helps revive mine. The overshot is lovely as are the herringbones. Textiles are simply wonderful, aren’t they? See you soon. Suzan
Hi Deborah — I’m pretty much in the same position you were in a while ago, in that I have just about finished cleaning up my newly-acquired 45-inch Bergman loom, and I’m very excited about it. I have a question for you: has anyone ever responded with information about ‘translating’ Bergman model numbers? Mine is marked 8A45-1, and although I can guess that the ’45’ may refer to the weaving width, even that is a guess. I’d love to know what year it was made, for example.
Also, you state that your loom is made of maple — but it looks like the darker fir. I’ve been told that the lighter-coloured maple looms were built by Arthur Bergman’s son, and the the older ones are made of fir. Do you know anything about that?
I can’t explain exactly why I find the Bergmans so fascinating — but I do!
Susan
Hi Susan,
I hope you get my e-mail, but just in case it doesn’t arrive its great to meet another Bergman owner. I have not thought about those numbers until you mentioned it. My numberis 8A25. I presume the 25 is the weaving width though I think of it as 25″. You should visit The Straight of the Goods (trapunto.wordpress.com) She is the owner of the same Bergman as you and has written a great deal on her blog about Bergmans which I have found immensly helpful.
Hi Susan: August 8, 2009
I was just reading your blog because I thought I might be interested in a weaving mill. Was the problems you were experiencing with the warp because of the mill? Your loom looks beautiful and your weaving does too. What is the pattern for the dish towel.
Thanks, Jane
Dear Deborah,
I am new to blogging and have never corresponded to a blogger before. I discovered your blog; attracted to it by it’s charming title, and am enchanted. The main reason is that I am a returning weaver. By that I mean I started weaving in 1999, right around the time my last grandchild was born. I started a weaving journal at the same time. Many, many events occurred, some wonderful, some horrible, and in the course of that time collected looms, sold (or gave away!) looms, kept a little sample loom but put it away. Now I have returned. I took a week-long seminar a month ago and have discovered a host of weavers hidden around the hills and dales of the amazing place where I live now. And a guild to boot! So, I have come home. I also have been fortunate enough to acquire a 46″ 4 plus 4 Schacht loom which I am picking up today. My studio is ready and waiting, like a nursery for a newborn babe! I am so excited! So, I wanted to share this news with someone…another weaver, far far away from me but close in heart. Your weavings are beautiful and as I stare and study them I am inspired. Thank you so much.
Patti
P.S. Would you possibly tell me the threading of the cloth that you feature at the beginning of your blog? I’ve been trying and trying to figure it out. Obviously, I’m a beginner and in a huge hurry to catch up all the time I’ve lost.
Hello,
I am totally new to this blogging thing too.
But I have felt moved to contribute somehow to this comunity after reading most of this site’s content.
I found you whilst researching looms. I have been spinning for years and years. I have been natural dying for a long time too. I love the colours and unpredicability and am learning to apprecialte even the browns and muddy colours.
Back to the weaving. I am new to this and am trying to research what loom would be right for me. I have recently joined my local guild and have been asking their advice. I am lost now. I know I want to produce widths of fabric that I can make clothing and such out of as well as smaller projects. I have done backstrap and Tablet. I am feeling dispondant at the moment. I seem to be worrying so much about making the right choice of loom and not doing anything productive. I am really worried about buying one and then not making use of it. We have very limited space.
May be I am paying too much attention to other people’s opinions? And so getting my self tied up in knots!
From a trouble creative mind!
Jo
Hi Deborah
I have just stumbled onto your blog. I am a hobby weaver and in the process of creating a blog of my own. But it is slooow! I have been a bit apprehensive about being ‘public’, but I have found your blog and other’s interaction just so exciting. It has helped me overcome my fears and see that there is so much value in on-line interaction.
My weaving is in the same style as your handspun shawl. I am not a traditional pattern weaver type person, but I do use some patterning.
I do hope your hip is improving. I wish you all the best and I’ll keep in touch.
Dianne