Any weavers here? Brand new to weaving, Milward frame Loom

[brandnewweaver]

Hi all,

Hoping somebody can help.

I am keen to start weaving and bought what I thought was a fairly entry level loom to get started.

But the only instructions it came with were on the back on the box, and very sparse!

I’m struggling to even warp the loom correctly.

Does anybody have experience of this type of loom? In particular the wooden stick thing called the separator? I’m unclear whether this is just to hold the strings separate, or if, when turned, it should create the “shed” to pass the shuttle through.

As I understand it, turning a heddle should move th front threads to the back and vice versa, but I’m unclear whether this even is a heddle, or just a separator?

I’ve attached photos of the frame; the one with weaving on it is on a review from somebody who has managed to use it, and this is the type of thing I would like to make.

Ive also added some photos of my attempt at warping.

Any input much appreciated!

Welcome to a brilliant new hobby, it is so relaxing and satisfying and you will soon progress to a better loom.
Can you get to a Guild of Spinners, Weavers and Dyers local meeting ? Most counties have a Guild and they are a source of so much knowledge and enthusiasm.
Yes, the seperater is the heddle and turning it moves alternate warp threads so creating the shed, and you pass the shuttle each way. Don’t pull it tight at all, or you will give your weaving a waist
Is there a YouTube video, there is for almost every other type of weaving and they are so helpful

Just checked YouTube and there are many frame loom beginner videos. Good luck

I have a rigid heddle loom, and can make scarves and table runners and long pieces of fabric and am totally fascinated by the whole process. Some people at my Guild also spin their own yarn, and a few even keep sheep and alpacas so they can do the whole process start to finish.

Thanks @redfishcat

yes I originally wanted a rigid heddle loom, but they are expensive so decided to start with this as cheaper and (supposedly!) simpler!

I have watched some YouTube videos but the looms are all slightly different. I have also asked ChatGPT and it has had conflicting opinions on whether the wooden thing is a true heddle to move threads, or just a separator….and I can’t seem to get it to work as alternating threads.

wheh you say don’t pull it tight, what do you mean? I have the warp threads pulled quite tight, is that wrong?

Don’t pull the weft thread tight, warp should be tight so it can be lifted.
The slots on the separator/heddle show that it is meant to be turned to raise and then on the next turn lower alternate warp threads and create the shed, or space to put the shuttle through.
Just have a play and you will soon sort it out,
Ravelry has a U.K. weavers group and you can often buy second hand rigid heddles for much less than new. It’s how I got mine

And to help you remember, warp is warp speed or straight ahead, and weft is the other one !

Thanks @redfishcat

i didn’t understand a lot of what you said so I think I need some really basic help

I googled and there is a weavers guild near me…at least, I hope it is still active. I have dropped them an email and I will maybe just turn up on the day and hope there is someone there. I think it said the second Saturday of the month, I will check.

Thanks @redfishcat

i didn’t understand a lot of what you said so I think I need some really basic help

I googled and there is a weavers guild near me…at least, I hope it is still active. I have dropped them an email and I will maybe just turn up on the day and hope there is someone there. I think it said the second Saturday of the month, I will check.

There is a lot of new words when you start yarn crafts, so understand your confusion. I only started a couple of years ago, and am still learning all the words.
Just try weaving over one under one and see what happens. It is a lot of new words for what is really simple when you see it in action. I find it all makes sense when I do it, but the written explanation is so complicated with all the jargon.
Don’t give up as it is lovely hobby
My Guild meets on the second Saturday, so if I spot you I will come and say hello.

The picture is tapestry weaving which is slightly different because you don't go along the full width of the frame in one go, you build up the wefts in sections. You probably won't use the heddle unless you're doing a single colour along the whole width.

You might find tapestry bobbins useful - where there any in the kit? Or to start with wind the yarns around four fingers and then twist into a butterfly shape that will fit through the shed. I've done some tapestry weaving on a frame and just used butterflies.

You'll need something to 'beat' down the wefts, ie push them on top of each other. A bobbin is useful for that, or use a dinner fork.

From what I've seen, tapestry weavers pick up the warps with their fingers to create the shed to pass the weft through. Tapestry usually involves weaving with narrower wefts to build up shapes of colour, not full-width wefts of a single yarn. Therefore picking up the wefts with your fingers is easier than using a tool.

Google "tapestry weaving".