What Kind of a Loom Is That??

I just was given a very wonderful floor inkle loom, which has caused friends to ask “what the heck is that??”.

Inkle looms don’t look like a traditional loom.

In fact, if you see a “naked” loom without any yarn on it, they can look downright baffling.

How on earth can you weave fabric on something that looks like this?

You can make all kinds of wonderful fabric with an inkle loom!  It doesn’t allow you to create a wide piece of fabric, but it does make long bands of fabric, quickly and easily.   I can create a strip of fabric many yards long with this particular loom.

You can use the bands “as is” to make bindings for clothing, blankets and accessories.  They make great dog leashes, purse straps and I’ve even used them to make horse equipment.

If you want a wider piece of fabric, just sew the strips together and presto!  You’ve got a hand-woven piece of fabric that can be used for almost anything.

image: C Findlay-Harder