Got an old ruler? Upcycle it into a shuttle
July 2, 2009 by Noreen Crone-Findlay
Filed under eco projects & green projects & recycling craft, tutorial, weaving and handweaving and looms
Yesterday, I posted a pattern that I made from a vintage handmade inkle weaving shuttle.
Today, I thought… I should use that pattern to make a shuttle!
Then I remembered that I had a piece of an old ruler from my husband’s Dad in the studio.
I don’t know what he used the other half for, but I am pleased as can be to have this half!
Photo by Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright
I traced the pattern onto the ruler.
Because I promised my friend, William, that I wouldn’t use power tools until my eye is completely healed, I used simple hand tools.
My eye is really not there yet, so power tools are definitely off limits for me still.
But, I can’t stay out of the workshop, because it is such a pleasure, even when I feel wonky/wobbly.
Luckily, we have hand tools.
I have a fret saw that I just love- it’s great for fine cuts like the ones needed for this shuttle.
- I bought mine at Lee Valley tools. Fret saws are surprisingly cheap, and do a fab job. Great value for money!
Photo by Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright
I clamped the ruler to the bench to make sawing easier. So, add a spring clamp or two to your ‘must have’ list of tools.
And, I drilled a couple of holes so I could put the blade into the area that I needed to cut out. A small hand drill is also a ‘must have’.
AND…. A set of small files in a selection of shapes, are essential! I use them all the time for shaping in my woodworking.
Photo by Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright
After the shaping is done with files, I need to polish with sandpaper. Sandpaper is good, but I like sanding sponges more.
Photo by Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright
As I was working on this weaving shuttle, I thought… Duh! Why didn’t I do this ages ago?
I was struck by how similar the netting style weaving shuttle is to the tatting shuttles that I make (even though the inspiration for the tatting shuttles came from a totally different direction- amazing how things converge, isn’t it?)
Photo by Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright
I just love this shuttle!
Photo by Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright
I load the shuttle so that there is thread on both sides of the shuttle. (By the way, the rainbow band behind the shuttle is an inkle band that I wove years ago. )
Photo by Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright
Mmmm… it weaves like a dream.
I asked my daughter-in-law and daughter if they would like me to make them one each (they are both weavers), and they both said, YES!
Luckily, I have exactly enough of Dad’s ruler left to make them each a shuttle…. how perfect is that?
Very nice job, Noreen! I find hand tools give me more satisfaction on projects like this, and you did beautiful work. Many happy yards of weaving!
The shuttle is cool, but it’s cooler that both your daughter and daughter-in-law are weavers.
Hi Katherine
)
LOL! It is indeed very cool to have another generation of weavers in the family!
My daughter has been weaving since she could pick up a shuttle.
I always kept a small Spears loom warped, and available when she and her brother were children. They wove all manner of things – their toys were well dressed!
My daughter is a full time fiber artist and writer and workshop presenter as well as mother to be, so I am willing to be that her little one will become a weaver in a few years, too!
My daughter-in-law was already a knitter when she married into the family, but has fallen in love with weaving, too (yay!).
She has a wonderful design sense, and it’s a treat to see how she is developing it.
Ah, such blessings!
Great tutorial!
If you use a wooden yardstick from the hardware store, you will have more inches to work with. I like the measurements showing on the shuttle. I think that would be handy for checking your sett.
Have a good day!
Franco Rios
Hi Franco
The ruler that I used to make the netting style shuttle did come from a yard stick from a hardware store. My father-in-law had used half of it, and luckily, left me 18 inches, so I can make 3 shuttles in total.
The really neat thing about the shuttles being 6 inches long is that they fit rulers so well! a foot long one gives 2 shuttles, a yard stick will give 6 shuttles. If it’s a meter stick, your shuttles can be a touch longer.
Mmmm… with school being out now, perhaps rulers will show up in the second hand stores…. ah…. another thing to keep an eye out for! LOL!
Hi MaryV
Thank you so much! I agree that hand tools really are better for some jobs!
It’s so nice to be able to move slowly and with precision and no stress at all!
I LOVE making these shuttles, and will definitely be making more.
Besides, they are so wonderful to weave with! |
Thanks so much for posting this. Makes me want to pick up my inkle loom and start up again. I’m a newbie weaver. What kinds of things do you make with your inkle weaving? I have lots of patterns but I’m not sure what to do with yards and yards of finished product.
Hi Susan
)
Inkle weaving is great, isn’t it? And, there is no end to what you can do with inkle woven bands…. so thank you for asking this excellent question!
I answered your question by blogging about it:
http://www.blisstree.com/hankeringforyarn/what-can-you-do-with-woven-inkle-bands/