Having been warned about the risk of the fly shuttle taking flight off the loom altogether, I was expecting to be picking it up off the floor (or out of the walls) quite often. However, that hasn’t happened at all – it seems to be very comfortable on the shuttle race and in no hurry to leave it. The problem I have actually encountered is one of coordination: my coordination, that is.
A mistiming of my hands and feet, so that I end up launching the shuttle into a not-fully-open shed, results in absolute carnage! I am sorry that I don’t have a picture of the outcome, though it would be nasty viewing for those of a sensitive disposition towards warp threads… I shredded quite a few in my sample warp, but have only had one calamitous collision so far in this ‘proper’ warp. It was quite early on and I fully expected a few more, so concentrated on fixing it rather than documenting it. Slow and steady is the key – treadle, shuttle, beat, treadle, shuttle, beat – and no showing off, even to myself.
More minor collisions occur from time to time when I don’t manage the tension on the cords very well, and end up with the shuttle travelling over its own cord. This, fortunately, is a much lighter offence than, say, running the lawnmower over its own cable, though it makes a surprisingly loud noise! And I get this…
…which has to be disentangled before I can continue. (Sorry that’s blurred – it’s not an action shot, just an unfocused one).
My cough has finally abated, I am relieved to report, but now the (new) PC has failed catastrophically. Just as we managed to get the new-and-failed printer replaced! Why is it that we can’t have a week when everything is working and everyone is well?? Tomorrow we are due to get our aged boiler replaced. It is a tedious but necessary process, and I would simply like it to go smoothly and easily… but I can’t say I am feeling entirely optimistic.
“Collisions” was posted by Cally on 8 May 2014 at http://callybooker.co.uk
janetdawson
I used a fly shuttle for the first time in Yesilyurt and had far less success than you, it seems. I DID launch the shuttle across the room a few times, and once right into the thigh of the lovely, patient woman trying to teach me. For a while, there were three of us weaving together: me at the loom, and one woman to either side to pick up the shuttle when it launched.
I chose to blame loom design, though in my heart of heart I know that most of the blame lies at my own feet (just like the shuttle), since my mother got along quite famously on the same loom, drat her.
Cally
That’s what I was expecting! Although luckily there are nobody’s thighs to impale but my own…
Vicki
I’ve launched a shuttle or two myself! I finally gave up on the fly shuttle all together – found it to be too difficult for my arthritic wrists and hands (although it was supposed to be easier on those). I just could never get the throw right!
Kerstin
Get a piece of string (or any yarn), make a loop ’round the shuttle-cord and the top of the beater (don’t “affix” it in any end, at least not to begin with). You may have to experiment with the length, but in principle: end of shuttle jumping over cord! (Don’t ask me why I “invented” that… )
Cally
This is me not asking…! I will definitely have to see if I can rig something up, thanks.