About the Looms

The Lois Loom

This loom, affectionately called “Lois”, is a type of loom known as a barn frame or timber frame loom.  The name comes from the construction, usually mortise and tenon joints, similar to what is used to build barns.  Sometimes these looms were kept in sheds or other outbuildings, due their size, but not always.

  “Lois” dates from the early 1800s and was used by a farm family in Wayne County, NY.  She was most likely used to weave sheeting or fabric for clothing.  We know she was last used to make rag rugs, as one was still nailed to the cloth beam when I got her.

She is was pulled out of a barn where a family of raccoons had built their home on her for the winter.  The wood was still in great shape, thanks to the woman who had her before me.  She was missing one small part, but my Dad was easily able to recreate it.  With some cleaning and sealing of the wood, she was soon able to get back into use again! 

  I absolutely love thinking about the person that built her and who the weavers were that put their hands on the lay before me.   Whenever I sit down to weave, I get the feeling that she’s happy to be back in a farm family weaving again! 

The Cathie Loom

I started the tradition of naming my barn frame looms after the person I got them from, with the Lois Loom, so the Cathie Loom is no different.  

This loom is very special to me, partly because she was so generously given to me by a lovely woman from my Weavers’ Guild, but also for her wonderful qualities!

The Cathy Loom dates from the 1790s and is made of pine.  She is extremely light weight, I can take her down and set her up myself, yet when she’s put together she’s rock solid.   She has a very small footprint and frame, unlike the Lois Loom, which is a full 6 foot by 6 foot square frame.  

The original hand hewn bench is still in perfect shape and it’s very rare that it stayed with the loom all these years!   I was told that this loom originally came from Connecticut, but I have discovered the style could be French Canadian or even Danish, but either way was most likely made by an immigrant with woodworking skills and knowledge of weaving. 

Both of my looms are very unique and have their own quirks and I really do think of them as personalities and partners in my weaving.