tools

–and other useful equipment

Velma and I have a craft person’s love of tools

Bryan’s farmhouse is full of them

looms, of course, always catch my eye

at the craft market

this beautiful loom that looks more like a piece of furniture

it is only 2 harness (shaft) and quite narrow

the weaver spoke reasonable English but she wasn’t interested in talking to me

so I know nothing about it

at the Boro Museum (more about it in a future posting)

this old, traditional Izaribata backstrap loom

I would love one of these – like I need another loom!

back at Bryan’s, another loom and a spinning wheel

good thing he has a lot of space

weaving requires an abundance of equipment

in Japan, piles of itomaki

I was going to show you the electric machine (at Kawashima) that winds several of these at one time

but – my old scanner isn’t compatible with my new computer

new technology!!! do I have to throw out a machine that works

and spend money on a new one that has a working life of only a few years?

and you wonder why I prefer looms!

the simplest tools of all – pins and needles and hands

these stretcher boards, at Noguchi-san’s, are placed on either end of a length of fabric

unlike the two-part hinged boards Noguchi-san makes a single board with bent nails

to stretch out the fabric to its full length – for drying or dyeing

and he makes his own wood planes

last but not least – do you know what these machines are used for?

looks dangerous

and complicated

if you are not exhausted reading this I am writing it

let me know what the mystery machines are.