Ashford TPLM11 User manual

Includes warping and weaving instructions
TPLM17032017V5
TAPESTRY LOOM
Large - 103cm (40”) weaving width
Ashford Guarantee
Thank you for purchasing this Ashford product. In the unlikely event there is
any fault in manufacture we will replace the item. To validate our guarantee
please visit our website or write to us.
Ashford Handicrafts Limited
Factory and Showroom: 415 West Street
PO Box 474, Ashburton 7700 New Zealand
Telephone [phone] Facsimile 64 3 308 8664
Email: [e-mail] Internet: www.ashford.co.nz
INSTRUCTIONS

ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS FOR
THE ASHFORD TAPESTRY LOOM
Leash rod
Leash rod clamp
Loom side Small washer
Barrel nut
Wooden dowel
100mm hex head bolt
25mm screw
Leash rod
Tension knob
Projecting dowel
Loom side
Warp tension rail
Barrel nut
Nylon bush
Top rail
50mm screws
20mm
Loom Assembly
Step 1.
Push the nylon bushes into the holes in the top rail.
Step 2.
Attach the top rail to the loom sides using 50mm (2”)
screws. Check the nylon bushes face up & the top rail
& sides are at right angles.
Step 3.
Attach the bottom rail to the loom sides with 50mm
(2”) screws. Check the rails & sides are at right angles.
Step 4.
Locate a barrel nut into the hole in the warp tension
rail. Thread the metal tension knob down through the
projecting dowel, through the rail, barrel nut & then
thread on 2 nuts. Leave approx. 20mm (¾”) of thread
projecting past the nuts to locate into the nylon bush.
Use 2 spanners to tighten the nuts against each other.
Repeat for the other side.
Step 5.
Attach the leash rod clamps to the support block
with 25mm (1”) screws. Glue a wooden dowel into
the lower hole in a leash rod support. Allow glue to
dry. Position a barrel nut into the leash rod support &
thread a 100mm (4”) hex head bolt & small washer
into it from the back of the loom. Repeat for the other
side. Note the 3 positions allow the supports to be
lowered if required.
2

Floor Stand Assembly
Step 8.
Position the loom between the floor stand. Push 2
x 100mm (4”) round head bolts through from the
inside of the loom, through the wooden spacers,
through the top holes in the legs & secure with
large washers & handles. Note the large hole in the
handle must be to the outside. Hammer the bolt
heads into the loom sides rather than tightening
the handles.
Step 9.
Locate the locking peg through a hole in the loom
side & into the stand to prevent the loom rotating.
Locate the leash rod into the leash rod supports &
lock in place.
Step 6.
Locate 2 wooden dowels into the holes in a foot.
Position a leg onto the foot & secure with a 130mm
(5”) bolt, small washer & barrel nut. Note the legs
lean back. Repeat for the other side.
Step 7.
Locate wooden dowels into the 2 outside holes
in both ends of the bottom spacer & then secure
between the legs with 80mm (3 ¼”) hex head
bolts, small washers & barrel nuts.
Leg
80mm hex head bolt
Wooden dowel
Wooden dowel
Foot
Small washer
Small washer
130mm hex head bolt
Back Spacer
Barrel nut
Barrel nut
Attach the Loom to the Floor Stand
Locking peg
Handle
100mm round head bolt
Large washer
Wooden spacer
Leg Loom side
Small washer
80mm hex head bolt Barrel nut
Wooden dowel
3

Warping Instructions
Step 6.
Loosen the handles on either side to enable the
loom to rotate easily. As you rotate the loom you
may need to adjust the handles to prevent the
loom locking.
Step 7.
Sit down in front of the loom, hold the warp
thread & ask a friend to rotate the loom towards
you. Place the warp thread on the marks on the
top & bottom rails the same distance from the
centre. Keep rotating the loom until you have the
required number of threads. Keep a firm/even
tension on the warp thread.
Step 8.
Tie the warp thread to the bottom rail & cut it off.
Loosen as you
rotate loom
Tools required
Pencil, ruler, scissors, Ashford Tapestry Beater,
Ashford Tapestry Loom Warp Thread (7 wraps per
cm or 17-18 per inch) for the warp, weft yarns of
your choice.
Step 1.
Remove the locking peg & leash rod.
Step 2.
Decide on the width of your first tapestry.
Step 3.
On the outside edges of the top & bottom rails,
mark the centre in pencil. From the centre, mark
lines every 12.5mm (1/2”) according to the width of
your tapestry. Pencil can be rubbed out & the lines
re-marked for your next tapestry.
Step 4.
Adjust the tension knobs so the top rail is in the
middle of it’s adjustable range. Check the tension
knobs face front to back.
Step 5.
Tie the end of the warp thread to the bottom rail on
the mark indicating the left side of your tapestry.
Warp thread
Bottom loom rail
4

Step 9.
Check all the warp threads are on a pencil mark.
Step 10.
Sit down, position the loom on your knees &
tighten the handles.
Step 11.
Turn the 2 tension knobs to tighten the warp as
necessary.
Step 12.
Place the locking peg into a hole in either leg to
prevent the loom rotating.
Step 13.
Twining. This binds the back & front threads
together at the bottom. Note. Do not twine the first
& last warp threads as they act as guide threads
to show you that the edges of your tapestry are
straight. Cut a piece of warp thread 3 times the
width of the loom. Fold the thread in half & form a
loop around the left loom side at the bottom. Tie an
overhand knot just to the left of the guide thread.
Weave one row of twining bringing one back thread
& one front thread together across the row. Make
an overhand knot to the right of the guide thread.
Then tie off on the opposite side.
Step 14.
The loom is now ready for you to start weaving.
If desired, leashes can be used to bring the back
threads forward. Leashes are made from pieces of
warp thread 105cm (42”) long, tied in loops. Place
the leash rod in position on the supports & lock in
place. To thread the leashes onto the warp, hold the
rod so one end is above the left hand side of the
warp. Loop a leash onto the rod, wrap it around the
first back warp thread & loop it back onto the rod.
Move the rod along as the leashes are loaded to
prevent them falling off.
Back thread
Leash
Leash rod
Weaving instructions
Step 1.
To create the first weaving
space (shed) for the weaving
thread (weft), slide your
fingers behind a group of
front threads (no leashes)
& pull forward. To create
the second weaving space,
gently pull down on a group
of leashes to bring the
back warp threads forward
through the front threads.
We recommend picking up 4
to 6 warp threads each time.
To create
the second
weaving
space (shed),
bring the back
threads forward.
To create the
first weaving
space (shed),
bring the front
threads forward.
5

Step 2.
Fill the bobbin with your weft
thread. Take 2 ends of yarn & wind
clockwise, evenly onto the bobbin,
until level with the bobbin end
covering the end of the yarn.
Step 3.
It is important in tapestry weaving
to “bubble” the weft before it is
beaten down into place. The weft
forms the woven fabric & the warp
is not seen. When the bobbin is not
in use, secure it with a half hitch
knot.
Step 4.
Beat the threads down with the
pointed end of the bobbin.
Step 5.
Weave in comfort with the loom
resting on your knees. Note the
holes in the stand allow for height
adjustment. As the weaving
progresses, you can lower the loom
by repositioning the bolts.
For more weaving tips, ideas and techniques refer to The
Ashford Book of Rigid Heddle Weaving and www.ashford.co.nz
Tapestry Bobbin
Weaving Needles
Tapestry Beater
Weaving Accessories
Ashford Handicrafts Limited
Factory and Showroom: 415 West Street
PO Box 474, Ashburton 7700 New Zealand
Telephone [phone] Facsimile 64 3 308 8664
Email: [e-mail] Internet: www.ashford.co.nz