Ashford INKLE LOOM User manual

INSTRUCTIONS
Ashford Handicrafts Ltd.
Factory and Showroom: 415 West Street,
PO Box 474, Ashburton, New Zealand
Telephone [phone]
Facsimile 64 3 308 8664
Email: [email protected].nz
Internet: www.ashford.co.nz
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.
Please also join our Ashford Club for the Wheel Magazine,
competitions and more at www.ashfordclub.co.nz
INKLE LOOM
IL09022012V4

Ashford Inkle Loom
WARP LENGTH: 3.4m / 134” WIDTH: 75mm / 3”
INKLE BANDS
These colourful braids are very strong and have many uses. They make belts, ties, guitar straps, braiding
for homespun’s and trims for joining pieces of weaving.
INKLES
These have a dominant warp face, ie the long-way threads show. The warp is packed so close that the weft
cross-way thread, is not visible.
THE SHED
The shed is obtained by the use of leashes. A thread NOT going through a leash is called “open” thread.
Shed 1 Is made by lifting all the open threads
Shed 2 Is made by pushing down on all the open threads
Changed sheds: When doing this, rhythm is important. Here is an easy way to develop it. When weaving
from left to right, push down the open threads with the right hand. When weaving from the right to left, lift
the open threads with either left or right hand.
THREADS TO USE
Use strong, smooth and colourful threads. Mercerised cotton is good. Most wool is suitable but avoid wool
that is soft or hairy (these tend to cling to each other and make it difficult to obtain a clean open shed).
Textured and metallic threads, silk and nylon add variety. Be experimental but make sure all threads have
about the same amount of elasticity, otherwise the surface will be uneven.
WIDTH OF WARP
Because the weft thread is pulled tight, the Inkle will be reduced to about half the original width of warp.
However, if you want to increase or decrease the width at any stage, this is done by the amount of tension
on the weft thread.
SHUTTLE
A Belt Shuttle with a sharp edge for beating is included in the kit.
TENSION BLOCK
This block is used to keep the warp under tension when weaving. When moving the weaving around the
loom, loosen the block to release the tension. Use two hands to advance the warp. When using a full
length warp take care to move the weaving little by little. Do not pull too tight! You will break the pegs!
FINISHING THE FRINGE
The last weft thread may be darned in, leaving a fringe. Warp ends may be tied in small overhead knots.
Using both hands, twist the bundles of threads to the right, between thumb and finger, then warp these
twisted threads together in opposite direction.
FINISHING THE WOOD
The kiln dried silver beech timber should be first sanded smooth and then sealed
before assembly. This protects it from climatic changes and staining and enhances
its character and beauty. Our natural Ashford Wax Finish Kit is ideal for this
purpose and is available from your local Ashford dealer.

ASSEMBLY
You need a screw driver and hammer.
NOTE: Please read finishing instructions before assembling.
1 Rub Candle wax or soap on the screws.
2 Attach the feet to the base with screws. Not too tight!
3 Twist feet parallel to base. Glue the spacer dowel between the 2 uprights, then immediately glue
uprights in place and secure with screws on the back side of the loom.
4 Glue the 11 pegs into the holes. Tap firmly with a hammer.
5 Secure the tension block in place with bolt, washer and wing nut. Note: tap the head of the bolt
into the wood.
6 Wait 24 hours for the glue to set hard.
7 Insert the small screw and washer into the pilot hole in the front of the base. Use this to hold
the warp thread when warping.
screwwarp starter
screw and
washer
screw
uprights
spacer
washer
wingnut
tension block
tap head of
bolt in
peg
WARPING THE LOOM
Wrap the warp thread around the
handy warp starter.
Round 1
Take the thread around the pegs
as shown. The thread goes up
over the top peg and around the
tension block.
Start here and
change colours here
Tension block in this position to start
LONG WARP
SHORT WARP
Round 1

Round 2
Take the thread around the pegs as
shown. The thread up and around the
tension block.
Repeat Round 1 and Round 2
until finished
MAKING THE LEASHES
Use string or fine strong cotton. Wind the string around the two leash pegs as shown.
Undo the first warp thread from the warp starter. Tie to the end thread. Changing colours - tie last thread to
next thread at the front.
Cut the string as shown.
Tension block in this position to start
Round 2
Round 2
Round 1
leash pegs

Fold each leach in half and tie a knot
1cm (3/8”) from the end.
Take the leash over the lower peg, up
between the centre threads, over a top
thread and down and around the same
peg.
The idea is to attach a leash to all the
top threads. Continue placing a leash
between each centre thread in the
same way.

GET READY TO WEAVE
Open out the feet so the loom stands upright.
Clamp the loom to the table.
SHUTTLE
WIND the weft thread onto the shuttle. Usually
the weft thread is the same colour as the edge
threads.
TIGHTEN THE WARP BY ADJUSTING THE
TENSION BLOCK.
WEAVING
Make Shed 1. Pass the shuttle into the space
between the threads. Pull the shuttle down
towards the front peg almost against the
knots. Pull the shuttle out of the space. Leave
about 10cm of weft thread hanging out.
SHED 1 SHED 2
Weft thread hanging out

MAKE SHED 2
Pass the shuttle into the space between the threads. Pull the shuttle towards the last row firmly. Do not
move the first row forward. Pull the shuttle out of the space – pull the weft thread tightly. The weft threads
will move together closely so you cannot see the weft at all through the warp.
KEEPING THE EDGES STRAIGHT
The first 2-3cm usually look poor because the tension isn’t right yet and you may have some crossed
threads. Don’t worry! This part can be unravelled when the finished braid is cut off the loom.
From now on it’s possible to keep the edges beautifully straight by followings simple rules:
1. Keep the warp very tight. A high tension
makes the whole braid and edges look better
when finished.
2. Try to keep the same tension, on the weft
as well. Make it quite tight so that the warp
threads slip on top of each other.
3. Everytime you pull the shuttle out of the shed,
before you tighten the weft, pull the previous
weft thread again. That will even out the little
loop that occurs between the two outer warp
threads, which is essential when it comes to
making even edges.
MOVING THE WARP
Release the wing nut. Move the tension block down. The warp will slacken. Pull the warp forwards towards
yourself until the end of the woven piece is about 5cm from the front peg. Gradually move all the threads
around from peg to peg!
TAKE CARE when you are using the longest warp length! Do not pull too tight! You will break a peg! Tighten
the tension block. PUSH the leashes back to their correct position.
FINISHING
When you can’t move the warp any further, weave any longer and the knots in the warp are close to the
leashes, simply cut the whole thing off the loom by cutting each half of the warp a few centimetres behind
the leashes. Pull the threads out off the leashes and nothing is tied to the loom.

Ashford Handicrafts Ltd.
Factory and Showroom: 415 West Street,
PO Box 474, Ashburton, New Zealand
Telephone [phone]
Facsimile 64 3 308 8664
Email: [email protected].nz
Internet: www.ashford.co.nz
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.
Please also join our Ashford Club for the Wheel Magazine,
competitions and more at www.ashfordclub.co.nz
Sew the weft back three or four sheds to lock it. Now the warp threads cannot come undone unless you cut
it very close to the end of the braid. So, don’t do that!
Let the ends hang loose as a fringe, plait them, twist them, tie knots in them, glue them and cut them
close to the braid so you can fold the end of it or tie the ends around a piece of wood or a bell for a wall-
hanging, etc etc.
There are lots of different things you can do with the ends, depending on what you like and what’s the
purpose of the braid.
PATTERNS
Apart from the patterns you can get just in the way you warp, there are lots of pick-up and pick-down
patterns, patterns using different colours and thicknesses of warp and weft and so on. Learn about it by
talking with other weavers, reading books and experimenting yourself. There will always be something you
haven’t tried yet!
WHAT DO YOU USE IT FOR?
You can make belts, ties, wallhangings, bookmarks, curtain ties, shoelaces, edging for clothes, shoulder
straps, watch straps, headbands, straps for guitars and cameras, halter straps and leashes.
You can sew them together and make bags, purses, cushion covers, clothes, room dividers, tea cosies,
bigger wallhangings, placemats, pot plant hangers and moccasins.
And lots more! Have fun!
Many thanks to Arne and Elsa Krogh our Ashford Distributors in Denmark for designing the new Inkle
Loom. And also to their daughter Birgitte Krogh who took good care of the instructions.
Thank you all!