A Glossary of Loom and Equipment Terms

Apron The canvas or cord which is attached to the cloth and warp beams and which is long enough to reach the shafts. The a pron has a wooden bar or metal rod for attaching the warp threads. Beam, back Beam at the back of the loom over which the warp passes after leaving the warp beam. Beam, breast Beam at the front of the loom over which the cloth passes before it winds onto the cloth beam. Beam, cloth Beam in the front of the loom which rotates and holds the woven cloth. Beam, foot Beam below the breast beam for resting the feet. Beam, knee Beam above the cloth beam over which the cloth passes before it winds onto the cloth beam. It allows space for the weaver's knees. Beam, Warp Beam at the back of the loom which rotates and holds the warp. Beam, Sectional A warp beam divided into sections for warping very long warps. Other equipment is necessary to make sectional warps. Beaming Sticks Sticks which are placed onto the warp beam as the warp is wound on. Beaming Winding a prepared warp onto the warp beam. Beater (also batten) Swinging frame holding the removable reed, used to beat the weft in place. Boat Shuttle A shuttle which looks like a boat and is hollowed out to hold a bobbin or quill of weft thread. For a photo. Bobbin Spool for a boat shuttle, on which weft thread is wound. Bobbin Winder A tool for winding bobbins or spools either by hand or electric power. Brake A device to hold a warp beam from turning, made of a metal cable or band which winds on a metal drum. Counterbalance Loom A loom with a pulley system with horses or dowels to attach the shafts. When a shed is made, some shafts rise and some sink. Countermarch Loom A loom with jacks at the top of the loom with cords attaching them to the shafts and two sets of lamms. When a shed is made, some shafts rise and some sink. Dents The narrow spaces in the reed, stated by the number of dents per inch or per 10 centimeters. Drawloom A two harness loom. The first harness usually has 4 - 10 shafts and the second creates a pattern by using a set of shafts or individually tied groups of threads. To read more on drawlooms. End A warp end is one warp thread of the prepared warp. Eye The opening in a heddle for threading a warp end. Fabric Protector A protective board that is attached to the breast beam. For more information see protector. Fly shuttle A shuttle used for weaving on wide looms which is supported by a shuttle race and moves across the loom by pulling a cord. Heddles Thread, wire, metal or Texsolv polyester loops held by the shaft sticks with eyes for threading warp ends. Jack Loom A loom with jacks below the shafts to push the shafts up, or on top of the loom and attached to pull the shafts up. When a shed is made, some shafts rise and the other shafts remain down by their own weight, as they are not tied to anything which would keep them down. More on jack looms. Lamms Horizontal wooden lever sticks which attach the treadles to the shafts. Lease Sticks Flat, thin, smooth, wooden sticks which are inserted into the cross (or lease) in the warp to keep the correct order of threads. Levers Wooden or metal handles on table looms used for making a shed. Pawl

A catch device attached to the loom frame which falls to catch into a ratchet tooth to keep the ratchet from rotating. Quill A paper or cardboard tube on which weft threads are wound for use in a boat shuttle. Ratchet A toothed wheel placed at the end of cloth and warp beams which is held by a pawl to keep the beam from rotating. Raddle A long, flat, narrow piece of wood with nails or metal pins every 1/4" or 2", used to spread the warp evenly for beaming the warp onto the warp beam. Reed A comb with both sides closed which fits into the beater. It spaces the warp threads evenly and beats the weft into place. Rising Shed A description of a shed on a loom where the shafts rise. jack loom. Shaft A frame or two sticks with heddles which moves up and down to form sheds. Called a harness by some. Shuttle Race A horizontal beam in front of the reed, attached to the beater on which the fly shuttle glides. Jack looms also have shuttle races to support the shuttle, as the warp tension is looser than on other looms. Ski Shuttle A shuttle with upturned ends which is used for rug weaving. See a photo of a ski and rug shuttle. Sleying Hook A small flat tool with a hook used to pull the warp ends through the reed. Stick Shuttle (flat shuttle) A smooth flat stick to wind weft for weaving. Swift An adjustable frame for holding a skein of yarn. Temple (stretcher) Adjustable wooden or metal bar with sharp points placed on the woven web to keep the width constant and the sett the same across the web. To see a photo of a temple. Threading Hook A small tool with a thin narrow hook used to pull the warp ends through the heddle eyes. Treadles Foot petals used to move the shafts to make a shed. Warping Board A frame with wooden pegs for measuring short warps. Warping Reel (mill) Large adjustable revolving frame for winding warps.