A Tape Loom - a different way of weaving narrow bands.

In the Durham Guild we have a member who loves experimenting with a variety of crafts and is a real source of information about new pieces of equipment.

She brought a small tape loom to the Guild.  This arrives in pieces and has to be assembled.  I was immediately hooked and decided to buy one. It comes in two sizes so I chose the small size.

It can be purchased from https://www.ginabsilkworks.co.uk/

I was a bit nervous about sticking the various bits together but in the end it was easier than I thought. 

The completed tape loom

The assembled loom.

The tape loom can be painted or brushed with melted bees wax, but I decided I wanted to try weaving with it first.

I made a warp of wool and threaded the heddle as illustrated in the book. It was a little tricky to wind on but that is down to my own inexperience with the loom mechanisms. The loom can be secured to a post by a ribbon attached around the back of the loom.  This stops the loom moving when weaving.

The set up for weaving.

The unwoven ends are knotted and held in one hand.  The weft is wound onto a small shuttle.   The hand holding the end of the warp lifts the warp up and down to make the two sheds. you do not need a back strap.

Raising the warp.

Lowering the warp.

lowering the warp for the other shed.

It took me some time to get used to  holding the warp and passing the weft through the shed. I made a short YouTube video to demonstrate how this is done.  Practice will make perfect and also speed up the weaving!

YouTube video: Weaving on a small tape loom. 

https://youtu.be/XsNJyxitRuA

This small version of a tape loom is light and portable. It can fit into a shoe box for carrying to the Guild meetings. 

It is so portable to take to the Guild meetings.  

YouTube video.

Here is the YouTube video from the maker. 

How to warp a tape loom and weave on it. Gina-B Silkworks on YouTube.

https://youtu.be/vq0NjbWH568?si=tiNbjKpz5b1cD9MK

My first band in wool

Here is my first band in wool.  I am still getting used to the new way of weaving whilst holding the end of the tape to tension it.  My width is still not even. However, I have found that I can weave with the loom on my lap, holding it between my knees.  What a lovely portable piece of equipment.

I am weaving my second band this time in dk cotton.

I tied a knot at the start of the band. this is a loose knot which can be undone later.   It helps to provide a secure grip on the warp ends when weaving. 

Here is a closeup of the cotton band.  As you can see, the width is increasing slightly. 

A close up of the cotton band showing my unintentional width increase.

Once I had woven a short amount, I plaited the loose warp ends at the start of the band.  This still gives a secure grip.  

This was the method used in Ireland when weaving the Crios belt.  Weavers always plaited the start after weaving a small length. 

Tape looms are not new.  There is a lovely portrait of Governor Thomas Mifflin and his wife in the Philadelphia Museum collection.  I cannot show you the picture because it is copyright, but you can view it yourself on: 

https://www.philamuseum.org/resources/portrait-of-mr-and-mrs-thomas-mifflin-sarah-morris

It was painted by John Singleton Copley in 1772.There is also a very informative PDF document describing the portrait.  The tape loom is secured by a blue ribbon and she is weaving a fringed band in white.

Evelyn Neher's  1974 book Inkle has an informative overview of early loom types in the chapter 'Antique Looms.'

Susan J Foulkes October 2026

Weaving a flock of sheep: Krokbragd

Krokbragd sheep  using 6/2 cotton

I have tried to weave  sheep using card weaving but I was not very successful.  I thought that I would try a Krokbragd pattern. The weave structure is actually turned krokbragd, which means that the weft is a single colour thread and the pattern is in the colour order of the warp threads. There is no pattern on the reverse as some of the threads float over three picks. 

There are 55 warp ends using four colours, white, black green and blue. The weave is on three shafts. A single shaft is lifted for each pick.  The order is: 1;2 ;1;3  It is very quick to weave.

The first band I wove uses 6/2 cotton and I used the same thread as the weft.  It is possible to use a thicker yarn as weft if you want.

Here is the first band on the loom.  I wove 1.73 metres very quickly and finished the band with a plait at both ends.

The band width is  approx 18 mm

I wove a second band using 16/2 cotton - this time I altered the colours slightly. The weft is 16/2 cotton in blue.

I wove 2.51 metres  The band width is 10 mm.

This method is quick to set up on the  loom and weave.  

Picture of band and the reverse side. 

Sheep in 16/2 cotton. 

Floor Inkle Loom

I thought that I would also try weaving the same pattern on my floor inkle loom.

The threading is more complicated.  Two threads are unheddled between each heddled thread. 

These two warps have to be separated.  Behind the heddles one layer of warp ends have been caught in a clip-it.  The other warp layer has to have a set of heddles in order to raise it through the other two layers. It is important that these two layers correspond to the threads on shafts 2 and 3. This means ensuring that the threads are in the correct order when chosen for the clip-it or additional heddle. i made a few mistakes with the threading at first. 

I started by weaving using a weft thread singly but then I changed to a thicker weft. This means that the sheep will be 'fatter' but the weaving will grow more quickly.

With a single weft, the band is 15 - 16 mm in width.  

Rigid heddle and backstrap.

Well,  these experiments worked successfully so I decided to see if I could use a rigid heddle and backstrap. I made the mistake of using fine wool which tends to catch when changing the shed. 

The two layers of warp go through the slots and are divided by a set of additional heddles in front and a loop of yarn around the other layer behind the heddle. 

Although I managed to weave the pattern, I had made a big mistake in using a fancy heddle which tended to flop and swing.  I rethreaded the warp through another heddle which was not as tall.  This handled with less movement when weaving.

I took it along to our Guild meeting and managed to weave quite a flock.

Weaving at the Guild meeting

Here are the three sheds for this weave structure.

Shed 1: the warp threads through the holes in the heddle

Shed 2: the warp threads lifted by a loop of yarn behind the heddle. These warp threads go through the slots of the heddle.

Shed 3: the warp ends area lifted by means of a set of additional string heddles at the front of the heddle. These warp ends also go through the slots in the heddle.

Shed 3 with string heddles 

I enjoyed experimenting with three different ways of weaving this 'turned Krokbragd' pattern.

I had to  make up my own method of achieving the sheds.  There may be a more efficient way.

Happy weaving

Susan J Foulkes September 2026

Waffle weave handtowels

I needed some new handtowels for the kitchen. I love waffle weave as it is so textured and when used for handtowels very absorbent. 

Here is the drawdown.

I used cottolin for the warp and weft. 

Warp: cottolin in three shades    weft : cottolin

There were 48 groups of 12 ends with one more repeat which was finished with 13 ends. 

Total number of warp ends = 576 plus 13 = 589

sett: 24 epi

on the loom

Unfortunately I damaged my shoulder and the towels remained on the loom for a couple of months.  At last I could go back to weaving and finished the towels. 

I love seeing the full length when it comes off the loom.

I tried to measure the handtowels on the loom so that each was 33 inches - which I calculated would be about 25 inches after washing.  I was not always as accurate. 

I designed different weft colour order to  make the three towels slightly different. 

There was quite a time gap when they were on the loom and I had not finished the warp.  I found that the tension for beating was not the same on the final towel. 

Here are the final measurements before and after washing.

                   before washing                  after washing

Towel 1      69 cm x 59 cm                    53.5 cm x 47 cm

Towel 2      64 cm x 59 cm                    58 cm x 47 cm

Towel 3      63 cm z 59 cm                     57 cm x 47 cm

I wove a hanging tab for the towels.  My husband wanted one of a single colour so that it stood out. 

cottolin band on Swedish band loom

Handtowels in the kitchen.

Three handtowels.

I had not woven  waffle weave for some time and I realised that I was beating harder for the first towel than the others.  This meant that it shrank more and the waffles are more pronounced. They are very absorbent. 

Now for a new project - some tea towels to go with them.

Susan J Foulkes

August 2026

Durham Miners Gala 2026

The Durham Miners gala is a wonderful experience. This year was the 140th Gala.  I set off early to catch the first banner band to process to the racecourse. 

Here are some pictures of the day.  The first banner of the Durham Miners Association arrived at the County Hotel where it is traditional that they play to entertain the audience and always finish with the miners hymn. 

. 

The Women's Banner Group always arrive in style.

They were accompanied by other women's groups.

The first banner arrives at the Gala field.  

There were some new banners.This banner was being held and marched by only two men - quite a feat. It commemorates a previous miners strike in 1832 when miners were attacked by the militia.  As the banner legend says about the Friars Goose evictions, they were starved, blacklisted, battered, shackled, jailed, wounded, shot dead, hanged, gibbeted or transported. 

Two banners were draped in black.  This is a traditional way of remembering a death or a mining pit disaster.  In this instance both Lodges were remembering the miners who died in  mining accidents. Easington Lodge remembers the 81 miners who died on 29th May 1951.  Eppleton Lodge remembers the men who died in July 1951.

Easington Lodge banner.

Eppleton Lodge banner.

Look at these two banners from Craghead and Dean and Chapter.  The image is of Durham Cathedral but the Craghead banner has the image reversed.   Not sure why but it could be that the picture negative was developed the wrong way around when it was sent to Tuthills in London - the banner makers. 

Craghead Lodge

Dean and Chapter Lodge

 
 

At the end of the day, the banners and bands march back to their starting point to catch their coaches home.  Banners are carefully rolled up.

After completing an MA in 2020. I wrote an article from my dissertation research about these lovely treasures. 

 My article: Tradition, Change and Meaning: Textile Banners of the Durham Miners' Gala has been published in the Journal; Textile Cloth and Culture. February 2025

Here is the abstract. 

The banners of the Durham Miners’ Gala are functional and political art. They are ‘communicative textiles’ (Andrew, 2008, 35) embracing a range of meanings deriving from their form, use, and social and historical context. They are part of the visual, historical and social culture of the North East of England. The purpose of this paper is to explore the reception and responses to these banners and their images from three perspectives: the social and historical background; a contemporary craft perspective through the creation of a new textile banner with its gendered iconography; and through the parade of the annual Durham Miners’ Gala. 

These portable textile artefacts are accompanied by language, text, sound and motion. This paper will show that they have a life and significance in a variety of arenas reaching diverse audiences. An exploration of the physical context of the Miners’ Gala, with its parade and display, will reveal further dimensions to interpretation and response to these communicative textiles. 

I had a wonderful day out and so did about 200,000 other people.  If you want further information about this wonderful event, check out the Marras - Friends of Durham Miners Gala.

https://www.friendsofdurhamminersgala.org/about

Susan J Foulkes July 2026

Further information about the two mining disasters  remembered at this years Gala. The details are available here.

https://nmrs.org.uk/mines-map/accidents-disasters/durham/eppleton-colliery-explosion-hetton-le-hole-1951/

https://nmrs.org.uk/mines-map/accidents-disasters/durham/easington-colliery-explosion-west-hartlepool-1951/

The Durham Miners Gala still needs supporters to make it happen.  I am a Marra - why not join as well. Find out more from the official web site. 

https://www.friendsofdurhamminersgala.org/

Macrame Friendship Bracelets.

I was in London recently and visited one of my favourite venues, the British Film Institute. In the cafe, I noticed a young man engrossed with his lap top but he was braiding.  I went over to chat to him. He was making macrame friendship bracelets for his friends. 

I had tried macrame many years ago and had been looking recently at a pretty macrame band with a diagonal pattern.  I was thinking of trying to make one myself.  Meeting this enthusiastic and skilled young man has spurred me on to try.

He recommended a YouTube video from Masha Knots who produces very clear and numerous videos on making different patterns.  Here is the link.

Basic friendship bracelets knots. Masha Knots

 https://youtu.be/bClGNDcndMg?si=alcrIVK4dZnNcwbn

I watched a number of her videos on the train journey home and could not wait to start that evening. 

There are four basic knots that she uses for her simple braids - the forward knot, the backward knot, the forward-backward knot and the backward -forward knot. 

My first three macrame knots

I am enjoying the exploration of a different technique. I have been wondering if I could use these knot patterns to finish woven bands.  I usually plait the warp ends together then whip the ends.  

My first macrame bands.

I decided to try a flower pattern - I think that it is known as a daisy chain.  This might be promising as another decorative band end. Here is my attempt.

Daisy band

I like the pattern but I  need to practice this technique. My loops are not even.

I tried a three strand textured macrame band but I was not entirely happy with the result.

I was on a plan recently  so I had prepared some warps for practising macrame.  I was wondering if this is a craft to while away a plane journey.

Attached to the chair back

I also tried clipping it to my handbag on my lap in the airport waiting area. 

Clipped to my handbag

Here is my result. 

It is so much fun trying a different craft.  So much to learn.

Happy crafting.

Susan J Foulkes

July 2026

Plaiting: a seven strand plait.

I usually plait the warp ends together then whip the ends when I have finished weaving a band.  A simple three end plait is easy but I have also been experimenting with more strands.

Here is a 7 strand plait. I used it for the end of a band woven on a reproduction Roman heddle.

This plait is easy to do.  I have made a short YouTube video showing how to plait this band.

There is a small Roman heddle which takes only 6 warp ends.  Including the weft there are seven ends to use for a plait.  

The YouTube video shows the plaiting method and the band with its new decorated plaited ends.

YouTube Video:  https://youtu.be/DWYR1E4Itjw

The plait at the band ends and my first attempt at a 7 strand plait

Here is the heddle and the woven band.

I also tried plaiting with other  thicknesses of yarn. The thick yarn was easy but the finer yarn needed greater care to get the plait even.

I have also made two other YouTube videos about plaiting on my YouTube channel.  https://www.youtube.com/@durhamsilkweaver

Plaiting with 5 groups of threads  

https://youtu.be/SZt3p87oI68?si=tKnHpXMYrkNcvFwh

How to make a zig-zag plait with 8 groups of threads  

https://youtu.be/AZcAdQeu81Y?si=pdhRHGhY2tnhvPzk

I generally finish the plaits with West Country whipping

https://youtu.be/kp5nrA7DLAI?si=LZlAB8zDUrZJwMrq

Enjoy your own explorations 

Susan J Foulkes

June 2026