New Strings Attached!

Spring is a traditional time for cleaning and spiffing up one's home and perhaps if you are ambitious, one's studio. I sell many apron re-string kits and I will admit it....I have never put one on my looms. So when asked for advice or help, I usually stammer, guess or refer folks to Eddie.

This week I asked Eddie if I could come over and take some photos of how he puts the string aprons on new looms. So here you go weavers, a step by step tutorial of replacing those worn out or frayed apron strings.

Here is a scanned copy of the instructions that come with the re-string kit. 

First you will need to make a template. This should be a board as wide as your loom that has a series of tacks at 2" intervals.


Here's a photo of the one from the shop that Edie uses. You will place this template on the top of the loom castle. Secure it with clamps or tie it down.

On a plain beam draw a pencil line that is straight from left to right. You might find a line that was drawn at the factory. This is the line that the tacks will be place on. For a sectional beam turn the beam so that the sections to be tacked are nearly vertical. Clamp the beam so that it cannot turn.

This is the beam on Eddie's work bench. Yours will just stay on the loom. And the template will be attached to the castle.

Here's the whole set up in the shop. To set the tacks into the beam you will need a hammer and some muscle, or an electric staple gun with 3/8" staples.

Beginning at the gear (brake) end, tack down the end on the pencil line. Tie a knot to secure the tack and the string.

Then loop up to the template and go around the first nail. 

Then back down to the beam, and tack down the string.

Secure it with a knot around the tack. Pull the string down to create a secure join at the tack.

Repeat this up and down motion with the apron string. Staple and knot at the beam. This is not a difficult job. But it does require some set up to achieve satisfactory results. Just like weaving!!

Once you have gone from one edge of the beam the the other. You will secure the end on the beam with a double knot.  The looped ends that are on the template will now be placed on the apron rod in a larks head slip knot. 

I hope this helps those of you who are tackling this job, or those who are contemplating doing it.

So have fun! Happy Weaving!

Sarah