220 
AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 
June, 1909 
What Can Be Done in a Hand-Loom 
By Mabel Tuke Priestman 
ages. Old people continue to weave be- 
cause it is easy to do and they are familiar 
with the process and can make a good 
living out of it. Younger women are 
learning to weave, because they find they 
can make for themselves beautiful draperies and ornament 
all kinds of household linen, as well as adding to the home 
by supplying rugs, portieres and pillows. Children from 
four years of age are taught the principles of weaving in 
the kindergarten in mat plaiting, and, as they pass from 
grade to grade, are allowed to make rugs, curtains, blankets 
and sweaters for their dolls, kettle-holders, gloves and caps 
in primitive looms. They are not taught weaving because 
of the things they make, but because of the excellent train- 
ing that such work is for their development. 
It has been found to be an ideal occupation for small chil- 
dren as well as older ones, and gives admirable opportu- 
nities for the development of the head, hand and heart. 
Not only are both hands trained equally, but the nerves and 
muscles of the arms and hands are strengthened by the daily 
occupation. Hand and eye are taught accuracy and industry; 
economy and patience are the outcome of this training. The 
heart of the child delights in giving pleasure to others by 
making gifts of the things it has made with its own hands, 
and the child gains confidence and a consciousness of power 
Nearly completed 
How the weaving is done 
by being able to create and feels that he is of some use in the 
world. Dull children have had their intelligence greatly 
quickened by this training, so it is not surprising to find how 
many schools are teaching weaving to-day. 
Many use extremely primitive looms. Most of the tiny 
ones in our illustrations are known as the Todd looms. 
The full size of this loom is 1 inch by 13 inches, and allows 
the rug to be made g inches by 12 inches. Its chief advan- 
tage is that it is adjustable and can be made either square 
or oblong as desired. ‘To regulate the length, the head- 
piece, which is movable, can be let down on the brass but- 
tons, which are placed at intervals of one inch down each 
side of the loom. ‘The holes are bored half an inch apart 
in the head- and foot-pieces so that the side rods canbe moved 
forward to regulate the width. ‘This insures straight edges 
since the woof threads are passed around them as the work 
progresses. ‘hese rods are shown at the top of the loom. 
They also act as supports upon which the needle may be 
pressed up and down, allowing it to pass more readily over 
and under the successive warp strings. The notches are 
one-sixteenth inch and the teeth one-eighth inch apart, giving 
opportunity for a warp one-half inch, three-eighths inch and 
three-sixteenths inch wide. ‘The loom has an easel support 
so that the pupil need not stoop over it. 
The needle serves two purposes, as it can also be used as 
a handle in pressing the woof threads together. It is fur- 
nished with an eye for worsted, chenille, carpet ravellings, 
A simple table-loom 
