Weaving on the Julia
The little red loom from Glimåkra

Becky Ashenden
[Vävstuga Press, 2008. DVD, 94 minutes.]
$38.00

Even if you have never woven before, you can do it now with this new instructional DVD. Becky Ashenden guides you through setting up your loom and weaving a complete project on the Julia, the little red loom from loom from Glimåkra. The techniques she presents here are greatly simplified from her earlier videos:   tedious knot tying, for example, is nearly eliminated. 

You'll learn how to:

• Assemble the loom
• Prepare the loom for weaving
• Wind the warp and put it on the loom
• Thread the heddles
• Sley the reed
• Tie the warp to the front beam
• Make a counterbalance tie up
• Check for problems
• Wind a shuttle
• Weave a project
• Remove the weaving from the loom and finish it
• Use a temple
• Move on to more advanced projects

Many of these techniques will also be helpful to beginning weavers on other looms, particularly counterbalance styles.

Dress Your Swedish Drawloom
Damask, Opphämta and related techniques

Becky Ashenden
[Vävstuga Press, 2004. VHS or DVD, 128 minutes.]
$50.00

Learn about several different types of drawlooms with this instructional video. It builds on the skills taught in my first video, Dress your Loom the Swedish Way. The details of setting up a warp on a Myrehed shaft draw, single unit, and combination systems are shown in detail on Swedish looms and reviewed with frequent diagrams. An Öxabäck loom demonstrates a single unit draw system with pattern-saving lashes and another chapter is devoted to various tie-ups and tie-up methods. Damask is thoroughly covered, including sword damask which uses only simple equipment. Opphämta is demonstrated with the weaving sword and the drawloom. The last chapter explains smålandsväv which although not actually a drawloom technique, uses two sets of shafts and is related to opphämta. There are many samples of weaving shown between the chapters along with authentic Swedish music played by Karin Myrehed, maker of the drawloom attachments.

This video contains the following chapters:

1. Mechanics of the Drawloom
2. Extending the Loom
3. Threading the Heddles
4. Shaft Draw System
5. Vertical Single Unit Draw System
6. Combination of Shaft Draw and Single Draw
7. Horizontal Single Unit Draw System with Lashes
8. Sword Damask
9. Tie-ups and Drafts
10. Opphämta
11. Smålandsväv

Dress Your Loom the Swedish Way
An in-depth study of time honored techniques

Becky Ashenden
[Vävstuga Press, 1998. VHS or DVD, 120 minutes.]
$50.00

I have produced this instructional video on how to dress a loom as I was taught at the legendary Sätergläntan Hemslöjdens Gård craft school in Sweden. This two-hour video is packed with detailed instruction and has lots of close-up views of hands-on skills.

The following chapters are indexed for quick reference:

1. Winding the warp
2. Prereeding
3. Preparing the loom
4. Preparing the warp for beaming
5. Beaming the warp
6. Threading the heddles
7. Sleying the reed
8. Tying the warp to the front of the loom
9. 4-harness counterbalance tie-up
10. Multi-harness counterbalance tie-up
11. Damask pulleys
12. Tying the treadles with knots
13. Countermarch tie-up
14. Introduction to weaving

Save yourself a trip to Sweden with this video! ... Though Swedish equipment is used throughout, many of the steps can be adapted to other looms. ... Very clearly explained and expertly demonstrated.
--Unicorn Books review

This is an excellent video. It shows clearly the method that Ashenden so expertly explains. It is precise and complete, and it is especially important for those with Swedish looms who need information about how best to set up and work with their looms. In two hours, Ashenden makes the viewer feel as if she or he has had an introductory course at a Swedish weaving school. It will be a great addition to a guild or personal library.
--Shuttle Spindle & Dyepot review

Your video is so well-done, that I feel I can set up this loom & sit down & weave with confidence.
--N.A. in RI

As I played your video tape, I felt as if you were right in my living room. ... Your students will find it a delightful review as well as a comfortable reassurance in their own homes. I enjoyed it immensely. The directions were clearly explained and demonstrated. Well done!
--E.T. in NY