My Leclerc loom is a ‘rescue’ loom. It came with bumps, dents and dings along with some design issues that I needed modified.
But I love my little loom, it is a true work horse and does almost everything I need it to do. To me it is beautiful because it works well and allows me to work efficiently.
I have woven on a great deal of looms – not all of them, but most of the major manufacturer’s offerings. There are a few more I would like to try out, just so that I have a point of reference when someone asks me whether or not they should buy this or that loom.
To me a loom is not a piece of furniture, it is a tool. As such I am much more concerned about how well it functions than how ‘pretty’ it is.
I am also more than willing to make modifications to any piece of equipment – or have Doug make them, truth be told – in order to make it work more to my liking. I do not hesitate to drill holes, add clamps, or whatever, if that will improve the performance.
Quite frankly I do not want to pay a premium for decoration that does nothing to enhance the function of my tools and may, indeed, hinder it. I won’t give examples because I don’t want to annoy anyone, but not all looms or spinning wheels are created equal. Some really do function ‘better’ than others.
I would love to have a long discussion with a loom manufacturer about what I think makes a good, well functioning loom. I’d love to have input into the creation of a new ‘portable’/workshop floor loom. Anyone want to have my free advice? (You know what free advice is worth…)