Clips and Clamps!

Here are the "Crocodile Clips" that came in the mail last week.  They really are called that!  I have them set up well enough to use, but I plan to tweak it a little.

The "clip" clips onto the side of the fabric.  One on each side.  There is a cord attatched to the other end of the clip that  has a hole for  that very purpose.

I weave until I have about 2 inches of woven fabric behind the clip.  Then I release the clip by pressing that little button on top which releases the sleeve that fastens the clip.  Then I advance the clip.  I can do this about 3 times before I have to advance the cloth itself.

The directions I read said to use large eyebolts and screw them into your loom so that the cord can go straight out from the fabric.  I am a little hesitant right now to do that so I have used a c-clamp instead. 

The problem with this clamp is that it really isn't big enough for the job, so I do plan to go get some really big ones that will allow me to have the weights come directly off the fabric instead of at an angle like it is now.  Yes, that is a shoe hanging off the clamp, I also plan to get some more heavy duty washers, since I am supposed to have about 1.5 lbs hanging off each side.

As it is set up right now, I am getting about 2 more inches in the weaving width, and that makes me happy.  I wove the first one on the cloth beam without the clamps and this one with the clamps, I can't wait to see how much of a difference there is in the finished cloth.


Until next time, Happy Weaving, Tina