As I was replacing the sectional rakes at the back of Grandpa's loom I began thinking about two other issues that occur where the warp threads are tied to the front of the loom. When Grandpa built the loom, he stapled 12 ropes to the front cloth beam and used crimps to make a loop at the end of each rope. Before weaving, he tied groups of warp threads directly onto each loop. However, when I began using the loom I found it was difficult untie and re-tie the warp bundles to re-tension them if necessary. My solution was to run a thick wood dowel through the loops allowing me to tie my warp bundles to the dowel, rather than the looped rope ends. It was much easier to make tension adjustments, but it didn't solve the other problem with Grandpa's system.

As the woven cloth rolls onto the front beam it shifts slightly to the left or right because of how the ropes wind around the cloth beam. Many looms, including my Leclerc Nilus (seen in the background of the above photo), have a fabric apron connected to the cloth beam to ensure the woven fabric doesn't skew as it advances. I could make an apron for Grandpa's loom. All I would need is a large piece of heavy canvas.

Unfortunately, we live in a rural-ish area. With the closure of the Jo-Ann there isn't a local option for finding that kind of specialty fabric. Besides, I wouldn't even know how much yardage to buy without being able to feel thickness of a fabric. And maybe adding an apron to Grandpa's loom is changing it too much, as I've said before, I feel a responsibility to respect his weaving practice even as I develop my own. I chose to put the project on hold, but the universe had other ideas.

Before tying on my next warp, I helped a friend set up her loom at the senior center. As we worked, someone came in with a box of fabric, a donation for the center's quilters. Most of the donated fabric was quilting cotton, but there were a few other miscellaneous cuts including one large piece of heavy canvas the quilters could not use. It was decided that I should bring the canvas home to see if it would work as an apron for Grandpa's loom. And guess what! I could not have planned a more perfectly sized piece of canvas if I tried. With just a couple long, straight hems I was able to craft the apron.

Before sliding the apron onto the cloth beam, something had to be done with Grandpa's ropes. Rather than remove them, I wrapped them around the cloth beam and secured them with masking tape. Next I had to partially disassemble the loom so I could access the cloth beam.

I disconnected the front beam from the sides of the loom and folded it down. Removing the cloth beam proved to be a bit of a challenge. I wiggled it loose as far as I could, but had to ask Grandpa for a little extra strength to completely lift it free.

I slid the apron onto the cloth beam, replaced the beam, reassembled the loom and tacked the apron into place. I cut 12 slits along the edge of the apron rod pocket and inserted the apron rod . Finally I was able to tie on the warp. Beautiful!

What a pleasure to now be weaving on the loom that Grandpa and I built together nearly 50 years apart.