The Loom Upgrades Are Coming Along

The upgrades and additions to my Fanny counterbalance loom are coming along very nicely. I now have two new reeds (carbon steel, 8 and 10 dent), 800 texsolv heddles, and a Signe's width holder (which I am so lucky to have found!).

I also decided to replace the aprons, as the old ones were a bit worn. I removed them and will have to find an afternoon to sew new ones.
I want to change the style a bit, the old ones had slits cut into them, a hem through which a metal apron rod was placed, and then a second metal apron rod was tied to the first with pieces of cord. I want to use just one rod, not two. Perhaps someone has some design ideas?
I can see using two for really high tensioned warps like rugs, but I won't be doing that sort of weaving anytime soon. My weaving will be mostly wearables. I also prefer to use wooden rods, but perhaps the metals ones are stronger.

After all of this is done, I will have to pluck up the courage to warp it! Haven't found that courage as yet. I just wish someone was teaching in the city, and close-by, a class would definitely give me the much needed push I need :).

I Attached The KR 7 To The Artisan

After thinking about this for sometime, I decided to attach the Studio (Singer or Silver-Reed) KR 7 to my Artisan knitting machine. I knew it could be done, as I had discussed it on the Artisan list. Well, it's now attached and works! The row counter tripper works as the tripper for the knit radar as well. I have added some pictures of the finished result.


While it was not hard, it certainly was a bit fiddly! I actually took off the back bed portion, measured, punched and drilled some holes, attached some flat head binding screws, and that was it. I wanted to add some nuts to the screws, but it was near impossible, as the space under was just too tight. Anyhow it's on and it works!


I prefer the KR 7 over the other knit radars, as I can make my own patterns on the computer, print them out, cut the paper to size and pop it in the radar and off I go. It does not have a toothed track on which the pattern rolls (unlike the Brother Knit Leader or the newer KR 11). I also love the full-scale and half-scale options.