I finished the first band on my new inkle loom, made with leftover pearlized cotton, mostly variegated, in teals and browns, and a laser cut rigid heddle.

This was a good learning project. I found out that the laser cut rigid heddle is too wide and makes it difficult to keep the edges even because of the inconsistent edge tension as I weave closer to the heddle. I also learned that I need to leave more unwoven warp if I want to do twined fringe on both ends of the band, which I have discovered I quite like. I love my new loom, but have identified some carpentry weaknesses, particularly in the supports, that I would make differently if I were to build it again. I also found that I need a bar across the front of the loom so that when I’m beating down the weft, I have a more even pressure across my midsection, rather than one rather edgy stick poking under my ribs.