Viking rigid heddle loom with horse heads.
Here you can buy a wooden rigid heddle loom in the style of the Vikings, inspired by historical model from Scandinavia.
The Viking style rigid heddle loom is made of
acacia wood and has 12 heddles and 13 holes.
The historical model for this weaving frame is an antique from
Scandinavia, which was modeled on a Viking Age tatting board with horse heads.
Link to the originalen rigid heddle loom...
Similar to weaving with a weaving board, you can use that rigid heddle loom to make pretty
fabric belts or borders for the hem of your medieval clothing, depending on the thread thickness. The width of the weaving frame determines the width of the woven ribbon.
A rigid heddle loom is ideal for getting to grips with the technique of ribbon weaving, as it is inexpensive and
easy to obtain and much easier to use than weaving with weaving boards. Unlike board weaving, however, a weaving frame can only be used to weave lengthwise striped borders and not complicated patterns.
Dimensions of the Viking rigid heddle loom:
Length 19.5 cm,
width 12.5 cm,
Thickness: 5 mm
Hole size: 3 mm
Heddle size: 10 cm x 4 mm
As archaeological finds show, rigid heddle looms were already used by the Romans and are also documented for the Middle Ages.
At least two of such simple looms from the
12th to 13th and
13th to 14th centuries were found during excavations.
There is also a grave find dating to the middle of the late
11th century, in which the clothing has been preserved and in which the borders were partially woven with a weaving frame.
Link to a medieval rigid heddle loom from Gotland...