Well, the “shingles” still have me down – my apologies again for not posting.
In my previous post, I mentioned that I was in the process of making a small inkle loom which I hope to auction off here on my blog. Well not much has happened, but I do want to mention that I am still intending on completing the loom and getting it on the auction site. However, I also thought I should clarify a few things about “Inkle” looms.
Firstly, inkle looms are NOT in anyway Medieval – at least not the inkle looms you will find on websites. From MaraRiley.net, it is quite obvious the the contemporary inkle loom was first made in the early 1900s by Artcraft.
Secondly, the term “inkle” might possibly come from the Dutch enckel which means “single”. The Oxford English Dictionary also refers to “ynchulls” and Shakespeare refers at least three times to “inkles”
“Now will I look to his remuneration. Remuneration! O, that’s the latin word for three farthings: three farthings — remuneration — ‘What’s the price of this inkle?’ — ‘One penny.’ — ‘No, I’ll give you a remuneration:’ why, it carries it. Remuneration! Why, it is a fairer name than French Crown. I will never buy and sell out of a word.” –Love’s Labours Lost (Act III, Scene I).
Finally, Lady Cibella Monmouth, of the Meridies Kingdom of the SCA, notes that “For many centuries, this type of weaving was done on looms such as the bow loom, the forked-branch loom, or the back-strap loom”, refering to the weaving of “inkles”.
So . . . while the loom itself is not Medieval, the weave which is produced with it is identical in outcome as the “ynchull” of the 1500s.
I’ve seen these modern-day inkle looms selling for $80 USD and upwards, depending on the size and “brand” of loom. The little loom that I intend to auction off here will make a 2 inch wide band of about 5 feet in length. Auction price will start at $10 plus whatever is necessary to ship it to the auction winner.
Just a reminder, the proceeds of the auction go to Medieval Living, Inc, which is a non-profit educational organization emphasizing instruction of Medieval era crafts and trades for home schooled children (and anyone else interested in learning).
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