My family of looms just welcomed a new little sister—Julia! This 8-shaft countermarch is Glimåkra’s smallest floor loom. I dressed the loom right away in 6/2 Tuna wool for 4-shaft Jämtlandsdräll to try out the loom. So far, so good. An 8-shaft project using 20/2 Mora wool is up next. Would you believe this is my new portable loom? Surprisingly, the Julia fits in the back of our vehicle, without disassembling. This is the loom you can expect to see with me at future workshops.
My Julia Observations:
- It goes together like you’d expect from a Glimåkra. Instructions are minimal, and quality is high. It’s a well-designed puzzle.
- The assembled loom is easy to move around to gain space needed for warping, or simply to change location for any reason.
- The breast beam is not removable like it is on my other Glimåkra looms, which makes it a stretch to thread the heddles from the front. However, by hanging the shaft bars from the beater cradle at the very front I can thread the heddles without back strain. (Or, if you are petite and don’t mind climbing over the side, you can put the bench in the loom for threading.)
- Tying up lamms and treadles is not much different than it is for my Ideal. Everything is well within reach from the front. It helps to take the lamms off the loom to put in the treadle cords, and then put the lamms back on the loom. With one extra person available, it is entirely feasible to elevate the loom on paint cans, upside-down buckets, or a small table to make tie-ups easier, but I didn’t find it necessary to do that.
- Weaving on the Julia is a delight, as it is with my other countermarch looms. Everything works. With four shafts, the sheds are impeccable.
- The bench adjusts to the right height.
- The hanging beater is well balanced, sturdy, and has a good solid feel. I can move the beater back several times before needing to advance the warp.
- I thought the narrower treadles might prove annoying, but I’ve been able to adjust quickly. After weaving a short while, I forget about the treadle size.
Steve is the loom assembler in our family. I stand by and give a hand when needed. I hope you can feel our excitement as you watch this short video of us discovering what’s in the boxes and figuring out how it all goes together.
May you enjoy the puzzles that come to your doorstep.
Happy Weaving,
Karen
Too cool.
What a great video of putting together the 3d wooden puzzle. It reminds me of sewing a tailored jacket. All those pieces with no rhyme nor reason until it starts to come together.
When I think about it… That is what weaving is.
Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for the glowing review! I was ready to purchase one, but was told it isn’t the wood like in the regular Glimakra loims, but plywood. Also told the front and back beams get grooves in them from the warp threads.
Waiting for your updates in about 2 months.
Thanks!
Hi Nancy, If you haven’t heard enough about it in a couple months, send me a note and I’ll give an honest update.
The wood is most definitely beautiful solid wood, not plywood at all. Any wooden breast beam and back beam will show wear from warp threads and beam cords. This loom is no different. I don’t think it’s a problem.
Happy weaving,
Karen
Thank you very much! I will get back to you! Perhaps this dealer was trying to upsell me?
Nancy
Nancy, I look forward to hearing from you. I hope the dealer had better intentions than that. Anyway, if you keep doing your research you will end up with a good loom.
Karen
Hi Nancy,
Decades ago I was enamored with English smocking and took two classes from two different instructors.on maintenance and care of the pleater. The first class I took we were told to NEVER EVER take the pleater completely apart as it was not possible to ever get it back together and working properly. The second class I took began with the instructor ‘accidentally’ dismantelling the pleater. We were taught how to care for a very simple tool.
Maybe your dealer is not familiar with the loom?
It sounds like you have a support system in this blog to help you through any challenges.
Nannette
Hi Nannette, It’s very interesting how all those tinker-toy sticks fit together perfectly!
Happy weaving,
Karen
Karen, is there some way you can email with me?
My email is camel heights at msn dot com.
Strange I know, it’s a street I lived on in Evergreen, Colorado. On the side of a mountain.
I have more questions about this loom.
Thank you very much!
Nancy
Nancy, Certainly! I will send you an email.
Karen
She’s adorable! May you have many happy workshops together.
Hi Betsy, And may your Julia and mine sit happily side by side at some point.
All the best,
Karen
Loved the video – I could feel the excitement! I’m looking forward to seeing the beautiful items you will create with her 🙂
Hi Kristin, Thanks for joining in the fun! It won’t be long and I’ll have her weaving an 8-shaft project.
Happy weaving,
Karen
I can agree with you there. The Julia is a great little loom, I speak from the experience of a proud owner. I can therefore fully understand the joy of unpacking, because it was very similar to me last fall, only that it was my first loom… Greetings from Berlin, Julia
Hi Julia, It’s good to hear from you. Oh, the excitement of putting together your first loom! That is the best of all. The Julia is a perfect first loom! Or second, or third, or fourth, or fifth… 🙂
Very Happy Weaving,
Karen
What a darling little loom! I wish I had room for one more. I don’t always reply but always read you posts, Karen. Not only do I always learn something but I just enjoy feeling that we are keeping in touch.
Please tell Steve I think he is the best husband a weaver could ever have!
Hi Annie, It’s satisfying to know you read these posts. I do like keeping in touch, too.
I’ll tell Steve. He’s definitely the best husband this weaver could ever have!
Love,
Karen
Congratulations on your new loom Karen! How exciting!! And there os just nothing more beautiful than a new loom! May Julia bring you many happy hours of weaving. Sending love from WA. Gretchen
Hi Gretchen, It’s great to hear from you! Yes, new looms are special. This one will serve me well.
Hugs,
Karen
i am green with envy, I would love to own a Julia, or even a Mighty Wolf from Schacht, as I am living in South Africa where looms are a big luxury at the moment with our exchange rate, and my studio space is taking over our home, it will stay a dream. I do have 5 Varpapu looms, 3 table looms, 2 floor looms.
Hi Marlene, Thanks for chiming in!
I’m glad that you have some good Varpapu looms to work with. The Julia is a sweet little loom in the family of Glimakra looms. The Glimakra Standard is still my favorite.
Happy weaving,
Karen
Great video! What are the thingies under the feet of the loom in the background?
Hi Marina, I’m glad you enjoyed the video! What you are seeing under the feet of my other looms are Stadig Loom Feet. They keep the loom from “walking,” and they help absorb the impact of the beater when firm beating is needed, such as for weaving rugs. I get them from GlimakraUSA.com.
Thanks,
Karen
Is your Julia made of pine?
Hi Mitzy, My Julia looks like it is made of Swedish Pine, the same as my other Glimåkra looms.
All the best,
Karen
Hello Karen,
Nice to read your experience with Julia and other contermarch Looms. I got my first Julia Countermarch Loom today! I am very happy. I have to learn how to dress the loom especially the tie up. I have always used Schacht jack looms. I am quite comfortable on my jack looms. I will continue to read your blogs.
Thanks for posting! Excellent information!
Happy weaving!
Hi Anu, How exciting that you are venturing into the realm of countermarch weaving! You will certainly have some things to learn, but with some tenacity, you’ll do great. It might be compared to learning to handle a sailboat after driving only motor boats. The things that seem challenging at first may become the very things you enjoy about weaving on a countermarch. The tie up is different than on a jack loom, but it’s not difficult. I do hope you have “Learning to Warp Your Loom,” by Joanne Hall. Other great resources are “The Big Book of Weaving,” by Laila Lundell, “Dress Your Loom the Vavstuga Way,” by Becky Ashenden, and “Dress Your Loom the Swedish Way,” with Becky Ashenden, available as DVD or through online streaming https://store.vavstuga.com/product/video-dress-vimeo.html
Best to you!
Karen
Hi Karen,
I was looking for info on the Julia and found your wonderful blog again. Love the video! I hope you are still enjoying your Julia. My kids are my loom builders in this house and I’d like to give them another opportunity to build again with the Julia. Just investigating right now. Can you sit inside it for the threading like the larger Glimakra’s. I was also thinking the Julia could be my sampler loom as it’s a great little size. I’m still weaving on my Oxaback Lilla from Vavstuga, still learning it too. Can’t seem to get a good shed like everyone says, but I love it and can manage. I also have all of these great books you mentioned too they are helpful. I’d love to take a class with Becky Ashenden at her loom barn one day but for now I use her online weaving school. I will inundate the forum with my shed questions! Take care and thank you for being a great resource for us weavers in the vanguard. – Kristen G.
Hi Kristen, My Julia is very well loved and always in use. I am small in stature and I do sit inside to thread the loom. However, more average-size people can easily thread the loom sitting at the front by bringing the shafts closer to the front. I think Becky demonstrates that in the video that comes with the Julia.
Thanks for dropping by!
Karen
did this loom come with a bench or was that an add on?
This loom did come with the bench.
Karen
Is it possible to hang the treadles from the front instead of the back, please?
Hi Delia, No, it is not possible to hang the treadles from the front instead of the back. I like the ease of pressing these rear-hung treadles. This is the way most Swedish looms are made.
Karen
Hi Karen,
What a wonderful website and so glad I came across it. I was looking for information on the Glimakra Julia loom specifically when I came across your website. It has been an inspiration for me. I live in New Braunfels, TX, and a beginning weaver, although I have woven on a rigid heddle loom off and on over the last 6-7 years. I own a Glimakra Julia that was gifted to me and I am in the midst of setting it up. Also bought a Louet Spring II loom last year. I am very eager to delve further into this fascinating (and magical) world of weaving and have been reading everything and anything I can. I subscribed to Jane Stafford’s School of Weaving which has been immensely helpful. So much to learn!
Hi Cara, I’m thrilled that you are finding things here that are useful for you! Your Glimåkra Julia is a jewel of a loom. I have really enjoyed mine and have gotten a lot of use out of it. Another resource you may be interested in is Vävstuga Weaving School in Shelburne Falls, Mass. They offer classes (in person or online) that really suit the Julia loom and other Swedish countermarch looms. I’m excited for you! Being a beginning weaver is a wonderful place to be — there’s a whole world of weaving enjoyment waiting for you!
Happy Weaving,
Karen