I was crawling around under the loom, getting ready to try a different treadle tie up for our next rug when I was struck by a lightning bolt - could it be that our loom was put together wrong. We had been quietly cursing our clunky old loom for almost a year now because it was so hard to treadle. Well, duh, it was because the treadles should have been hinged on the back side of the loom. Something about the the sharpest knife in the drawer and all of that.
Four bolts and 15 minutes later...
I'm able to do the new tie up with out having to crawl around under the loom anymore.
The treadles now stand tall and are going be so much easier to weave with.
Another teachable and laughable moment in the life of a museum weaver.
And so we turn Jacque's colorful old bed sheet to ribbons...
...and start Rug # 9 using our new twill tie up. 
This is going to be one gorgeous rug ladies & gentlemen. And the weaving is easy, the new treadle arrangement works great and even Fred can count to 4 to make the twill pattern.
The treadles now stand tall and are going be so much easier to weave with. 
I got some homegrown and homespun yarn from Mary & Bubba at the Farmers Market a couple of weeks ago. Bottom is sheep, top is a Llama/Sheep blend.
The Llama/Sheep blend makes a handsome warp, but I was pretty anxious about the slubby parts going through the reed & heddles.
I think were on to something here. 
