Abstract:
A versatile hand operated loom having features making it uniquely suited for utilization in occupational therapy for hospitalized or institutionalized persons. Simplified hand loom assembly dispensing with the conventional shedding harness enables utilization of simplified procedures in dressing and operating the loom, including weaving of the fabric, removal, and setting up the subsequent weaving operation for the same or a different pattern. The hand loom combines a means for uniformly advancing a plurality of warp threads, shuttle means for moving a weft thread in reciprocal motion across the path of the advancing warp threads in a transverse direction, and means for selectively arranging each of said warp threads in an upper or lower position to form a shed through which the shuttle means passes, which combine a movable warp thread holding means cooperating with a preprogrammed pattern member moving in association with the advancement of the warp threads to determine the relative position of each warp thread in conformance with the program contained on said pattern member, whereby a woven fabric of predetermined weave and pattern is obtained. The means for selectively arranging the warp threads to form a shed is constructed to nest within the warp thread advancing means and shuttle means which can be moved on a hinge to permit access to the means for selectively arranging the warp threads. Improved shuttle means and warping and dressing procedures are also disclosed, as well as means for finger weaving on the hand loom assembly.