Vintage 14-Hook Speedweve - No.11
A rare original vintage 14-Hook Speedweve darning loom from the 1940s/50s sourced by us from a secondhand market and supplied with one of our custom-made springs and access to our 90-minute Speedarner/Speedweve mending video tutorial.
What is a Speedweve?
The Speedweve darning loom helps make weaving over and under threads quicker and easier. It holds the warp (vertical) threads in place over your hole and with a simple 'swish' of the hooks you can weave over one thread and under the next in seconds. No more counting "over 1, under 1, etc" which makes darning a little more relaxing and gives you the head space to experiment with colours and patterns.
Are a Speedweve and darning loom the same thing?
Yes - pretty much! These days the terms Speedweve and darning loom are used interchangeably to refer to a mini loom used to mend clothing. 'Speedweve' refers to the original vintage looms manufactured in the U.K between the 1940s and 1950s. Modern replicas like our Speedarner are based on the original vintage Speedweve design, but are commonly known as a darning loom due to issues around patent laws.
14-Hook Model
This 14-hook darning loom will help you fix up moth holes, repair threadbare areas or disguise a stain with a beautiful surface darn.
A loom with 14 hooks will create a closely woven 'patch' making it perfect for darning cotton, linen, denim or light weight knitwear using fine thread e.g. Sashiko or similar.
Speedweve Restoration
This Speedweve has been carefully dissembled to gently clean away decades of dirt and grime from each individual part and then reassembled back to full working order.
Our restoration process is a very sensitive one - we try our best to renew the shine of the chrome plating and bronze hooks, but at the same time keep as much as its original charm as possible.
You will receive:
- 1 x Vintage 14-Hook Speedweve Metal Loom*
- 1 x Replica Disk*
- 1 x Small Stainless Steel Spring - custom-made in the U.K. for MM.
- Access to our Speedarner/Speedweve online video tutorial - learn to use a darning loom from start to finish.
*Please take a look at photos for the condition of all the above mentioned items.
Speedweve Measurements:
- Wooden disk measures approximately 68mm (2 ¾") in diameter.
- Warp width measures approximately 48mm.
- 14 hooks spaced approx 3mm apart.
A few important points:
Each and every vintage loom we sell is a little different as they have all had a past life! Please take a look at the photos that form part of this listing for the condition of the metal loom part and any extras e.g. Speedweve box, disk and original instruction sheet.
Sometimes we're lucky enough to find a loom with it's original box &/or instructions, but sadly sometimes these are missing.
Metal looms may have spots of rust and slight damage from previous use over the years, however please rest assured that we always take apart, clean up, reassemble and test each one before they are listed for sale. Any damage is cosmetic only.
Occassionally we find looms without their original disks - these are paired up with a replica disk which is hand-turned by us here in Cornwall using locally courced hardwood timber. By doing this we ensure these beautiful original Speedweve looms can have another life.
The price of each Speedweve loom reflects it's current condition and any extra items it comes with e.g. box, disk and instructions.
FAQs
What is a darning loom for?
It's basically a mini loom that helps you quickly darn over a hole, stain or threadbare areas on jeans, t-shirts, socks and more! With 'traditional' darning you have to concentrate on weaving over and under individual threads, but with a simple 'swish' of the hooks the darning loom will do that part of the process for you. By simplifying the weaving process it makes mending more relaxing and enjoyable, especially for beginners.
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I'm a total beginner, how difficult is it to learn?
Not as tricky as it first appears! If you buy a loom from MM you will gain access to our 90-minute video tutorial which walks you through each step of the process from setup to tidying those loose ends when you're finished. We're sure you'll get the hang of it after just a few practice darns.
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Does the 'patch' just sit on the surface... what about the hole underneath?
It seems strange, but it really does work. The 'patch' you weave over the hole is anchored on all four sides which prevents the hole from growing any bigger, so there's absolutely no need to 'fix' the hole on the opposite side. This form of darning is known as 'surface darning; and can be done with or without a darning loom.
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Can you do repairs that are minimally visible?
Of course - if you choose a colour/s that matches the garment you're repairing you can create mends that are quite discreet. But, if you're a fan of invisible mending, then to be honest, a darning loom is probably not for you.
