Once you have your loom warped and ready to weave, you need to wind a shuttle with weft yarn. But, what kind of shuttle should you choose? Like choosing any tool, selecting the right shuttle for the job can increase your weaving efficiency, as well as make the task at hand more pleasurable. As a rule of thumb, choose stick shuttles for simple looms, such as our School Loom, Flip and Cricket rigid heddle looms, Tapestry Loom, and Mini Loom. Generally, you want to choose a shuttle that is approximately the width of your weaving. No winding equipment is required.
A boat shuttle loaded with a bobbin increases your efficiency. They are excellent for looms with shuttle races such as table looms and floor looms. We offer a variety of sizes and styles. What you choose will depend on what feels comfortable in your hand and they type of weaving you are doing. For example, if you are weaving a heavy weight fabric, you might want to choose a 15” boat shuttle that will hold more yarn. Or, for instance, if you are weaving a very narrow piece, then you might find a smaller shuttle, such as a 9” mini boat the best choice for this project. Descriptions of shuttles below. Choose your style from drop-down box at upper right.
9" Mini Boat Shuttle: Schacht's smallest open bottom boat shuttle, styled after a Japenese silk shuttle. This duck-nosed shuttle has tapered ends with a slim edge at mid-height so it is easy to insert the mini shuttle into even a small shed. It is wonderful for narrow width projects and fine yarns/wefts. The bottom is open to reduce the overall height while still allowing space for a regular 4" Schacht bobbin. 9" long, 1⅝" wide, 1" tall. Comes without a bobbin - order 4" bobbins, available in drop down box at right.
11" Boat Shuttle: Our most popular boat shuttle, the 11″ boat shuttle, is offered in slim and regular models with closed-bottom and open-bottom styles. Most open bottom shuttles are available in Maple and Cherry. Takes 4" plastic shuttle bobbins.
The two largest boat shuttles are 13″ and 15″ long, and can handle fine to medium weight yarns. Because of their extra length and yarn capacity, weavers often choose these shuttles for wider weaving widths. 13" boat shuttle holds the 5" plastic bobbins and the 15" shuttle takes the 6" plastic bobbins. Choose plastic bobbin sizes in drop down box at upper right.
We also offer slim and regular double-bobbin boat shuttles which are ideal for doubled weft threads. Two separate bobbin shafts make it possible to remove one bobbin at a time. These shuttles are approximately 15" long and take the 4" plastic bobbins.
Then there is the End Delivery Shuttle or what a happy customer called "The Best Thing Since Sliced Bread!" The Schacht End-Delivery Shuttles are the ultimate in shuttles designed especially and precisely for handweavers. They are lightweight, comfortable to throw and catch, adjustable to a variety of yarns, and easy-really easy-to thread. Our end-delivery shuttles are available in 12″ and 15″ sizes. The 12" shuttle takes the 6" Pirns and the 15" shuttle uses the 8" Pirns. Pirns are available in this listing at the bottom of the options and come in packs of 5. Listed as 5/Pk E. D. Pirns.
Plastic bobbins for your shuttles: I have gray 4" shuttle bobbins made for me and they are the "SpinneryBbns" in the drop down box at a better price than the major brands. They are made of the same material and are gray instead of white. Schacht makes 4", 5" and 6" and theirs are white.
Weaving Bobbins or Paperquills 4" 5" or 6" Ashford, Louet & Schacht You Choose Super Fast Shipping!
How the end-delivery shuttle works:
The end-delivery shuttle has a pirn which remains stationary, instead of a free-spinning bobbin. The weft yarn unwinds off the pirn’s tip when the shuttle is in motion and stops unwinding when the shuttle stops. The yarn comes off the pirn and goes through a set of tension pads and comes out of the shuttle at a constant tension. This even delivery of weft causes less draw-in, which in turn makes better selvedges.
Resist the temptation to handle the weft yarn at all. Simply adjust the tension with the enclosed Allen wrench to suit the yarn you are using and allow your shuttle to do the work. You’ll love how you can weave making your weaving go more rapidly than ever.
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