Lost art alive and well at MOI

The loom in the back room at Malta Opportunities Inc. is crammed full of shuttles, threads and sweeping wooden mechanics, which zig back and forth as Bobby Cole, a client at MOI, weaves fabric in and out of the huge machine before pulling the handle to tie loose fabric down.

"I like to make the blankets," Cole says, keeping his eyes on the work in front of him. "Sometimes I can make six or seven a year and I will make six this year."

The loom (a Webber Delight Loom, manufactured by the Newcomb Loom Company) was given to MOI by Linda Hoover about 14 years ago (in Cole's best estimation.)

"It is a really old loom," Kathy Ereaux, who has worked at MOI for the last 14 years, said. "You can tell because the newer looms are a lot smaller. But this one keeps on going and we use it a lot."

The Webber Delight was first manufactured in 1899 and was the Newcomb Loom Company's in Davenport, Iowa. The Delight quickly became the company's top selling loom, according to The Weaver's Friend, a website dedicated to vintage looms.

As Cole worked the loom on Thursday, it was plain to all watching that he truly enjoys manning the old machine. However, before Cole can thread the fabric through the loom, there is a lot of prep work to be done. On Thursday, David Veseth and Chris Boothe busied them-selves tearing donated bed sheets into strips – as well as pulling loose strings from the cloth – before sending the strips onto the sewing ma-chine where they are sewn together before heading back to the loom, (Seelna Davis operated the sewing machine on Thursday.)

"This is a daily process that goes on all year," Ereaux explained. "It starts in the morning and goes on all day."

Ereaux said during an average year, MOI's clients put out eight-to-10 rugs. Cole's plan is to make six rugs this year and give them out to family and friends as gifts in the coming months.

Davis, who was busy on the sewing machine, is also making two rugs this year (color-coordinated for two of her family's favorite NFL football teams) and she said she was almost ready to take her go at the loom.

"Once I have these all sewn it will be my turn," Davis, who will soon celebrate one year at MOI, said. "I think my favorite so far is the Bronco rug because they are my favorite too. I have been sewing since high school and I really like it."

Besides the four MOI clients working on rugs during Thursday's session, Jimmy Cochran also de-strings cut sheets prior to sending the fabric off to the loom. Besides the weaved rugs, many MOI clients use other donated materials on items including jean squares for quilts, 16x16 shop rags (which are sold in 15-pound bags,) dream catchers, and potholders, to name a few (at the recent Specialty Fair in Malta.)

This loom has a semi-automatic fly shuttle, semi-automatic advance, and a semi-automatic shed changing mechanism. When the beater is pulled forward, the shuttle is shot, the shed is changed and the fabric is advanced.

Cole pulls back twice on the loom handle, one push forward to cinch the knot. The process will go on for about the next two hours until, he hopes, his latest rug is complete.

"I first saw someone use it during a show at Dollywood." Cole said. "I've become pretty good at it since then."

MOI is always taking orders for custom-made rugs so give them a call at 654-2582.

"Or you can come in and visit us," Ereaux said. "We love to have visitors."