Inkle Loom Basics

The Inkle loom is a relatively simple loom best-suited for weaving longer narrow pieces, but uses concepts that are built on by more complex looms. It's also really easy to make.

Screenshots taken from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PhzBMYzPVW0
Useful for weaving reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nYpfku1Yjw
There are tons of other videos and tutorials...

Pegs by placement (+ tension peg)

Pegs can be referred to by placement on machine. In this case the rear peg also serves as a tension peg. Tension can be adjusted in different ways. In this case, the rear peg shape functions as a crude cam (wikipedia), which increases tension by rotation, and is locked into place via pressure applied via the black knob.

In the most minimal form, a loom could consist of only 4 pegs. The additional pegs allow for taking up additional warp threads, allowing for longer pieces to made on a small loom, and also allow for specific placement of active weaving area, which has consequences for the quality of the final work.

Pegs by function

Pegs can also be referred to by their function. Warp pegs provide a wrapping path for the warp threads, while the heddle peg provides an anchor for heddle loops. The tension peg will by definition always be a warp peg, as it serves to provide tension to the warp threads.

The heddles

The heddle peg is the anchor for the heddles. Heddles are loops of thread that wrap around warp threads, apply tension, and most critically, change the path of some warp threads.

On an Inkle loom, heddles are simple loops of cord.

Sizing a single heddle by tying a loop around top peg and heddle peg.	Extending the heddle from the heddle peg.	Wrapping heddle around wrap thread.	Securing heddle to heddle peg after wrapping.

With four warp threads in place.		Two are "heddle warp threads", two are "open warp threads."

Sheds

		Shed below heddle warp threads.

The heddle warp threads position are controlled by the heddle.
The open warp threads can be moved by hand, either below or above the heddle warp threads.
The space between the two sets of threads is called a "shed."