Vintage Sellar's Rapid Darner
V.rare Sellar's Rapid Darner from the 1930s sourced by us from a secondhand market, especially for those of you who love to try out niche darning tools or own a piece of darning history - this is only the third of it's kind I've ever found!
It works in a similar way to the Speedweve darning loom, helping you to weave over and under threads quicker and easier. The two combs of hooks alternate warp threads so you can weave over and under in seconds.
The main difference between this tool and the Speedweve is the mechanism raises two alternate warp threads at a time rather than one - this results in a basket weave instead of a plain weave. It also makes it much easier to create a twill weave pattern.
Use this special little tool to fix up moth holes, repair threadbare areas or disguise a stain with a beautiful surface darn - ideal for darning most knitwear using thicker yarn and heavier denim using thicker thread.
If you want to see it in action, check out this Instagram Reel I posted back recently - click here!
Restoration Process
This tool 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, but at the same time keep as much as its original charm as possible.
You will receive:
- 1 x Vintage Sellar's Rapid Darner*
- 1 x Original Wood 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.
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.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. box, original disk and 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 loom reflects it's current condition and any extra items it comes with e.g. box, disk and instructions.
