Bluster Bay Shuttles

Bluster Bay Weaving Shuttles

We currently make five distinct types of shuttles:

Boat shuttles for conventional 4-inch, 5-inch and 6-inch bobbins
End-feed boat shuttles
Swedish-style boat shuttles for use with paper quills
Ski shuttles
Poke shuttles
We also sell bobbins, end-feed pirns and paper quills

Each Bluster Bay shuttle is made one-at-a-time, by hand. We begin with the finest imported and domestic hardwood. Each variety of wood we use is selected for its combination of beauty, strength and durability. From large, rough slabs of wood we carefully cut each shuttle to expose the best color and grain. Sanding is a long and careful process ending with a finish of satin smoothness that is sealed with Danish oil. After drying for several days, each shuttle is hand buffed with steel wool, waxed, then buffed again. This process results in shuttles that are silky smooth. Each has a luster and warmth, and is a delight to the touch.

The variety of woods we use changes frequently. Please visit our wood list for more information about the woods we are currently using for Bluster Bay shuttles.

Bluster Bay shuttles are sold through the dealers listed on our retailers page. Please feel free to contact one of these weaving supply retailers to order Bluster Bay shuttles.

If you cannot find the shuttle you need through one of our retailers, we are happy to fill your order directly. Please see our ordering information page.

BOAT SHUTTLES FOR CONVENTIONAL BOBBINS

All are available in either closed or open bottom styles. The bronze bobbin spindles are spring-loaded. We recommend Schacht bobbins, but our shuttles will hold many other brands as well.

Boat shuttles for 4-inch bobbins are 1.75 inches wide. Open-bottom shuttles are 1.125 inches tall; closed-bottom shuttles are 1.25 inches tall.

BOAT SHUTTLES FOR 4-INCH BOBBINS		RETAIL PRICE
	BOT-101 8-inch open bottom or BOT-102 8-inch closed bottom	$37.50
	BOT-201 10-inch open bottom or BOT-202 10-inch closed bottom	$43.25
	BOT-301 13-inch standard open bottom or BOT-302 13-inch standard closed bottom	$46.50
	BOT-701 14-inch double open bottom or BOT-702 14-inch double closed bottom	$57.00

Boat shuttles for 5-inch and 6-inch bobbins are 1.875 inches wide. Open-bottom shuttles are 1.25 inches tall; closed-bottom shuttles are 1.5 inches tall.

BOAT SHUTTLES FOR 5-INCH BOBBINS		RETAIL PRICE
	BOT-801 11-inch bullnose open bottom or BOT-802 11-inch bullnose closed bottom	$54.50
	BOT-901 14-inch pointed open bottom or BOT-902 14-inch pointed closed bottom	$58.75
BOAT SHUTTLES FOR 6-INCH BOBBINS		RETAIL PRICE
	BOT-401 12-inch bullnose open bottom or BOT-402 12-inch bullnose closed bottom	$61.50
	BOT-601 15-inch pointed open bottom or BOT-602 15-inch pointed closed bottom	$65.50

END-FEED BOAT SHUTTLES

For perfect selvedges and speedy weaving, many weavers prefer end-feed boat shuttles. These boat shuttles use special end-feed bobbins (often called pirns) that do not spin.

Rather, the yarn is released off the end of the stationary bobbin, through a tensioning device and then out the side of the shuttle.

Bluster Bay end-feed shuttles:

are simple to thread and adjust
require no tools for tension adjustment
are lightweight and well balanced
handle a wide range of yarn types and weights
use readily available AVL bobbins

End-feed boat shuttles are available in two lengths with either open or closed bottoms. All are 1.875 inches wide. Open-bottom shuttles are 1.25 inches tall. Closed-bottom shuttles are 1.5 inches tall. Their bronze spindles are spring-loaded.

Please see our instructions for tensioning the yarn in your Bluster Bay end-feed shuttle, and for correctly winding end-feed bobbins.

END-FEED BOAT SHUTTLES		RETAIL PRICE
	EF-13-O 13-inch open bottom or EF-13-C 13-inch closed bottom	$90.75
	EF-15-O 15-inch open bottom or EF-15-C 15-inch closed bottom	$94.50

SWEDISH-STYLE BOAT SHUTTLES

Swedish-style boat shuttles are designed for use with paper quills instead of plastic or wood bobbins. They have a very low profile, making them ideal for damask, opphämta, or any draw-loom weaving as well as split shed and free-form techniques. They are also wonderful for all weaving projects when using a loom that creates a small shed.

Bluster Bay Swedish-style boat shuttles were designed after years of examining and weaving with traditional Swedish-made shuttles. We worked with weavers in Scandinavia, and others who enjoy Swedish weaving techniques, making sure our designs have all the features necessary for exceptional Swedish-style shuttles. All sizes have elegant ends designed to slip effortlessly through a very small shed, minimizing mispicks.

All sizes are available only with CLOSED-BOTTOMS. The bronze quill spindles are hinged on one end, and snap securely in place on the other. All sizes are a mere .75 inches tall.

Please see our instructions for making and winding quills for use in Swedish-style boat shuttles.

SWEDISH-STYLE BOAT SHUTTLES FOR 3.5-INCH (9 cm) QUILLS		RETAIL PRICE
	SBT-08 8-inch closed bottom	$29.50
	SBT-10 10-inch closed bottom	$32.00
	DBT-14 14-inch double closed bottom	$43.00
SWEDISH-STYLE BOAT SHUTTLES FOR 5-INCH (13 cm) QUILLS		RETAIL PRICE
	SBT-12 12-inch closed bottom	$34.50
	SBT-14 14-inch closed bottom	$37.50
	SBT-16 16-inch closed bottom	$40.25
	SBT-18 18-inch closed bottom	$43.00

SKI SHUTTLES AND POKE SHUTTLES

SKI SHUTTLES –These high-capacity shuttles are useful when weaving with rag strips or bulky yarns such as mohair or rug yarn. Ski shuttles are often used interchangeably with rug shuttles. Our ski shuttles are low-profile at only 1.25 inches tall and will easily pass through narrow sheds.

The runners of our ski shuttles are steam-bent to a gentle, smooth curve. Steam-bending is more complicated and time-consuming than simply cutting the runners to a curved shape, but steam-bending produces runners that are more elegant and significantly stronger for their weight. Following the bending process, the runners are thoroughly dried and then sanded and buffed to such smoothness that they will literally ski through your warp.

Very few woods can be steam-bent with consistent results. Of the woods we currently stock, only cherry, walnut, maple and ash exhibit excellent steam-bending characteristics, and therefore, the runners of our ski shuttles are made only in these four woods. The center cleat of the ski shuttle may be made from any wood on our wood list.

1.25 inches tall, 1.75 inches wide, and your choice of 18 or 24 inches long.

POKE SHUTTLES – Shaped like a tiny rag shuttle with very pointed ends, this handy little tool is just right for inlay techniques, tapestry, or any weaving where the shuttle is “poked” in and out of the warp. Available in any wood from our wood list.

.75 inches tall, .625 inches wide and your choice of 6, 9, or 12 inches long.

SKI SHUTTLES AND POKE SHUTTLES		RETAIL PRICE
	POK-06 6-inch poke shuttle	$10.50
	POK-09 9-inch poke shuttle	$12.00
	POK-12 12-inch poke shuttle	$13.75
	SKI-18 18-inch ski shuttle	$33.75
	SKI-24 24-inchski shuttle	$38.25

BOBBINS

BOBBINS, PIRNS AND QUILLS		RETAIL PRICE
	BOB-04 4-inch Schacht bobbins - package of 10	$9.75
	BOB-5 5-inch Schacht bobbins - package of 10	$14.75
	BOB-06 6-inch Schacht bobbins - package of 10	$15.00
	EFB-05 5.5-inch AVL end-feed pirns - package of 6	$23.00
	EFB-08 8-inch AVL end-feed pirns - package of 6	$23.00
	QLL-03 3.5-inch (9 cm) paper quills- bundle of 10	$4.50
	QLL-05 5-inch (13 cm) paper quills- bundle of 10	$4.50

Ready to order? Please see our ordering information page.

Last updated Thursday, August 28, 2008