Spinning and weaving

The ability to make clothes is important for local self-sufficiency and economic development. Local, sustainable fibers such as wool and hemp can be used.

Spinning (making threads)

Plans for a simple drop spindle on Appropedia. Made from a bicycle wheel.

Detailed plans for a treadle wheel. Requires woodworking skills. (This could be digitally fabbed much faster.)

Weaving (making cloth)

OSLoom is a project to build an open-source, digitally-controlled loom. The build is scheduled for March 2011. See their kickstarter video for more.

OSLoom will be a Jacquard loom, which is a very advanced type of loom capable of weaving complex patterns. Instructions for a simple manual cardboard loom can be found here

http://www.appropedia.org/AT_CAD_Team/AT_loom - Proposal for open-source loom on Appropedia. No progress yet.