Aug 26 2007
Happy Weaving
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| This current warp has been very problematic. On the last warp I experimented with simply lacing the warp to the front beam but this time I just couldn’t get the tension to behave. I think that lacing works better on a narrower warp. |
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| So I went back to my long standing technique. It allows fine adjustment to individual bouts of the warp and errors are easier to get at. It also allows finer tension adjustment than the traditional method. I haven’t seen my method on the net although I’m sure many weavers use it. |
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The next problem was HUGE. As my loom is a jack loom system I’ve never really had relaxing weaving on it because the bottom threads of every shed are loose and my shuttle gets stuck just about every time. I have cursed my shuttle throwing technique and my warping methods but now realise it is the down side of the jack loom system. I weave with fine yarn and this doesn’t help. Also it is easier with a narrow warp than a wide one. After searching Weave Tech list I tried raising the back beam, then inserting the lease sticks at the the back of the heddles, but nothing worked. I then refered to the Master Weaver Series by SA Zielinski and he illustrated a decepively simple solution. |
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| I hung a dowel between the heddles and the reed (from the castle). With a bit of fine adjustment it sits in such a position to slightly raise all of the bottom ends in any shed. |
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| Here is a photo of the shed behind the reed. It just tightens the bottom threads. The down side is the actual shed for the shuttle is smaller but it is good and easy to weave through. |
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| I’m a happy weaver and the weaving is underway. |
Hi Karen, Your ‘long standing technique’ looks very effective. Do you attach the groups of warp to the lengths of cord using a slip knot?
That is a clever solution. I had never seen it.
Lovely colors!
Gorgeous fabric! Nice to come upon a solution for the loom’s idiosyncracies too.
Very interesting post. I’ve been reading about this exact thing in one of Peggy Osterkamp’s books. In fact, I’m thinking about trying one more warp on my jack loom just to see if I can overcome those jack system problems that I always thought was me. I want to do this just to see if how well I can succeed. I don’t have Zielinski’s book. Have to see if I can get a copy.
The piece looks beautiful! The border reminds me of the textiles of Assam (North East India)and the Ikkat of South Indian textiles.
Even the colors are so like the 2 regions.
Enjoy the weaving!
Manasi
Thanks for the photos of your different styles of tie-up; your method looks familiar to me.
Hurrah on the big dowel just under the lower shed – what a simple and elegant solution that is!
Gorgeous colors, as others have said.
Hi
Love your work.
I have just been given an 8 shaft jack loom and was disappointed with the warp lifting and poor shed but am more enthusiastic about setting up and trying this solution. I have only had 4 shafts up to now and I’m keen to do something more adventurous.
Thanks for the inspiration.
Lashing the warp works for me this way. Pull small hanks from the reed and smooth to make the tension of all the threads feel as equal as possible. Tie an overhand knot. When all the warp is tied, place the reed back by the heddles and crank the knots as close to it as you can and still have finger room. I use a shoelace from the apron bar, through the center of the first hank, around the apron bar etc. I usually need several laces to go across the entire warp. Then I pull and tighten again and again until the warp is as tight as I can get it. Amazing how much the warp will stretch and now the knots are much closer to the apron bar. Undo the surplus laces. When you start to weave, put in three shots of heavy thrums before the first beat. Any slack in the hanks will bunch toward the knots. See if this method will work for you.
I have found that on longer warps, it works better if you use 2 (two) laces; one beginning at the left, the other at the right!
I alternate ends of the loom after two to three bundles of ends. In other words; I start at the left and lace three bundles, then I move to the right and lace five or six bundles, then move back to the left for five to six bundles(2 or 3 more than would make both ends even.
If this is clear as mud, let me know and I will think of another way to explain.
Candy