Tensioning your warp while you wind on (without a partner to help)

 At Sage Weavers we talk about all things weaving and sometimes we pick up good tips from other weavers.  

 This month, one of our new weavers asked questions about how to manage a warp without anyone to help her while she was winding it on to the back beam.  An experienced weaver, Suzanne, told her about how she uses C clamps to weight the warp (as opposed to lots of heavy books, etc.)  Here are photos of the process.  As Suzanne winds the warp and the C clamps advance closer to the loom, they are repositioned further back on the warp.

You can see that these are heavy C clamps to give a good weight to the warp and they are positioned in back of the raddle.

Give this technique a try on your next warp and let us know how it works for you. 

 

 Here is what Suzanne says about the process 

* just remember to stand back to shake out and snap each section to get your threads aligned before attaching clamps and winding. 

Guessing you could do this with table loom if hanging off the back end of table. 

May need smaller clamps as this size might be to heavy to wind on table loom since it’s a knob vs a crank handle to wind. 

 

 

 

 

 

Third Annual Learning to Weave Class

Saturday saw the beginning of a new class of weavers that enrolled in the Learn to Weave program that the Reno Guild offers once a year. The class starts off the new weavers with tutorials in warping on a warping board.   Each student has a mentor from the guild with them during the process.  In a couple of weeks, this same group will be back for further instruction on the fine art of warping and weaving off their sampler.  The class uses Issue 13 of Weaver's Craft which includes instructions for a four shaft sampler (direct tie up) and lots of good information on designing your own towels.  

 
We wish our new weavers the very best of luck in their journey to become proficient at the warping and weaving process.  The skills learned in this class will serve them well in their weaving future.  We also want to thank our volunteers who put together the class structure and are there to give support to their students.

Suzanne and Jen have put many hours into setting up this yearly class. 



And now - something new for many of us.  At the class, Jen introduced what she called the H Knot.  A means of affixing your new warp yarn to the warping board.  Looks interesting and something to try out.  Thanks, Jen!





Weavers in Training

Our group of students started out at the beginning of May with a warped loom and directions for weaving a four shaft sampler.  We hoped to get them hooked on weaving before we got down to the nitty gritty of winding warps and dressing a loom for the first time.    

This past weekend, a group of seven got their feet wet with the real stuff. 

You will notice that student and mentor faces aren't quite so relaxed as they were on the first fun day of weaving, but everyone worked without complaint and even when there were errors to fix, did it with composure and good grace.

These are the toughest days for our newest weavers; learning how to handle the warping process on their own.  As a guild, we are attempting to provide a safety net so the offer is open to help them whenever assistance is needed.  We keep our fingers crossed that our new weavers will stick with it until they can fly solo.

 

Watch this little video to see everyone absorbed in the weaving process.

 

 

Learning to Warp - Days 2 and 3.

Our last blog post showed our new weavers with their respective looms weaving away on their samplers.  The looms were taken home, the samples woven off - washed and prepared for "show and tell" at the next two day session in which weavers learned how to wind a warp and beam it on their looms.  Below is one of the samplers.  They were all spectacular; weavers showing us great promise for the future.





Our new weavers learned that warping is a skill unto itself. Making sure the threading cross is intact, counting the threads for the raddle - the whole nine yards!  Well, not nine yards for our weavers - just three this time.

 

 Mary tries her hand at warping with a reel.

 Then, there is separating the threads into their respective slots in the raddle. (Igor and Nancy are discussing the finer points of raddles and their function).










Getting the loom ready to accept the warp.  Jen, Lorene and Mary have everything well in hand here.

Threading the heddles.  Did we mention that this takes forever!  At the left, Mary is studying her options at the loom while Sheila winds her warp in the background.

Below you see Sarah intent on making sure her threading is done without errors!  A wise lady.



At the end of the second day, everyone was beamed on, threaded, the reed sleyed and the warp tied on to the breast beam. I believe Nancy is saying "I did it!"  Congratulations are certainly in order for all of our weavers. 

 

 





Group Warping Party

 

Lorene and Suzanne at their respective warping boards

What happens when eight weavers  (all with highly ingrained weaving habits) get together for a group warp-in?  Well, it turns out quite a lot happens in a few hours time and along the way, lots of laughter, occasional spicy language and time out for a cup of coffee or tea!

 

 

Here is a little background about why there was a group warping party today.  The Reno Fiber Guild is concerned that there aren't enough new weavers being created these days and this year is the year we decided to do something about it.  We offered a beginning weaving class and found seven persons who are eager to learn to weave on a shaft loom.  Several have already gotten their feet wet with rigid heddle looms, but some are entirely new to the craft.  In order that these new weavers start with a positive experience, it was decided that we would provide them with warped looms for the first session and then introduce the warping process in the second session.

 

 

 

Well then, we were committed, weren't we?  Gayle graciously offered her home for the group warp in.  We wound warps on a variety of warping mills and boards and beamed them on table looms and one Baby Wolf loom.  Whew!  But warps still needed to be threaded, sleyed and tied on.  So, we each trundled home with a loom to finish up the warp.   The next step will be the actual class in a few weeks and we are keeping our fingers crossed that our students will have a smooth weaving experience and want to return for their second session.

 

Jen and her warping mill

Julie and another warping mill

Gayle getting ready to beam on her warp

The Ashford table loom all beamed and ready to thread

Sharon at the warping board