Warping the loom Front to back, back to front, sectional warp, raddle, lee sticks no lee sticks? March 2022

 After our February meeting was cancelled due to a winter storm, we met in March on a Saturday to accommodate members who could not make the Monday meetings.

Phyllis led the group with a demonstration of warping the table loom front to back. The advantage to this method of warping is first a raddle is not needed, as the reed works as the raddle. It is easier on your back threading the reed. Last saving precious warp by extending weaving area with extensions tied onto the rod and the warp threads with Larks head knots. 

First, Phyllis threaded the reed taped on the edge of the table sitting down. Next, she placed the reed on the loom then treaded the heddles from the back of the loom. The warp threads were then knotted on the rod at the back beam. Next the warp was wound unto the back beam and the front end of the warp was tied to the apron rod. 

Nathen and Robin demonstrated warping the floor loom Back to Front. One advantage of this warping method is the warp only passes through the reed and heddles once. which makes it better for delicate yarns. The warp is not cut at the end that is being looped on the rod at the back beam - again this saves warp length as no knots are needed. The reed and front beam on some looms can be removed to make accessing the loom easier. 

The heddles are split down the center and the warp is passed through to the back beam where it is placed on the rod attached to the back beam. 

the warp groups are then divided into the raddle and lee sticks are placed in the cross of the warp. One person then winds the warp onto the back beam with an assistant holding the warp taught at the front of the loom. If an assistant is not available 3 or 4 weights can be hung on the warp with S hooks over the front breast beam or from a rod hung above the loom. 

 

Once the entire warp is wound unto the back beam the warp hanging from the lee sticks can be cut in groups and threaded first through the heddles. Then lastly, through the reed , with the final step of tying the warp threads to the apron rod.

Susan introduced our group to a Sectional loom and demonstrated her version of warping a sectional loom. This was very interesting as her short cut was lots of painter's tape. She used a tension machine and reel to wind the warp threads into each section of the back beam. Then taped down the ends evenly on the back beam. After all sections were filled with the same number of wraps and taped down. 

Then it is time to take each group and thread the heddles and tape to the reed at the front of the loom. Or if the loom was previously warped, this is when the warp threads are individually tied to the previous warp at the back of the loom. One thread at a time it will then pull the new warp through each heddle and reed as the warp is advanced.

 Reel holding yarn cones.

Tension block above and taping the new warp to the back beam as each section is completed. 

Susan is ready to start tying old white warp to new colored warp.

Thank you, Phyllis, Nathen, Robin and Susan for your wonderful demonstrations of warping your looms. 

Show and Tell

Melissa found a child's wool jacket that she made into a vest for herself even using the sleeves to make it larger under the arm hole. 

Jimalee has been busy making needle cases this green embellished one for her sewing needles. and the larger one for all her double pointed knitting needles. 

She also used an eco-dyed sample to patch the pocket of her Demin shirt. 

She knit at least one pair of mittens and baby socks.

Below are mittens and some lovely natural dyed yarn.

 

Lois came up with a novel gift for her grandson on Easter. She wove this bag out of plastic grocery bags and sewed the border in a lovely fabric that really made it special.

Mary finished a lot of UFO 's this winter and did some snow dyeing with a neighbor. 

She used her eco dyed cards from our fall dyeing with Dawn to make a pile of note cards for herself.

She finished weaving her loom designed vest and sewed up the shoulders and two hemmed edges to finish her vest. Knitted a hat with a lovely gifted skein of handspun.

Then tried some snow dyeing on wool on the left and cotton and linen on the right. The wool was quite light colored except for the purple piece she actually steamed.

Dawn has been busy on her inkle loom and seems to be really enjoying it. She also has been creating with felted wool. She fashioned this cowl out of raw fleece and made a simple pattern 30% larger than needed I believe she used two layers of fiber around a resist pattern. It will make a lovely and warm winter accessory. 

Nathen has been taking a beginning weaving class at the Finnish American Folk School. Although he is an accomplished rug weaver, he has learned more about weaving since he has only been weaving two years. Some very nice color selection Nathen.

Clare is showing Phyllis's show and tell as she was absent for this part of the meeting. 

The inkle loom band with the bird names on it was a favorite.

Our next meeting will be on a Saturday again.  April 30th 11 am to 2 pm but check with John's email for correct information. We are trying to have some meetings on Saturday to make it easy for our employed members to attend. 

Dawn has offered to do an Indigo dye pot for us. She said to stitch up (or NOT ) some washed (scoured) natural fiber material and join us at the Finlandia Fiber studio. Bring what you want to dye but NOT too large of a piece, please, as dye pots may get crowded.