How to warp a frame loom - with a rotating heddle bar.

The first thing you need to do before you start your weaving journey, is to warp your loom. Warp is all the vertical threads in tension, stretched on the loom, between the top and the bottom beam. You will use them to weave (over and under) with your weft - horizontal threads. It is important to choose a strong and smooth thread for your warp so it is able to withstand the friction and the stretching created by the weaving action. I would recommend to use a cotton or a linen one. It is also very important that your warp has an even tension (tight) across the loom and feel springy when plucked.

In this tutorial I am working on a loom with a rotating heddle bar and an adjustable top and bottom beams, that allow you to control the tension even after you have warped the loom - by rotating the beams towards the outside or inside.

The rotating heddle bar helps to speed up the weaving process by creating an opening (weaving shed) between alternating the warp threads.

You will need:

  1. 1 x frame loom with a rotating heddle bar [ 45 x 30 cm]

  2. approx. 24 m x cotton/linen string - 1mm thick

  3. 1 x pair of scissors

 You can find the full Weaving Kit (including instructions, materials and tools) in the SHOP

STEPS:

  1. First, make sure that both top and bottom beams are tight in place and flat, with the ‘teeth’ looking towards the outside, by checking and tightening the four screws on the sides.

  2. Once you have decided on the width of your piece, you are now ready to decide how many ‘teeth’ of the frame you will need to warp so as to accommodate your design. Then centre the warp on the loom by making sure that the number of teeth to the left and right of the desired warp width are the same. (On the video I am wrapping the full width of the loom.)

  3. Take the end of your warp thread and tie a normal double knot on the first gap (top right).

  4. Stretch your thread and insert it in the first gap (right side) at the bottom beam.

  5. Loop the thread around the ‘tooth’ to the left of your warping area and go back to the first gap on the top beam.

  6. Whilst maintaining the tension, loop the thread around the ‘tooth’ towards the left-hand side of your warping area and go back to the second gap on the bottom beam.

  7. Carry on by repeating step 4 and 5, by moving forward to left-hand side onto rest of the ‘teeth’. Do not forget to check your tension as you go.

  8. To end your warping, carry on the thread to the last ‘tooth’ of your warping area and secure it by tying a double knot by going around and under the last warp thread. Make sure to keep the tension right.

You are now ready to weave!

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