The Textile Artist's Studio Handbook

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(Fogra 39) Job:02-28051 Title:RP-Textile Artist Handbook

#175 DTP:225 Page:90

070-103_28051.indd 90 3/6/12 7:56 PM

(RAY)

(Fogra 39) Job:02-28051 Title:RP-Textile Artist Handbook

#175 DTP:225 Page:91

070-103_28051.indd 91 3/7/12 10:05 AM

(Text)

The TexT ile ArT isT 's sTudio hAndbook

90

W e AVinG

1. Separate about 12 warp yarns from the reed and

hold them taut over the apron stick.

2. Wrap the yarns over the top of the stick and then

under, maintaining the tension. Divide the strings

in half under the stick and wrap each half in op-

posite directions up and around the warp threads

on top of the stick and tie a single knot. [A, B, C]

3. Holding one half of the tie in one hand and the

other bunch in the other hand, tug them forward

and away from the back beam, so you are creating

the tension you need. [D]

4. Pull the divided parts back toward you and up so

that you don’t lose the tension. Tie the first part

of a regular knot (over and under) and then tie a

second knot or a bow. [E]

5. Repeat across the warp with all the yarns. [F]

HOW TO:

Tie a Larks Head Knot

The Larks Head Knot allows you to adjust the tension of the warp while tying on.

As you tie the warp to the front of the loom, you will be able to come back and

untie the knots to readjust the tension across the warp. As you tie each bunch,

try to keep the tension uniform and avoid tying each successive knot tighter or

the middle bunches will become very loose.

A B

C D

E F

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(Fogra 39) Job:02-28051 Title:RP-Textile Artist Handbook

#175 DTP:225 Page:90

070-103_28051.indd 90 3/6/12 7:40 PM

(Text)

The TexT ile ArT isT 's sTudio hAndbook W e AVinG

91

Correcting Errors

Before you start weaving, you’ll want to check that the

warp is tied on correctly and the harnesses are tied as

needed to weave the desired pattern (page 96). Raise

each harness independently and peer through the shed

(the opening between the top and bottom threads). If

there are any thread crossings, you have made a thread-

ing error and should fix it at this point. It will not correct

itself and will only continue to bother you and interfere

with the pattern.

To fix a threading error, untie the Larks Head Knot

that corresponds to the offending warp thread. Release

the offending warp end and follow it through the reed to

the heddles.

• In the best case scenario, the threads are crossed

between the heddles and the reed, and you can just

switch the crossed threads in the reed.

• If you have threaded two threads through two heddles

on the same harness, you can make a fake heddle

using wire or thread on the harness where the end

should have been. Then you can thread one of the

warp through the fake heddle and back into the reed.

• If you have skipped a heddle, your task is harder. You

can pull out the warp bundle with the missing end

and rethread the reed from that point to the oppo-

site side of the bundle to close the gap. Or you may

unthread the heddles and reed from the error out

to the opposite side of the entire warp and rethread

correctly.

(RAY)

(Fogra 39) Job:02-28051 Title:RP-Textile Artist Handbook

#175 DTP:225 Page:91

070-103_28051.indd 91 3/6/12 7:40 PM