This is what starting over looks like. After weaving a couple inches, I had a bad feeling. Uh oh, there is a fatal mistake in the threading. Not just one or two wandering threads, but I mis-threaded all the way across the warp!
Cut off the sample. Pull 866 threads back out of the reed and out of the heddles. Re-thread 866 threads. Re-sley. Redo the tie-up. Tie-on again! Breathe. Even so, I am thankful I get to begin again. The mistakes are completely removed and I have a fresh start.
I had to search to find the root of this error. I examined the threads in the fabric; and I compared the woven sample to the draft. Not until I studied my planning sheet did I see that I had written out the draft incorrectly. I had mistakenly exchanged shaft 4 for shaft 2 in the threading draft. Aha! and Ugh! My instructions to myself were faulty!
We cannot fix everything in our lives. Often, we cannot even find the root of the problem. Fortunately, our grand weaver, who searches hearts and minds, is able to reveal the source of our error. And then, in his grace, cuts away what was not working and gives us a brand new start. No old strings attached.
May a fresh start come your way.
Grace to you,
Karen
Beautiful words as always Karen. Great to see you yesterday! Hope your rethreading goes quickly. xx
Gretchen, I enjoyed seeing you again, too! Our little weaving group is pretty special.
I have finished rethreading; and I finished sleying the reed last night while watching the Olympics opening ceremony. (I hope that wasn’t a mistake, since I had to re-focus my attention several times.) I think I’ll be throwing a shuttle today!! Yay!
Thanks for writing this, it’s been extremely helpful! I first discovered this a few weeks ago, can’t remember what weaving site I was on, since that time I’ve been wanting to learn more about them.
I’m not sure if I’ll purchase one now, to use with my 32″ Kromski Harp or wait until I purchase another loom. I’m currently looking at the Mighty Wolf.
Hi, Opal,
Before I had a floor loom, I used a lightweight homemade temple for my 32″ rigid heddle loom. I glued a spring-type wood clothespin, with clamp end toward the center, to each end of a wooden slat. The clamps of the two clothespins must be set at the desired weaving width. It is not adjustable, but it works. (I hope that makes sense.)
With a rigid heddle loom, the wooden or metal temple may be a little too heavy, but I’m not positive about that since I haven’t tried it.
(It wasn’t hard to figure out which post you meant. Thanks for leaving a comment!)
You’re on an exciting journey, looking at floor looms!
Karen
Uhm, I posted my comment in the wrong place. The above comment should have been under the ‘Temple’ post.