I am working with a warp that may make me lose my mind. After having to add threads because I didn't read the pattern correctly, the whole thing was just a tension mess. I'm in the process of pulling it forward through the heddles and reed and re-braiding it so that I can re-beam the whole thing. As I'm trying to re-beam though, I'm noticing that small chunks-maybe 1" wide-are twisting themselves together. It's a pain when I'm trying to smooth and get the tension right to re-beam.
Is this the "twist" I've seen referred to when using a cone stand that's taking thread from above the spool vs. laying the spool down and pulling from the spool from the side when warping? This is a longer warp than I usually do, and I'm wondering if that's why I'm seeing it? Is it that important which way the yarn feeds when warping?
Hi Carey, taking yarn from a standing cone vs one laying horizontal makes do difference, it does not add twist. When you warp with multiple ends and then you thread them you can get twist behind the heddles but usually it isn't a problem because when you open the shed, the twist just slowly moves back. One thing you could try to do if create a plain weave shed, like I do in the mohair warping episode. Then you can slowly move that twist back towards the back of the loom. You will have to do this repeatedly until you've got the whole thing out the front. Let us know how you make out.
Cheering you on, Jane
*Update* It looks like it's going to work! It's all back on, and I've been weaving for a little while. It looks like I got the threading and tension mess all fixed-a day and half later. I kept doing what you said and just slowly, very slowly, kept winding the warp back on through the reed and heddles.
I do have another question though. This is my third warp on my new Spring loom. I notice when I need to advance the warp, I pull the brake release handle up, but the warp hardly releases. I can get about two pulls on the ratchet before my floating breastbeam leg is back in place. So I have to do that 5 or 6 times to advance the warp. Am I doing something wrong?
Sorry. I probably should have started a new thread with that question. I'm going to do that now.