Tips on accurate counting

General · 2 replies · 283 views · 6 followers

Rebecca Smith

4 months ago

Hi, all! Ant tips and tricks on accurate counting of warp threads and/or accurate threading? Seems it doesn’t matter how many times I check and recheck, and still my warp numbers are off, and the threading pattern has a mistake. Thoughts?

Sandra Mod

3 months ago

Do you use a counting thread when you wind your warp? I always use one that is handy to count 10 or 20 ends and keep in bundles while I wind the warp. That way you can quickly count your warp ends to make sure you have the right number.

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Katherine Q

3 months ago

Good lighting and good glasses (if you use them) are essential. Also, arranging yourself and warping board / heddles etc. so that you are not having to stretch or bend over to see the exact spot that you need to see. I also count and arrange heddles in small bunches as needed to complete small ‘chunks’ of threading, and then check straight away before knotting that bundle of warp threads together, for later sleying. Maybe you could colour code your heddle frames so it would be easier to distinguish one from the next when selecting heddles for threading.

Personally, I find the ‘lighting’ aspect problematic , as no matter how I place various lamps etc, there is always an issue with dark shadows in one direction or another. However, with such short days at this time of year, this is something I will just have to keep experimenting with. One last suggestion which may seem a bit daft…but I find that speaking/ counting out loud whether on warping board or when threading heddles in a particular order definitely helps. Hope some of that is useful!

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Rana E.

3 months ago

I have very similar recommendations. Counting out loud in small batches, lighting, etc.

I use a warping wheel, and have a counter app on my phone. I set my phone by the wheel, and when I go around the cross or over the final peg I hit the counter with the hand that is not holding the yarn. Then I recheck the counting before taking the warp off the wheel.

I also find that checking my threading after every batch of 10-20 is a good idea. When threading what I like to do is slide over the next required 10-20 heddles, then thread and recheck. This has saved me many a heart ache. I still occasionally make mistakes, usually if I have gone too fast and wasn't paying as much attention.

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Cynthia McDonagh

3 months ago

My very first lesson using the warping board was to tie at the cross in bundles of 10. Its hard some times but its only way I'm ensure that I'm not under. Good eyes sight, lighting and having the warping board lower than your eyes is helpful too. These were all my past mistakes.