How to Weave on a Loom - Video 5 - Measuring a warp for weaving Part 1

[@jannysweeney6252]

Countermarche loom has been assembled after many years stored. Am so glad you have made these videos to jog my memory again. Can't wait to be productive.

[@lynsbeach]

Thank you so much for this series! I’m brand new to weaving having recent,y been gifted a Gilmore Loom--thank you!

[@elizziewag]

Glad the videos have been helpful, Lynn. Happy weaving! P.S. See "My Weaving Workbook" I recently published on Amazon to help you calculate and keep all your project details!😉❤

[@dianehurley6349]

Hi. I Just dusted of my loom after sitting for 30 yrs! Watched all of your videos that I found so informative. You go through everything step by step demonstrating and explaining why you are doing the things you do things. You really demonstrate the amount of patience needed to dress the loom successfully. I was able to dress my loom with 216 ends @ 6 yards. Yes there were a few bumps along the way but by checking my work frequently and re-watching your videos they were quickly solved. So excited to actually start weaving, just finished my header. Thank you again you are a wonderful teacher!

[@elizziewag]

Diane Hurley Thank you Diane - very good to hear that the videos were helpful and that you are starting to weave again! Hope you're enjoying your new project. Best Wishes, Elizabeth

[@lizchattin7016]

Elizabeth- This is great seeing each piece of the weaving puzzle. This is the first video I've seen on how to calculate the warp. I've read on it, but seeing makes it so much clearer. Thanks for all your help.

[@annrader8200]

I just drove 700 miles to buy a handmade loom, and although I've woven about 4 things (including a first sample), it's been long enough that I'm out of practice. A couple of good books are helping me remember; if your other videos are as instructive as this, I'll be in great shape to pick up and forge ahead. Thank you so much.

[@elizziewag]

Ann, congratulations on your new loom - I know it will all come rushing back to you when you get started again. I set up the videos to be very detailed, so hopefully they will carry you through the process sufficiently. Best of luck and happy weaving! Elizabeth

[@mydogky]

Elizabeth these videos are awesome they have helped me so much big thank you for putting them up

[@elizziewag]

sandra shorland Sandra, Glad they were helpful. Thank you for your comment and for watching! -Elizabeth

[@bon47ful]

Wish there were some way to take real classes with you, Elizabeth...but your videos are so helpful. Thank you again. ❤️

[@elizziewag]

Thank you for your message - I am so happy this has helped you! Hope the rest of the videos can be useful as well. Enjoy your weaving project!

[@chantellelavie]

This video was SO helpful! Thank for your clear and easy instructions

[@theresafranco7002]

Great video, a fantastic job explaining the entire process. Thank you!

[@tomtownsend5843]

Hello. I've used your videos for years, weaving scarves for my wife and daughters for Christmas. The one thing that still escapes me is what the final product will look like based on the colors I've chosen. It doesn't seem to be 50% of one color and 50% of the other. Or is it??? I just don't know! For instance, I've used off-white warp and a grayish weft. Is it more gray than white? Who knows? My wife says I have trouble with colors anyway (haha). Is it just going to take experience to know what a combination is going to look like? FYI, I use an antique tabletop loom with only two rows of heddles so I'm not making any patterns. Anyway thanks so much! I love weaving. It is relaxing to me. Plus, everyone thinks I'm an artisan! Tom T

[@elizziewag]

Hi Tom - I'm so glad to hear that you find my videos helpful! It is sometimes hard imagining how much of a given color will show up in your final fabric, but as you are learning it depends on several variables including yarn weight, color combinations, pattern, sett, beat firmness, etc. The only sure way to know is to weave a sample, but if you're like me you don't sample as much as you probably should 😉. Keep experimenting, that's part of the fun of it if you're not too dead set on what the expected outcome is. Try variegated yarns against solid colors sometimes too. It comes out with a nice dimensional look using only 2 different yarns. Have fun! -Elizabeth

[@julliana2ify]

Thank you so much for these videos ...they have helped me so much

[@ntntn-io]

these videos are wonderful, thank you!

[@pkeily1948]

I am taking weaving classes for the first time and wanted to get some idea what it's all about. These videos are excellent but there is one thing I think should be done. I think it would work best if you number each title in order as it is very hard to know which is next.

[@elizziewag]

patrick keily Patrick - Thank you for your suggestion and best of luck with your weaving class, I'm sure you'll really enjoy it! -Elizabeth

[@melaniea8301]

Elizabeth, thank you so much for the videos! Do you have any tricks for using threads of different colours in the warp? I've seen some where they do a gradient of colour. At which stage do you put the threads in the final order if you mix colours? When you are doing the cross or when you are putting the threads in the loom?

[@elizziewag]

Mel, I'm glad you are finding these videos helpful. I don't have any special tricks for a gradient warp, but it seems like it would be easier to measure each color out separately and then incorporate them at the loom. Otherwise it'll get very complicated switching back and forth to different colors on the warping board. Best of luck - and remember, everything you do is a potential lesson, so dive in and give it a try! -Elizabeth

[@melaniea8301]

Thank you very much for taking the time to answer :)

[@mariepedrigalnilusleclerc36]

Started has for brown yarn did get warping mill!!!

[@shesarainb0w]

Could you possibly make a video showing how to use a dummy warp? I've read about them online, but I am so new to weaving it is hard for me to picture how to make one and use one.

[@VoluptuousB]

Small question, what's up with the criss crossing on the warp reel?

[@shesarainb0w]

To keep the yarn in order so they cannot slide over one another. She explains it in the next video "Measuring a warp for weaving."

[@lizlucas4317]

This video is wrong. One needs to have a big loop at the beginning and the end and also needs to have crosses at BOTH ends. tis stabilises the threads more . Try watching the Ashfrd guide on how to warp up on a warping loom.It is excellent.

[@elizziewag]

Hi Liz - and thank you for watching the videos! Your comments are well noted; However, the front to back method using one cross is far from 'wrong'. I was taught this method by weaving gurus Deborah Chandler and Tom Jipson, and if it's good enough for them, it's certainly good enough for me! Even the Ashford videos you suggested mentioned "of course there's many ways you can wind a warp". I learned the front to back warping method, so that's what I teach. In my opinion this method is a bit quicker (it only takes about 5 minutes for me to start sleighing the reed once I bring the yarn to the loom, where it took the lady at Ashford about 20 minutes after she brought the yarn to the loom just to get to the point where she was ready to thread her first heddle) and needs less equipment (raddles, lease sticks, etc). Some people prefer the back to front method, and that's fine too. The beauty of weaving is that the weaver can choose which method makes more sense for them and they can also come up with innovative ideas about things that they feel help them with the process. In the end the result is what the weaver needs to be satisfied with, and I hope that each person has the chance to explore different methods to see what they are most comfortable with. Thanks again for your message and happy weaving!! - Elizabeth

[@lizlucas4317]

Elizabeth Wagner Thanks for your response. I should rather have used the word "safer" than "wrong" Ashford have a phrase that they keep repeating and that is " safety first" Here is a wonderful documentary on weaving spider silk fro the golden orb spider. I found it hugely interesting.