Read a Weaving Draft for a Table Loom

This one is for my table loom & direct tie-up friends!
One of the biggest tools in weaving is the pattern draft. Once you understand how to read a draft, the world is your oyster! You will have all the information you need to create a limitless number of beautiful weaving patterns - without a kit, without someone else giving you instructions, completely on your own! It's kind of like getting your driver's license. Freedom is yours!
But, back in episode 49, "Reading a Weaving Draft", I taught the process from the perspective of a floor loom with the capability of tying 1 treadle to multiple shafts. And while that is valuable, it doesn't help those working on a direct tie-up loom (aka, a table loom).
So today, I'm connecting the dots! Join me as I walk you through the process of understanding your table loom, and understanding a weaving draft so you can create beautiful, interesting patterns, all the live-long day! Enjoy!
Want more? Check out the Acton Creative website at actoncreative....! There you'll find an online shop, lots of blog posts, more about me (Chris), and some great weaving freebies!
Want even more? Join the Acton Creative Insiders! This monthly membership, hosted by Patreon, is a fabulous way to support and be in "know" for all things Acton Creative. Click here to become a member - / actoncreative . I can't wait for you to join us!

[@christyh8609]

Very helpful for a new weaver like me!!!

[@ActonCreative]

Oh yay! You're exactly who I had in mind! I'm glad it was helpful!

[@tjorg75]

I think you helped me..alot..I hope lol. I have a 4 shaft Leclerc Dorthey and have been so confused. I have read and read, watched a ton of videos and have been more confused than ever!! But, I think you will help me a bunch. I am going to rewatch this and then try and read something from my brand new Dixon book!!! Thank you so much

[@ActonCreative]

@@tjorg75 Keep me posted if you have other questions! You can do it!!!

[@mother2midwife]

Finally, a slow, Clear, and concise explanation! Love it! Thank you!!!

[@ActonCreative]

I'm so glad it was helpful! Yay!

[@JuanPabloMartinezOfficial]

I know right!? also, it's super helpful to see both the weaving draft and then the movements in the loom

[@amandahattingh1189]

Thank you, I watched and understand. Will ask in the future if I struggle.

[@ActonCreative]

@@amandahattingh1189 Fabulous! I'm here for you when questions arise!

[@amandahattingh1189]

@@ActonCreative thank you

[@pennybowman7734]

Thank you, this was great. I’m taking a weaving class for table looms but I’ve been completely confused about threading vs tie ups, thinking they were the same. You made it so clear.🎉

[@ActonCreative]

I'm so glad it was helpful!!

[@knitsatknittylicious8823]

Great video, very useful. I've just gone from table loom which still use to floor loom. It was confusing for me but knowing how to read table loom pattern really helped with floor loom.😊

[@ActonCreative]

I'm so glad it was helpful!!

[@karenlindstrom516]

So helpful. I just got a table loom and I needed to know this. Thank you.🙏🙏

[@ActonCreative]

Oooh, congratulations!!! I'm glad the timing was good!

[@conniepeterson122]

Very helpful for new weavers. I use the same general information when demonstrating if someone REALLY wants to know the technique. What pattern in Dixon? It looks interesting.

[@ActonCreative]

Hi Connie! The pattern is a tabby & 2/2 twill on page 40. Thank you!!

[@seanmorello6164]

So helpful! You made it so simple for my brain!

[@ActonCreative]

I'm so glad!!

[@lenar.4735]

Thank you for explaining it so clearly! It finally clicked for me!🙌

[@ActonCreative]

Oh yay!! I'm so glad it was helpful!

[@simontbhf1]

I'm brand new (as in my first table loom is being delivered today!!) Your video makes complete sense to me now, I've seen a couple and they just baffled me!! Thank you 😊

[@ActonCreative]

Congratulations on the loom!! That's so exciting!! I'm very happy I was able to help!

[@simontbhf1]

@@ActonCreative I'll certainly be coming back to your videos, they are explained so well 😄

[@ActonCreative]

@@simontbhf1 That's wonderful! Don't hesitate to reach out if you have specific questions!

[@artmania2239]

Wow thanks so much , I’m so excited to start weaving twill .

[@ActonCreative]

Yay!! I'm glad it was helpful!!

[@Inanna1477]

I have an Erica loom and the numbers confuse me, those in the right side. Sometimes 2 or 4 etc… Have the same book. I’m a newbie and binge watching your amazing videos!

[@ActonCreative]

Keep me posted if you have specific questions - I'm happy to help!!

[@mohammedegyptian2527]

great tutorial very informative and lovely smile thank you

[@ActonCreative]

I'm so glad it was helpful!

[@catdanelle3457]

You have the same loom that i have! My mom got it from her aunt and so ive been trying to teach myself

[@ActonCreative]

How wonderful!! Congratulations!!

[@TheWrenWife]

I have this same loom as of yesterday! Any tips or resources you love for it? I've been unable to find much about it online.

[@MamaMonsterPride]

After weeks of planning a project and dressing the loom, I sat down to weave Monday, and almost thought, “I’m going to cry! Weeks of looking at this. How did I never acknowledge the extra columns?” but decided I could figure out those extra columns. Flowers were fairly successful, but the hearts haven’t been. Next time about to start hearts or flowers I will rewatch this to see if I realize I’ve been doing something backwards or something else that makes the hearts not quite right.

[@ActonCreative]

Oh no! It can be frustrating sorting out what to pay attention to! But I'm so proud of you for doing SO much!!! That's amazing!!! You are doing great!!!

[@daniellekennedy1922]

Good information- I think I’ve been weaving all the patterns from this book too down rather than bottom up. It shouldn’t impact the outcome of the finished project, right?

[@ActonCreative]

Not at all! You're good!

[@msspinner9814]

Thank you, so much. However, I have a couple of questions. I have a 4-shaft table loom, do I ignore the extra 2 treadle instructions? Which 2? Or do I just follow the instructions for all 6 treadles? Thank you again your videos are a huge help!

[@ActonCreative]

@@msspinner9814 Hi! Thank you for the questions! The loom in the video is also a 4-shaft - we're twins! A table loom is considered a direct tie-up loom, so each lever only controls 1 shaft. So use the tie-up section of the draft to tell you which shafts to lift. You can lift 1, 2, or 3 shafts together at any time. So if a pattern is written for 4-shafts and 6-treadles, you can still lift the appropriate shafts to create the pattern. Does that make sense? Let me know what follow-up questions you have!

[@msspinner9814]

@@ActonCreative I understand the direct tie-up, so when I only have 4 levers, I start reading the treadling chart from the left, perform all six columns of information and then repeat?

[@ActonCreative]

@@msspinner9814 Not quite. You will "read" 1 row/pick at a time in the treadling section, which is below the tie-up/crossword puzzle section. The tie-up portion is simply a key because the treadling can have lots of variations. If you haven't seen the Reading a Weaving Draft episode yet, that might be helpful! kzbin.info/www/bejne/aqLHYqefebRoeZI Let me know how else I can help you!

[@msspinner9814]

@@ActonCreative sorry for being dense, I’m trying to reconcile the direction for 6 sets of information to a 4 lever loom. Do I just perform all 6 directions and repeat? Sorry, I’m sure this would be easier if I had the loom warped so I could see it in action.

[@ActonCreative]

@@msspinner9814 No worries! If you can email me, I can send you a few photos that may illustrate things better. I'm at [e-mail].

[@LuciusQuinctiusCincinnatus111]

👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@annalarsen9446]

Very good video, its really helped me along with your other videos. I have a question. You showed us a weaving draft where there was an arrow going up, showing us that we have to start from the bottom up and repeat. Is it like that with all drafts? Because the weaving draft that ive found and want to do dosent have any arrows. So does all drafts start from the bottom, or are there ones where they start at the top, and if so, is there a way to tell which was i should read it as?❤❤❤❤

[@ActonCreative]

Hi! I'm so glad the video was helpful! My impression is that normally you read the treadling from the top down, unless the author clarifies. But if you're unsure, give yourself a few inches to sample the pattern and decide for yourself which direction you like!

[@janstoll8881]

So… with a counterbalance… if I am to raise 1 & 3, I should do 2&4 as mine drop? Or is my pattern on the underside of the fabric if I read the pattern for a jack loom?

[@ActonCreative]

Hi Jan! It all depends on how your draft is written! Here's a video that dives into that exact topic - kzbin.info/www/bejne/g5K9l4ZqZ9p2h5I

[@linkabird_vt]

I have a direct tie up floor loom, and i feel like it's weird, because it seems like most of the videos i watch that isn't the norm. I'm curious how common or uncommon it is!

[@ActonCreative]

Linka, I've definitely chatted with other weavers who own direct tie-up floor looms! But I'm not sure how common they are!

[@linkabird_vt]

@@ActonCreative i think mine might be a bit old. I got it for $100 from a neighbour, who got it for $100 from an older lady at her church who had owned it for years! It's Canadian 😁