– 7 –
W
Arping
the
A
rrAs
t
Apestry
l
oom
With
b
eAm
K
it
EQUIPMENT NEEDED
Warping board
20" raddle
2 rubber bands
Warping sticks or slats
1.
Measure the warp: Determine your
project’s warp length and add 36" for
loom waste. Measure your warp on a
warping board and, at the cross end, add
a counting thread that counts off in 1/2"
or 1" increments. Secure the cross and
remove the warp from the warping board.
2.
Remove the shedding device: If the
shedding device is installed on your loom,
remove it now. You will re-install when you
are ready to put on the heddles.
3.
Remove the warp wedge bar from the
loom so you can use it as a warping dowel.
4.
Attach a raddle: We used a 20" raddle
set up with pins spaced every 1/2"
(to match our counting thread in 1/2"
increments) and clamped to the tension
beam from the back of the loom.
5.
Temporarily tie the non-cross end of
the warp chain to the bottom beam of the
loom. Bring the chain up the front and
over the top, draping the cross end over
the raddle so it hangs between 6"and 8"
down the back of the loom.
6.
Slide the warping dowel (the loom’s
warp wedge bar) through the cross end of
the warp chain. Slide the warping dowel
through the warp chain loop. Use rubber
bands to connect this dowel to the warp
beam apron bar.
7.
Spread the warp in the raddle: Remove
the cross ties but leave the counting
thread in place. Divide the project’s
weaving width in half to center the warp
on the loom and in the raddle. Measure
from the center of the raddle using this
number and begin spreading the warp
here. Spread the entire warp into the
raddle sections. Tie or lash the warping
dowel to the warp beam apron bar tightly
with strong cotton string.
8.
Beam the warp, winding a little bit at
a time and tightening the tension as you
go. Insert warping sticks or slats between
each layer of warp, using 2 for each
rotation around the beam. We recommend
warping sticks or slats for this loom,
instead of cardboard, because of the high
tension required. Leave the non-cross end
long enough to attach to the cloth beam
apron bar.
9.
Cut the non-cross end of the warp
chain. Tie the warp ends in 1/2" or 1"
bundles and then lash these ends onto
the cloth beam apron bar, going under the
bottom beam of the loom.
10.
Tighten tension on the warp: flip the
ratchet dogs down so they engage with
the ratchet gears, then turn the dowel
handles on the warp and cloth beams.
11.
Spread the warp in the warp coil,
beginning at one selvedge of the warp and
following each end down from the raddle
to the coil. Make sure the warp ends do
not cross each other. A fairly tight tension
will make this process easier.
12.
Remove the raddle. You may need to
loosen the tension on the warp slightly to
slide out the raddle. Retighten the warp
tension using the dowel handles; you
can fine-tune the tension by raising or
lowering the tension beam if you wish.
13.
Reinstall the shedding device and
install heddles as described in the manual
for the Arras Tapestry Loom.
Watch a video demonstration of warping the Arras Beam Kit at
youtube.com/user/schachtspindle
