Hello, I've read all the posts I can find on this subject, and I still need help! Im putting a warp on my RH loom that consists of doubled ends of 5/2 cotton (I choose to double the ends to attempt to get the right sett since I only have 10 dent reeds and Im making a doubleweave table runner that I want to be dense). I have only done one other project using two heddles, so Im still a newbie using two heddles. My main problem is that I can not seem to get anything resembling a clean shed. I can barely even get a shed, period! When I raise or lower the 2 heddles together it is just a mess. I have rethreaded it twice now and it seems to be correct, but clearly it is not working!! Maybe I cursed myself by attempting double weave with doubled warp threads? Is that a recipe for disaster? Does anyone have any suggestions or experience that might help? I have not started actually weaving yet because Im still completely stuck on trying to get a shed. Im on the verge of taking the threads out of the heddles and starting the threading over once again, but dont want to waste any more time than I already have if there is some better way to approach this. Thank you!! Litaliscious

Comments

Fri, 11/02/2012 - 01:14

Litaliscious (not verified)

Ok, Im back to report that after spending a ridiculous amount of time rethreading the loom AGAIN, I finally suceeded in getting a shed. Got the pickup sticks inserted and started weaving, only to discover ANOTHER problem that I really do not understand. Im following a doubleweave table runner pattern in Jane Patricks book "the Weavers Idea Book" and the instructions are to start out by weaving a section with Sequence A, which is: 1. Pick up stick B 2. Heddle 2 up 3. Heddle 1 down 4. Pick up stick A The problem Im having with this is that the threads going through the holes in heddle 1 never get raised in this sequence, and so on the underside of the fabric there are these warp floats that are not getting woven in. I dont understand how to correct this unless I add another step to the sequence, which would be raising heddle 1. (ths is done in sequence b, but that is a different section) Or a different configuration of threads on the pick up sticks? I have checked and rechecked the pickup sticks and they seem to be done according to the directions. Im about ready to either cry or smash my loom to bits I have been having so many troubles with this project.....(there have been a bunch of others I havent even mentioned). Does anyone out there have any suggestions? If I had Jane Patricks phone number I would call her right now, but I just have you all..... Thanks everyone, for listening,
Fri, 11/02/2012 - 01:34

endorph

provide pictures? That might help - in the meantime I'll get out my Patrick book and see if I can help - don't hold your breath but I'll try!
Fri, 11/02/2012 - 02:16

ReedGuy

Are you attempting Piqué? If so, this weave makes long floats anyway on the wrong side, the backing of a fabric. Was just wondering.

However, doubleweave takes on many variations and I'm no expert.

Fri, 11/02/2012 - 14:49

Sara von Tresckow

Honestly, using multiple heddles on a simple RH loom is somehow very awkward - doable, but awkward.

You might really be better served by not using a rigid heddle at all and making enough "heddle sticks" - as one would find on a backstrap or Navajo loom to complete your project. Yes, it is time consuming to make the sticks, but once done right, you simply lift them as you would a shaft on a floor loom.

As for beating, when you change the shed, you can press the weft in place with the side of the shuttle.

Fri, 11/02/2012 - 21:53

endorph

pick-up sticks are in the right place? Looking at the pattern there shouldn't be any long floats on front or back. Just trying to think of any possible solutions for you! Instead of pick-up sticks I might go with Sara's suggestion of using string heddles - Jane Partick talks about that - I personally don't have problem using both heddles but I find the pick-up sticks to be irksome.
Mon, 11/05/2012 - 14:22

Litaliscious (not verified)

Thanks for the suggestions.  After a lot of frustration, I finally manually redid one of the pick up sticks to correct the problem and now it is working, (Yay!) although it is really a pain to get some of the sheds to open because the yarns stick together.  Each pick I have to fiddle with the shed to get it to open and it is ridiculously slow.  I would not choose to do this type of project on a rigid heddle loom again, however, at the moment, a rigid heddle is the only loom I have to work on.....

I may try to use the string heddles if this doesn't get better as I go.  I haven't tried that yet as I didn't have all the materials I needed to make them and it seemed like even more of a pain in the a** to get them made....

Now the main problem I'm having is major draw in on one side only.  Arrrgh!!! The tension seems even and I'm throwing the weft at a steep angle, etc., but it's still happening. 

At this rate, I will not get this done by Christmas!  (it is supposed to be a Christmas present)

Mon, 11/05/2012 - 16:01

ReedGuy

Well I'll trade ya this 3.6 mile weft project. :) Mine will speed up once I get this first blanket done and use just one color on the next so I can use the fly. Of course I'm not working full time at weaving. ;)

Mon, 11/05/2012 - 16:05

endorph

are at least moving forward. The string heddles are a bit of a pain to make but once they are done you can use them again and again.
Tue, 11/06/2012 - 15:28

mrdubyah (not verified)

If your yarns are sticking together, try a bit of sizing.  Some common sizing treatments that can be used after the warp is on the loom are spray starch, hairspray, gelatin (paint on), or Cowboy Magic detangler.  These will either consolidate the fuzz (starch) or slicken the yarns (Cowboy Magic) to help keep them from getting stuck together.  All of these treatments will easily wash out after weaving to leave you with a nice clean cloth. 

Thu, 11/08/2012 - 20:28

Litaliscious (not verified)

Thanks everyone for the suggestions,

I have learned a lot so far on this project....mainly that I do not recommend doing double weave with two heddles on a rigid heddle loom! 

I used a makeshift temple, which did help correct the draw-in problem.  Haven't tried the sizing to help the yarns not stick together (although they are not sticky, they are 5/2 cotton!) but that sounds like a good idea.  However, after spending literally 20-30 hours struggling with one problem after another (some of them I solved, some of them not really) I am on the verge of calling the project a failure and cutting it off.  I've gotten about 5 inches woven and it doesn't look like I was hoping it would and the sheds are just too slow and nitpicky to get open.  Now that I have reached the point where I'm changing the layers and using pickup sticks C and D I'm having even more troubles getting a decent shed and the project has become more a source of frustration than enjoyment.  I am known for being remarkably patient and persistent when it comes to weaving, and never once in my 15 years of weaving have I "given up" on a project, but I am contemplating cutting my losses, taking it off the loom, and moving on to something else.  I'm giving myself one more day to think about it (and working on a different project in the meantime)

It's really painful to think of all the time I "wasted" getting this set up for nothing, but at the rate I'm going I could end up spending over 100 hours for one mediocre table runner and I'm not sure if it's worth it......do y'all have experiences like this with a nightmare project that just hasn't worked out?? When do you decide to call it quits on a project? I'd love to hear some other horror stories so I don't feel so bad......:)

 

Thu, 11/08/2012 - 21:41

endorph

calling it quits on nightmare projects. If you are not enjoying it and it is not turning out how you hoped - let it go. Save what you can of the warp - you can always use that yarn for weft on another project. I have done several double weave projects on my rigid heddle and did not have any problems but without seeing your projects its really hard to tell what went wrong. I think you have tried really hard on this, but maybe it is time to let it go. . .