Hi, I'm reading about the benefits of weaving samples but I'm not sure exactly how to do this.  So here goes:  do I warp a length of so many inches, weave ? inches, take it off the loom and wet finish?  Each end of the fabric needs to be finished somehow, right?  Let's say I take a sample of 10" off of a 2 yard warp.  I don't want to waste the remainder of the warp so do I pull the ends through and tie to the front apron rod again?

Or is there a better way to do this?  

Thanks for your help!  Audrey

Comments

Mon, 11/17/2014 - 13:46

Peg.Cherre (not verified)

Regardless of the type of loom you use, the sampling process is the same.  And you have most of the answers.  You warp for x" longer than your planned project, depending on how many samples you think you'll need.  10" is a decent length for a sample, and yes, then you'll tie on to the front apron again, so you'll have more loom waste. When you cut off the sample, advance the loom enough so that your warp threads will not be pulled back behind the heddle; that is, have enough warp in front of the heddle so you don't need to re-thread, just re-tie.

Yes, you do need to finish the ends of your sample - and your finished pieces - and there are 2 basic ways to do this: hand hemming on the loom under tension, and machine stitching after removing from the loom.  If you use the latter, be sure you have a few picks extra at the beginning and end to allow for some potential shifting of threads between the loom and the sewing machine.

Hope this answers your questions.  :-)

Thu, 11/20/2014 - 16:43

ingamarie

Since I lash on to the front apron bar, I already have knots at that end, I usually just hemstich the cut end, or use fray check. You just need to keep your sample from unraveling. I retie the knots I use to lash the warp on with (in the warp that's still on the loom) as I cut the sample off so it's a really quick process to lash back on.   I sample a ton.  Sometimes only 6" or so..

If you need info on lashing on let me know.

marie

Thu, 11/20/2014 - 17:41

Artistry

AudreyO, When I hit the sewing machine with my samples, I use a zigzag because I feel it catches both warp and weft well. As Peg.Cherre mentioned allow extra cloth because with zigzag the threads will shift. I do this twice because, they go straight into the washer and usually the dryer and i don't want them to fall apart. Of course not all cloth is wet finished this way. I also don't care how the edges of my samples look. However, Sometimes a sample is a good time to try a new edge finishing too:) Cathie
Thu, 11/20/2014 - 18:10

Sara von Tresckow

If your samples are not firm fabric, I have actually found that two rows of straight stitching leave the fabric nicer. Zigzag can easily distort the sewn edges, especially if stretchy yarns are used.

Thu, 11/20/2014 - 21:41

AudreyO

Yes, I'd like to know about lashing.  I've seen pictures but I don't know why I'd want to do this.  What are the advantages?  How is it done?

Thanks, Audrey

Thu, 11/20/2014 - 21:44

AudreyO

For now I'm doing hemstitching because I still mess up when I do it.  Later, when I feel comfortable with it, I'll see about zigzag.  

Thanks, Audrey

Thu, 11/20/2014 - 21:45

AudreyO

Good to know about another way to finish the edges.

Thanks, Audrey

Fri, 11/21/2014 - 02:30

ingamarie

I tie overhand knots in 1/2-3/4" bundles then lash them to the tie on bar with nylon cord from old Venetian blinds. The advantages are that it's fast, uses  minimal warp yarn, the knots don't slip,  and it is really easy to get the tension even. The disadvantages are that you have overhand knots which are hard, and you need to protect your web from them, and if you have to fix a threading error it's trickier to untie the overhand knots to fix things.  But those, to me are minor compared to the advantage. Here is a picture I scanned from Väv, pictures being worth 1k in words. ( The two bottom horizontal lines are the breast beam (or cloth beam if your RH loom doesn't have one), the 3 looped lines from the breast beam to the apron rod are the apron strings.)

lashing on image.

Fri, 11/21/2014 - 07:42

Artistry

Marie, I have a piece of tripled flannel I put over the knots before the knots hit the web, what do you use ? Plus, why doesn't my lashing look so even :) Cathie I think you'll like lashing on AudreyO.!
Fri, 11/21/2014 - 16:40

Sara von Tresckow

Warping sticks are not just for the warp beam. They also do a fantastic job of smoothing out any lumps and bumps in the warp (like the tieon knots) and keep the fabric nice and smooth on the cloth beam. They are also very useful when you skip a foot or more in the warp for future fringes - they keekp the unwoven warp ends winding on as if they had been woven. And usually, you have at least two or three sticks free by the time the cloth gets to the beam.

Fri, 11/21/2014 - 18:10

AudreyO

Sounds like a good idea.  I'll be looking for some!

Fri, 11/21/2014 - 18:20

ingamarie

I beam with sticks, even on the RH looms-- I have some cut down to size to fit the rigid heddle looms. I use a stick to cover the knots. If I don't have the right length sticks,  use an extra stick shuttle. The sticks I use are th super thin ones from Glimåkra.. 

And the knots don't have to be even!
Mon, 11/24/2014 - 15:02

ingamarie

Another tip about sampling. If you're weaving relatively wide-- you can cut your sample in half in the warpwise direction, and serge or zigag the cut edge. Then wash one and leave the other unwashed. That way you can see side-by-side how the web changes when it's washed.