I am threading a 40" wide alpaca throw on my 60" AVL.  Usually I start threading in the middle and work to the left and then to the right to balance the heddles.  I did not do that this time for some reason (I forget what) and will have about 50 -100 heddles left over on the right side of the loom.Will this cause a problem?  I thought that because the shafts don't depend on gravity to fall that it might not, but I'd like to hear what more experienced AVL users have found.

Comments

Thu, 12/24/2015 - 11:02

ReedGuy

Will you show us the throw and yarns used when done? I'm curious about the Alpaca since it seems to involve improvation as a warp. Trying to learn more. :)

Thu, 12/24/2015 - 11:13

ReedGuy

I can't answer for AVL looms, but my current project is 24" in the centre. It's just an experiment and the pattern is kind of ghosted. To the right of the threaded shafts, out on the end of the shafts, I have 6 or 8 empties. On the left I have 100's as I used less than 600 and my loom has 2000. I'm not having any issued with shed or dipping shafts. I think as long as there are some it keeps the other end of shafts from wanting to spread. These are Texsolv, with metal there might be a signicant weight issue. For a 10 treadle tie up on 8 shafts the shed is amazingly open, and it's 3 layers. I hope your experience is trouble free to. :)

Thu, 12/24/2015 - 16:57

sandra.eberhar…

I will do that, Reed Guy.  It's 2/13 alpaca that I got on Ebay.  From the cone labels l believe  it is Italian.  I made an exception to my rule about not buying yarn on Ebay from sellers that don't specialize in yarns for this because it was a really, really good deal.  It also had some insect damage, which I am dealing with.  It's about half threaded now.

Tue, 01/12/2016 - 17:54

Bonnie Inouye (not verified)

I have woven many throws/afghans/blankets on my 60" AVL. I use Prime Alpaca from Henry's Attic, but I haven't ordered more for over a decade. I used to do big shows with blankets and shawls and scarves. I made a couple of warps with this alpaca for throws but more warps for scarves. No problems with this yarn.

Generally for blankets I like a warp that is 55% mohair and 45% wool, unbrushed, as my warp. It is called Texas from Henry's Attic and it makes an excellent warp, is soft and warm and easy to dye and then it brushes beautifully after the piece is off the loom. Most of my blankets are network drafted twill on 16 shafts and it is easy to see the designs, even after brushing. I used the alpaca as weft. Alpaca is more expensive and this way I had some alpaca/mohair/wool as my top-of-the-line afghans along with some in similar colors with wool weft, some with mohair weft, some with alpaca.

Bonnie Inouye

Wed, 01/13/2016 - 21:11

sandra.eberhar…

I think I will try the Henry's Attic yarns next time.  These are coming out well, but the yarn is very hairy and was giving me fits until I tried Cowboy Magic mane detangler on it.  The CM really makes a shuttle slide along, too.  Thanks to the folks who posted on fixing a sticky mohair warp.

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AVL