I'm new to weaving, and I'm having a couple of difficulties with a project.  I've searched books and the Internet and can't find any info, so I'm hoping that folks here can offer some tips....

 

The project in question is a scarf, done in balanced plainweave on a rigid heddle loom.... yarn is 100% superwash merino wool, worsted weight, sett is 8 epi.

 

First, I'm wondering how tightly the warp should be tensioned as I weave.  Are there advantages/disadvantages to a really tight tension, or to a relatively loose tension?  How does one decide on the best warp tension to use, and then keep it consistent from one weaving session to the next?

 

Second, I'm having a lot of trouble keeping my weft straight.  Instead, it wants to form a gentle wave.  I've been using a weaving fork to adjust things after every 6-8 picks, but that's only a temporary solution; the weft goes crooked again as I continue weaving. 

 

Any thoughts or advice would be most welcome!

 

Thanks much,

BarbP

Comments

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 05:49

laurafry

Tension varies depending on yarn but should be firm enough to create a clean shed so you can pass the weft without the shuttle catching on the warp threads. This will come with experience. Too tight and it will be harder to raise the heddle. Too loose and the selvedge will not be as consistent as you might like. As for advancing, it is better to advance often rather than have the fell line be too close to the heddle. There is a sweet spot, not too close to the front of the loom or too close to the heddle. As for the wavy fell, there might be several things causing that. Inconsistent tension during beaming, large knots when the warp was tied on are just two. If the knots are the problem, I usually insert a couple of flat sticks one on either side of the row of knots to even things out. If the warp is too widely spaced, using a heddle with more holes/ spaces such as maybe a 10, might be the answer. Hope you can get it figured out. Cheers Laura