I am having trouble finding yarn of the type Laverne describes in her article "8/2 Crochet Cotton, DK weight."  Can someone tell me what US brands/types they used when warping up their backstrap?  I am wanting to make the narrow project she recommends to do first. I had hoped to do it this weekend!  Thanks!

Comments

Sat, 01/08/2011 - 03:46

bolivian warmi

The yarn I describe for the project on WeaveZine is DK weight, 12-13 wraps per inch - no connection to the 8/2 that I mention.

Tahki cotton Classic is available online from WEBS. Maybe your LYS has it.

It is slightly finer than what I used in the article. Members here have made backstraps using that yarn and have been pleased with the results.

If you want to make a narrow practice band and want to get thread quickly to use, you could try any number 3 mercerized crochet cotton. I bought some from Hobby Lobby and Michael's when I was in the US. Paton's Grace is one brand. You could also try Coats Royale. These are finer than what I use on the article but will do for a practice band if you are in a hurry to start. Don't be in too much of a hurry, though. Take time to  learn how to make good string heddles, wind a good warp, find the perfect spot to tie up your loom and a comfortable way to sit...get acquainted with your loom.

In the meantime you could order the heavier Tahki cotton or other online if you want to make a backstrap. Try to get something mercerized. I don't recommend using the unmercerized cotton that is sold for making dishcloths for warp faced projects on the backstrap loom. 

There is another brand, Plymouth Yarn, that makes Fantasy Natural which is almost exactly like the Brazilian thread I used here in Bolivia for the backstrap. I don't know how easy it is to get. I got it at The Mannings.

Wed, 01/12/2011 - 19:22

lrclum (not verified)

Thank you for the yarn suggestions, they are very helpful.  I did not find any Tahki brand last weekend and bought some heavy cotton for the backstrap band that I cannot remember the name of now and need to check to  make sure is mercerized.  I bought some Coats Royale 3  I found at JoAnn's for the narrow practice band which I will do first. I also have my sticks, but I am waiting for enough time to take my time with the warping and heddle-making;  that was good advice. In the meantime I will take a look at Tahki at WEBS. I have seen the Plymouth Yarn brand before. I have one of those large spindles? that telephone wire is wrapped on that I use as an end table and I am hoping that will be heavy and immovable enough to attach the loom to.  

Thu, 01/13/2011 - 18:30

lrclum (not verified)

I checked my heavier cotton and it does not say "mercerized" anywhere on the label. It is Lion Brand cotton; so I think I will assume it is not mercerized and try something else.

Last night, I measured the Royale warp for the narrow practice band and put it on the dowels.  I bought "C" clamps on the way to work, so I can attach the dowel to a heavy table so tonight I should be able to make the heddles.  Very exciting!

Thu, 01/13/2011 - 22:29

bolivian warmi

Great! Keep us posted, please.

Mon, 08/15/2011 - 04:05

wannaGTD (not verified)

I tried using yarn I had on hand for my first warp...8/4 carpet warp. I first tried making the heddles out of some tencel I had...thinking it would be smoother/slicker than the carpet warp, but I ended up getting all sorts of yarn fuzz from the warp making it very difficult to change the shed. So then I tried using some 5/2 mercerized cotton for the warp. I started out better but it too started collecting yarn fuzz and making it difficult to change the shed as the heddles then want to start sticking together. So the slickest I had available was some fishing line. Some of the heddles allow me to swotch sheds easily but not all. Needless to say, I'm getting rather frustrated. Open for some suggestions here. Should I just scrap this carpet warp warp and try something different, or what else could I use for the heddles. Not sure really where the bulk of the problem lies, with the warp or with the heddles.
Mon, 08/15/2011 - 14:35

bolivian warmi

I would say that the main problem is quite likely the way you are opening the sheds which takes some practice to be smooth and efficient. When I was learning with my Peruvian teachers I sawed my way right through the warps because I wasn't handling the shed openings properly. I was using the same warp yarn and heddle material that they use all the time without the slightest problem. I just hadn't developed the necessary skills yet.

I would recommend using mercerized crochet cotton for your warp. I use the same thread that I use for my warp for my heddles just like all my weaving teachers here do. In Guatemala the weavers use nylon for their heddles and a lot of people choose to use that as it is smooth and does not abrade your warp. I personally don't like nylon as it slips about and won't hold a knot or hitch well.

Try to review the videos I have on WeaveZine which show how to open the sheds. You need to coordinate several moves to be able to open the heddles smoothly. You should not be wrenching them up nor sliding them up and down along the warps. They should be pulled straight up while taking tension off the warp. You can use you other hand to do several other things to help all of which are a lot clearer in video so I suggest theWeaveZine article and the videos on my blog.

A certain amount of pilling will happen anyway and is harmless but it should never be so much that the warps are sticking together.

Tue, 08/16/2011 - 02:08

wannaGTD (not verified)

...Good to know this is probably user/technique issue and I'm not the first to struggle with it.  I will re-review the videos you have so graciously provided....They are what got me this far to begin with!  I'll try and break it down what I'm doing wrong to see how I can fix the technique.  Thanks

Wed, 08/17/2011 - 18:31

sarahnopp (not verified)

I have been using a nice cotton carpet warp too and am quite happy with it. It is the Maysville brand. (In fact, I need to go get some more color choices!)

For string heddles, I am using a nylon cording. I believe it was marketed for clothesline? It moves very nicely and does not seem to collect much from the warp- even when I have tried a wool or acrylic. Just make sure to burn off the ends or the cord will fray out quickly.