After reading a lot, weaving a bit and thinking a lot, I have a few very basic questions:
1. I am supposed to wind the warp with several threads at the same time - 2 minimum - for more even tension and reduced winding time. In theory, no problem - I'm all for even tension and efficiency, and I do have two complete hands. In practice, it isn't a problem either when I'm using handspun - I nearly always have several bobbins or balls. But with bought yarn? When I have one spool per colour? Do you always buy several spools per colour anyway, or do you rewind your yarn? (In which case, is there any way of determining how much to rewind? I know, weight/length of the yarn - but is there any practical way of weighing during winding?)
2. I've read serval times that the reed should hit the warp at right angles when beating and that for this reason the fell should be close to the breast beam and one should wind on often. That's for an underslung beater, isn't it? Because my overslung beater hangs at right angles to the warp in the rest position, when it is just before the heddles. But weaving is a lot easier when the fell is closer to the breast beam. Only, the closer to the breast beam the fell is, the steeper the angle at which the reed hits. So???
Those were my first two questions but I'm sure I'll think of a lot more... Thanks for any help!