The discusssion about warping mills and boards has me wondering what you do about wool or other yarn in a skein. I wind mine onto spools get them to get ready for warping but they are not cross wound and I have never been happy with the results. I know there are cross winding cone winders available but not interested in investing for an occasional project. Warping directly from the swift seems too jerky and you would not have even tension.

Comments

Mon, 02/23/2015 - 17:25

theresasc

When warping with skeins, I have either wound directly from the swift, which you are right, it can be jerky, or I have wound the skeins into center-pull balls with my ball winder and feed the ends through my warping stand as I would a cone.  I have no need for a cone winder so this is how I manage skeins.  Be careful with wool not to put too much tension on it when warping because it is so stretchy. 

Mon, 02/23/2015 - 19:53

Sara von Tresckow

A squirrel cage swift will give more even performance when unwinding a skein - either to make spools or to warp from the skein. A large squirrel cage can also hold multiple skeins when warping with creative colors/materials.

Mon, 02/23/2015 - 20:42

barleycorn

Thank you for your prompt answers, I love Weavolution! I would like to make a wool warp faced rug so while I weave away on other things I'm always thinking how I'm going to do future projects. My wool/nylon (2 ply, around 900 yds.lb) is on cones but needs dyed so I have to skein it (niddy noddy?) I have a ball winder which may work for warping and I love the squirrel cage idea. Darn, there was a used one for sale in my area about 6 months ago! Theresasc, your placemats inspired me to make my own from thrift Ralph Lauren flowered sheet and some batiks thrown in here and there, they're on the loom now.

Mon, 02/23/2015 - 22:19

ReedGuy

I warp from my swifts as Sara has suggested. I've done lots of blankets and throws this way. I built the swifts from Ed Worst's book. If the old timers used them, I figured I could. ;)

I have a bag of skeined singles for a coverlet that will be going on the swifts as well.

Tue, 02/24/2015 - 15:39

theresasc

kind words on the placematsSmile  I am glad that you liked them and I look forward to seeing yours.  They are just fun to weave.