Preparing the loom for tablet weaving

Today I finally got around to preparing the warp for the first band on this loom.

I pre-cut the warp threads. Then I took them in groups of four according to what was needed for each tablet and tied them to the front end of the loom. Then I threaded the warp threads through the tablets.

Then I passed the warp threads over the far end of the loom and attached a weight to them.

The full set of tablets for the pattern looks like this (the rod with the knots is pulled slightly back, so that the knots are only just visible behind the upper rotating beam):

Weights up close:

First conclusions:

• Warp preparation is now significantly easier. I didn’t time it, but it certainly felt like it took less time than setting up an equivalent tablet weaving piece on the Oseberg loom. As for nerves – there’s no comparison; this time there was no stress at all. So the first goal — simplifying the setup process — is excellently achieved with these looms.
• The warp thread reserve still needs to be about 50 cm despite the small knots at the start and end of the warp.
• The heddle either needs to be positioned higher or have longer teeth.
• It seems that the weights might need to be made lighter — but I’ll see how the weaving goes. At the moment it looks like the threads might start breaking.
• There are about 3 kg of weights on the loom right now, which makes transporting it inconvenient – the weighted end outweighs the other end. The more weights there are, the harder it will be to move the loom.

I’m off to measure the weft thread and wind it onto the shuttle.

Photos of the finished band along with basic information about it can be found in the gallery: "Flames".