"Weaving My Color Gamp......"

After a few more days of work, I am once again weaving.  You may remember, I had threaded almost one half of the warp threads in 4 shafts before taking them all out and making the decision to begin again, but this time, using all 8 of my Oxaback Lilla's shafts.

I had a little prep work to do before I could begin the threading.  I had to color code all of the heddles on the back 4 shafts.  Other weavers have their preferred ways of color coding, but I like having a different color for each shaft.

Re-threading the heddles using all 8 shafts.......

Warp threaded through the heddles and reed.  Next step, place the reed in the beater.

Warp is ready to be tied onto the front rod......

Ready, set, begin weaving!

I've woven 4 of the 20 colors so far, with the 5th one started.  Each section of color is 42 picks (each throw of the weft yarn is called a "pick" or "shot").  I chose the weft's color sequence to run from the left to the right, which starts the pure color block in the lower left hand corner and runs diagonally up to the right.

I also tried a weaving tip I read about.......I placed a couple of large beads on the boat shuttle rod, which fills the space and helps keep the weft from wrapping itself around the rod.  I used what I had available but think I will take my boat shuttles to the fabric store with me and see if I can find a large enough bead to fill the space by itself.

"Weaving-Brethren, MI, and Madison, WI"

I had read about a "warping trapeze" on one of my Yahoo weaving groups. After reading more about them, I bought 2 of Katie Reeder Meek's books, "Warp With a Trapeze & Dance With Your Loom", keeping one for myself, and sending another to my daughter in law, Julie, who, you may remember, is now weaving on the Harrisville floor loom that I began weaving on with my adventure into weaving.

My hope was that my son, Patrick, would build her a warping trapeze, and while I was in MI visiting, Julie and I would warp her loom using the warp trapeze, sharing the 1st time experience together......which is exactly what we did. ;)

In the excitement of getting the trapeze set up and working, I'd forgotten to take photos of the beginning of the process and didn't realize until we were halfway completed that I needed photo documentation! :) The board that the warp is hanging over is an addition to the original design. I figured we needed it to allow us the same amount of tension on the warp as when it was hung over the board at the top. I believe that this warp is the BEST tensioned warp that I have ever been involved with in warping a loom. TRULY a wonderful experience!

Instead of building one myself, I had ordered one from Bruce, of Purrington Looms (http://www.purringtonlooms.com/index.html) and am anxiously awaiting its arrival.

Here at home, I did add to my weaving equipment. My "warp stick catchers" from Glimakra (http://www.glimakrausa.com/), arrived Monday afternoon and I attached them yesterday.

They fit nicely on my Oxaback Floor Loom (http://www.woolgatherers.com/Lillapage.htm) and I now have not only a "warp stick catcher", but also a nice place to store those extra warp sticks not in use.

Now......if only the warp trapeze would arrive.........