Warping Front to Back

Previously we looked at dressing for all occasions. Back to front, and back to front with weights (warp running front to back – not through the reed or heddles). Now lets look at the easy one – Front to Back. 

This is where a lot of people will say, that’s how I was taught, or that is how it is done in that great weaving book…. Each method has it’s place and each weaver uses their favorite method.  Front to back is useful for tying on to an existing warp on a smaller loom and for designing in the reed.

To begin. Place lease sticks in your crosses and secure them to the front beam of the loom. Cut the ends of your warp. If you used a guide string for center, find the center of the reed and dent accordingly. Or measure to one side of the reed for the width of your warp. For example; my warp is 10 inches, I measure 5 inches from center and start to dent. For my reed and sett I use a denting pattern of 2, 2, 1.
After a small section has been placed through the reed be sure to loosely knot to prevent your threads from coming out of the reed. When the warp has been dented in the reed (threaded through the reed) go to the back of the loom taking with you your draft and threading plan. Figure out how many heddles you need for each shaft and decide which side you would like to start threading. REMEMBER – your threading plan is now to be viewed upside down! If your plan is a 1,2,3,4 then you will thread 4,3,2,1.

Start to thread using your threading hook.
When your threading is complete tie the warp onto the back warp beam. Beam the warp under tension.  If your lease sticks are still in the front this may help with tensioning, if the sticks seem to hinder (depending on the yarn) take them out and raise a tabby shed to help tension.

 BE SURE TO WATCH AS THE END OF THE WARP NEARS THE HEDDLES AT THE FRONT – cut and tie the warp onto the front cloth beam.  Once the warp is tied onto the front apron rod and is nicely tensioned, you can raise a tabby shed and insert the lease sticks in the back of the warp.

Lease sticks in warp chain at front of loom

Cut ends ready for sleying - measure at reed for start of denting.  Secure lease sticks to breast beam of loom to free your hands.

 View from back of loom




Be sure to read your draft "upside down" as you are working from the back to thread the heddles

Threading the heddles from the back of the loom

Tie the warp to the back apron rod and wind the warp under tension

Side view (lease sticks have since been positioned at rear by lifting tabby sheds - this is easier to do ath the very end when the warp is under tension)

Tying the warp to the front apron