There are many different ways to open the sheds and you will develop your own system I am sure once you start weaving and gain experience.

I can give you some tips to get started and I am sure that others in this group will also be happy to supply suggestions.

I show how I go about opening the sheds when I am weaving on a narrow warp in the first video in my WeaveZine article which you can see here........

weavezine.com/content/backstrap-basics

I have also uploaded a set of step-by-step photos to my Flikr page for those who may not, for whatever reason, be able to access the videos in the article. These kind of action sequences are best viewed on video but I have tried my best to how the technique in still shots. I hope that you find them helpful.

See them here..............www.flickr.com/photos/39560980@N05/sets/72157622748564210/

I invite other members to post about their own methods for opening the sheds when working on narrow warps.

I will open another FAQ page for wide warps.

Laverne

 

 

 

Comments

Mon, 11/16/2009 - 18:22

mischiefmanaged (not verified)

The flickr photos show clearly how to do it; thank you!  I have been having some trouble opening clean sheds on  my narrow warp (I have started a narrow one-color band as in your weavezine article), probably because my yarn is a bit fuzzy. I do want to use it because I can use the band as a handle for a knitted bag. Does anyone have any suggestions (other than patience) on how to make this go more smoothly? Thanks. Cindy

Mon, 11/16/2009 - 20:46

bolivian warmi

Hi Cindy.

I am so happy that you are getting along with your first project. Let's see what we can do to fix your sticky warp problem.

If you are using a shed loop, you could try replacing that with a shed stick. If the yarn is fuzzy, sometimes the fact that the warps all bunch together every time you pull up on the loop means that they rub and stick together. Often the warps from the other shed will stick to them and when you raise the loop you don't automatically get a clean shed. So my first suggestion is putting in a shed stick. Leave your shed loop in there-just slide it further up the warp and out of the way. Put a shed stick in and make sure you tie a length of yarn from one end of it to the other so that it won't fall out completely if you lean to one side.

You can see here the shed stick in place with safety string taped from end to end.

Having the shed stick in there will help spread the warps, and stop them from rubbing together and having their fibers mesh.

Then to open that shed you can slide your sword/beater under the warps held up by the stick, tilt the sword on its side, lean back and the shed should pop open. If it doesn't you can try strumming your fingertips across the warps or you may have to ease the warps up with your hand if they are extremely fuzzy.

                                                        

Sword under the warps.                                                                                Sword tilted on its side.

                                                         

''Strumming'' the warps with my thumb.                                                  Lifting the warps and easing them through the

                                                                                                                         heddles.

Opening the heddle shed can be made easier when the warps are sticky by pushing down on the warps behind the heddles while pulling up on the heddles. Remember to lean forward slightly while you do this to relax tension on the warp.

Pushing down on the warps with my thumb as I lift the heddle stick.

I know that other members here have used sprays on their warps-hair spray, conditioner? I'm not sure-I have never had to use a spray just a good dose of patience and tenacity!!

let us know how you go and if things improve. Others will probably come along with suggestions.

Laverne

 

 

 

 

Mon, 11/16/2009 - 19:19

francorios (not verified)

Your shed stick should be flat and wide to help open the shed.

At the very least, as wide as a ruler (scale) which is usually 1 inch (25mm) wide. I have some pickup sticks that I use as shed sticks that are 1-1/4 inch wide (32mm).

I use the string heddle loops to crack open the shed, push the pickup stick in flat, then turn sideways to open the shed. Check the warps to be sure you did not miss any.

For the shed above the heddle,  I pull the round shed stick down to crack open the shed and pull down the string heddles. push the pickup stick in flat, then turn sideways to open the shed.

I think that might help.

Have a good day!

Mon, 11/16/2009 - 20:12

bolivian warmi

To help with explanations, I came up with this labeled photo some time ago so we all know what we are talking about. I am not saying that this is the one and only way to label these parts but if we can use these terms, at least here, in this group, we will all know what we are referring to. When Franco says ''flat shed stick'' above, I believe he is referring to what is labeled here as the sword/beater. The ''round shed stick'' he talks about is the shed stick in this picture.

Laverne

 

Mon, 11/16/2009 - 22:04

mischiefmanaged (not verified)

Excellent. I will switch to a shed stick, follow the suggestions above, and report back! :)

Thu, 11/19/2009 - 17:44

francorios (not verified)

Yes, when I say flat shed stick or pickup, it used like a sword/beater.

Leave the shed stick (round one) in place, use the sword for opening the shed.

For narrow bands, a wood ruler works well. Use sandpaper or emory board to shape the end into a thin flat wedge shape to go through a narrow shed prior to opening.

Have a good day!

Thu, 11/19/2009 - 17:39

mischiefmanaged (not verified)

Hello again. Switching to a shed stick helped a lot. Then my heddle shed was the problem, so I put them on a stick as well.  I  used my sword to help get the sheds open. So it got better bit the yarn was still very very sticky. I decided that this was not a beginner-friendly warp (and the handles my knitted bag already has are doing the job), so am going to try again with smooth, tightly spun cotton!

Thu, 11/19/2009 - 18:25

bolivian warmi

No, that doesn't sound beginner friendly at all. Put safety strings through the warps ends and save it. When you have woven a few bands in friendlier yarn-the smooth tightly spun cotton- you may feel like trying it again. Once you have just that little bit more experience and have all the moves coordinated, you'll probably find it a lot easier to handle.

Now you have learned that you prefer shed sticks and heddle sticks :-)

Laverne