Will you "reed" to me?

I’m in the process of finishing up at the warping board – measuring all the yarns out for the project. In this case, I’m trying something a little different. So, it’s taking longer than my usual. Hopefully, the end result will be worth it!

I decided to create a warp (series of yarns that will be held under tension in the loom) with wide bands of color. In between each, just a bit of white and natural yarns.

With a project this size, it’s pretty typical to measure the yarns in chunks since the entire project won’t stay on the pegs. So, I broke it up by color! Thus, a group of brown, green, blue and cranberry! Once everything is completed at the warping board, it all converges together at the table where I’ll sley the reed!

So, you need a few things to sley the reed. First, you need a reed. (Duh, right?) A reed is a rectangular frame that has evenly placed dividers from one end to the other. Typically, the spacing will be marked. For example, a 12-dent reed has (12) spaces in one inch. Also, they’ll usually tell you the length of the reed (36″ reed for a 36″ loom – that sort of thing!). Second, you need a set a lease sticks. Simple, brilliant things! (2) sticks with holes in the end. But, they are critical if you want to keep your yarns in order! And believe me, you WANT to keep your yarns in order!

There are a variety of other little items I’d recommend when sleying the reed – pair of scissors, sley hook (helps with moving the yarn through the slots), measuring tape, tv remote and cup of hot tea. That’s usually my line-up! Although, you could exchange the remote for a stereo and the tea for coffee. But, to each his own!

Before I slid the yarn off the warping board, I made sure to tie the yarns at the cross so I could find them at the table. You can see the red yarns above directing me where to place the lease sticks!

In this project, I’ve decided to move the yarns closer together than normal. So, in some parts of the warp, the yarns are doubled up – meaning more than 12 yarns per inch! In the finished fabric, it will allow the warp yarns to be more pronounced. At least, that’s the plan!

Almost there! Once the reed is filled from end to end, I’ll carefully move the party over to the loom! I’ll be weaving in no time! Have a good one and I’ll talk to you soon…