Sley Reed - Step 7: How to Warp a Loom

Once you have removed the warp chain from the warping board it is ready to be transferred
onto the lease sticks on your loom. The lease sticks are 2 long sticks that hold the warp
threads in order while you are threading the loom. I usually support the lease sticks by
placing 2 other long sticks at both ends of the loom, running them from the front to the back
beam.

Put the lease sticks into the two loops that are formed by the cross.

It is best to centre the warp on your loom. In order to do this, measure and find the centre
of your loom. On my looms, I have marked the centre of the beater bar with a permanent marker.
If your finished project is going to be 20″ wide, then measure over from the centre 1/2 of
this amount i.e. 10″. This will be the starting point of your threading the reed.

I usually thread starting from the left and work to the right. Using the lease sticks as the
guide, select the thread on the most lefthand position and pick it up with my left hand.
Holding the threading hook in my right hand, I place it behind the reed and bring the hook
through the reed dent. With the hook, I then pull the thread through the dent. I then move the
hook into the next dent, pick up the following thread in the sequence and repeat.

Step 1. Choose your project and yarns.

Step 2. Determine the sett of your cloth, or how many threads per inch the fabric will be.

Step 3. Choose the correct Reed

Step 4. Calculate the Yarn requirements.

Step 5. Wind the Warp using a warping board or warping mill.

Step 6. Remove the warp chains and place them on the loom.

Step 7. Sley the Reed.

Step 8. Thread the heddles, following the draft plan.

Step 9. Wind the warp onto the back beam

Step 10. Tie the warp ends to the front beam.