Warp With Me! All About Warping Boards

If you've used a rigid heddle loom, but are new to 4-shaft weaving, one of the biggest changes will be in how you set up your loom. Most rigid heddle looms are warping using the "direct warping method" that's shown at the beginning of this video. It's quick, easy, and good for warps that are 3 yards long and under. However, once you get to a table loom, where the  heddles are separated from the reed, you need a different way to warp. 

Using a warping board to measure out your warp has two main benefits:

1. It helps you quickly and accurately measure multiple ends of yarn that are all exactly the same length.
2. It keeps these ends organized and tangle-free.

In these videos, I'm using a 14-yard warping board. Warping boards come in all sizes, from big to tiny. This post does not cover how to use a warping mill, since those are for very long warps, but the idea is very similar.

And, here are my 10 tips for using a warping  board. Be sure to watch the video for more in-depth details!

1. Plan your design
2. Make sure you have enough yarn
3. Make a guide string
4. Start warping, following the guide string
5. Make the cross to keep the warp in order
6. Keep an even tension as you go
7. Keep track of how many ends you have
8. Tie off the cross and choke ties
9. Chain the warp
10. Head to the loom!