WINDING BOUTS FOR BACK-TO-FRONT WARPING

Posted by Peg in South Carolina

My original plan for winding this warp was to wind six bouts with 56 ends each and one bout with 54 ends.  This would give me the right number of ends for the warp.

As I was winding these bouts I realized that this would mean the bout with 54 ends would finish, not back at the beginning (the threading end of the bout) but at the other end, the beaming end.  I would have to cut those ends there.  That would mean I would have two loose ends instead of a loop to insert the rod into.

One of the advantages of beaming a warp on B2F is that you insert the back rod through loops instead of tying onto the back rod.  Inserting the rod into loops is easier and faster.  And inserting the rod into loops almost guarantees that you will begin beaming on with warp ends that are all equal lengths. 

This means that winding the bouts starts at the threading end.  This means that the two loose ends (one at the beginning of the bout and one at the end) will be at the threading end.  The beaming end will consist of nothing but loops.

ODD VERSUS NUMBER OF WARP ENDS

Unless you have an odd number of warp ends instead of an even number. Then you end up winding at the beaming end.  Result?  A loose end insteae of a loop.

In my experience, the average (whatever average means!) will usually consist of an even number of ends.  No problem.  But occasionally I find a threading that has an odd number of ends.  Winding a bout with an odd number of ends means that the winding will end, not back at the beginning, but at the other end, the end with the loops where the rod will be inserted.

One easy solution is to allow extra length in cutting that end off so that that particular end can be tied to the beam.

Another solution is to wind one extra end so that you end at the beginning.  After beaming and threading, you can discard the extra end by letting it  drop at the back.  It also means occasionally cutting it shorter as the weaving progresses so that it doesn’t get trapped in the rest of the warp.

PROBLEMS WITH WINDING TWO ENDS AT A TIME

Winding two ends at a time either using a paddle or a finger to seaparate the warp ends, guarantees an even number of warps.  But you can still finish with the last of the warp ends at the wrong end.  This is the case with my warp.  Here is what I have decided to do.

When I get to the point where I have two ends left, I will cut off one end at the beginning.  The other end I will wind around the entire board, returning to the beginning, giving me two ends.  This way I will have nothing but loops at the beaming end.

Here, by the way, is what I said in a post written in March a year ago:

What if, despite the best of calculations, I have one or more bouts that I simply cannot make end where they began? With these I just close my eyes to the problem, and wind back to the beginning anyway. This would, of course, give me more warp ends than I needed.
What to do? After threading, just drop those extra warp ends off the back of the loom.

I have been known to change my mind on things…….

Related Post:  Changing My Mind at the Warping Board

“Winding Bouts for Back-to-Front Warping” was written by Margaret Carpenter for Talking about Weaving and was originally posted on April 7, 2009. ©2009 Margaret Carpenter aka Peg in South Carolina