I used the backstrap loom here and again as in this post (the second piece became a doll) and then a month or so ago warping it to full count of 89 threads. This last attempt severely challenged my half-full glass philosophy of life and I finally cut away all the work and frustration and threw the threads in the garbage: there had to be an easier way!
There is. Here it is.
The posts on the day bed are six feet apart so I used them around which to wrap the warp threads and got 48 six foot lengths which I knotted by fours thusly on the bar end of the backstap loom. I then hung it from a cross bar in a doorway.
Then I hung the rigid heddle from the cross bar like so and threaded the warp threads through it, starting from the middle and working outward, hole, slot, hole, slot etc. using first a paper clip and then a small crochet hook because I could not find the tool that is meant to do this.
The original bar that came with the loom (and around which the instructions told me to tie the warp threads – that was a HUGE problem – I finally gave up and started over as chronicled in this post) got replaced by a length of cedar lath from the lumber store, cut to length, holes drilled in each end, piece of peel'n'stick velcro attached to each length of lath, a luggage strap and two of those whatchamacallit rings used for the waist strap.
Heddle warped and steady and waiting on the next step. Waiting until I had a cup of tea to gain courage for the next step: the velcro idea might not have worked.
It did! But I believe I held my breath until I had a security roll to make sure they held.
All set up with the first shuttle run …..
Yes. Oh, yes! And, once again, the joy that comes at the magic of lengths of fibre turning into cloth.
Resting. Waiting on the next time.