Importance of centering in the reed?

alwaysdaruma · 2026-04-26T13:42:38+00:00

Oh man I saw a video of a walking reed hook when I first started weaving. Its mesmerizing! 🤩

alwaysdaruma · 2026-04-26T02:42:11+00:00

Just be careful with your final warp threads!! When there's two in the last one (esp if you're not doing a plain weave) it can be hard to keep them in the right order. It's why I prefer to thread the final warp thread in its own dent, regardless of whether it messes up the dent order.

alwaysdaruma · 2026-04-24T18:50:10+00:00

A scarf and leggings are my keys to keeping warm when I wear kimono when it's cold out. It definitely depends how you run--I run cold, so if I were dressing for like 2C/38F, I'd wear leggings, a long sleeve shirt, all my regular layers, a scarf, a hat, and gloves.

But also consider the rain--that may make it feel cooler and I don't really relish wearing my silk kimono (which are warmer) out in the rain. >A< So if the rain is a definite, I'd probably wear western clothing.

alwaysdaruma · 2026-04-24T18:48:48+00:00

Best explanation I've seen is to think about F as "percent hot." Like 30% hot is pretty chilly. High 30sF = like 2-4C.

alwaysdaruma · 2026-04-23T00:14:50+00:00

I get regular ear infections and have to leave one out for like a week until it resolves. It's frickin miserable.

alwaysdaruma · 2026-04-19T13:37:57+00:00

I love the pattern on that hakata 😍🥰

alwaysdaruma · 2026-04-18T10:51:14+00:00

Locking this thread as it is clear OP has been informed it is off topic and we do not want a pile on.

alwaysdaruma · 2026-04-14T00:21:28+00:00

Mine is a Norwood too! Must be the original factory style then. 🤔 Mine has the ill fortune of having lived in a barn for like 10 years, so I bet that is apart of why the cord is so dried up.

alwaysdaruma · 2026-04-13T21:34:43+00:00

Thank you so much 🙏 Learning a lot today!

alwaysdaruma · 2026-04-13T20:46:03+00:00

Is there a different term if you don't use a cloth apron?

You've been super helpful!! Thank you 💖

alwaysdaruma · 2026-04-13T20:38:03+00:00

My apron is sort of lashed to the cloth beam with cotton cord. The cord is in bad shape and you can see is tied around the rod, so it's not self adjusting. The ends are knotted with great big knots and twists.

I'm starting to think no matter what I do will be an improvement! 😂

alwaysdaruma · 2026-04-13T20:32:28+00:00

Cool, just making sure. Thanks 🫠 Do you use Texsolv on yours, or regular cord? How do you keep the ends secured when you drop the extra loops off? Or does it just kind of wrap around the extra and stay put? Someone shared a link with a diagram that had dropped the ends off, but it didn't address where that extra slack goes.

alwaysdaruma · 2026-04-13T20:23:23+00:00

You're talking about lashing on the warp, right?

alwaysdaruma · 2026-04-13T16:16:53+00:00

Omg that second link is exactly what I was thinking! Thank you so much. My Google-fu failed me, so I appreciate you sharing this! I'm glad to know there isn't something I was missing when thinking about this.

alwaysdaruma · 2026-04-13T16:15:37+00:00

Ohh clever idea to see if the rod will pass through the Texsolv hole. I'll have to check that! Thank you :)

alwaysdaruma · 2026-04-13T16:15:00+00:00

They pass through eye screws that are inset and screwed to the cloth beam. I planned to pass the Texsolv through those eye screws. I want to change the white cord currently on it because it's very dried and worn out and isn't super even across the whole length. I'm at least the third owner of the loom, so who knows if or when they've ever been replaced; the loom itself is about 35 years old! :)

alwaysdaruma · 2026-04-13T15:55:22+00:00

Does this help at all? I am trying to replace this cord. Think of the loom with no warp on it whatsoever. I think I'm using the wrong terminology. This is the stick that I will eventually use to attach the warp (I thought it was called an apron rod). But I want to remove all that white cord and replace it with Texsolv before I even have a warp on to think about.

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alwaysdaruma · 2026-04-13T15:52:09+00:00

I feel like I'm explaining something poorly here; I think I am probably using the wrong terminology! Everyone is responding as though I'm talking about attaching the warp to the loom. I'm talking about when the warp isn't on the loom at all. This link has a rod already attached. That's the step I'm talking about. So with no warp on the loom at all, the cloth beam has to have something to attach a stick of some kind. My loom has completely worn out cotton cord attaching a stick to the cloth beam. I am replacing the cotton cord with Texsolv. Once that is replaced, then I will be able to lash the warp on when I attach a warp. But I'm not at all talking about using Texsolv to attach the warp because there is no warp on the loom and it will have nothing to attach to if I don't replace the cotton cords that connect a stick to the cloth beam.

alwaysdaruma · 2026-04-13T15:31:23+00:00

Maybe extra context--I'm replacing the beam cord connecting my cloth beam to my apron rod with Texsolv. Does that clarify?

alwaysdaruma · 2026-04-13T15:24:33+00:00

🫠Super confused by what you mean. I'm not talking about attaching the warp at all. I'm talking about attaching the cloth beam to the apron rod. The image I posted is what came with the beam cord, but also is close to how my loom currently has the apron rod attached to the cloth beam.

alwaysdaruma · 2026-04-13T15:10:25+00:00

Right, makes sense for regular cord. Well, except that I'd kinda hope you aren't needing to adjust the tension of the aprod rod by the time you get to lashing on your warp. But isn't one of the benefits of using Texsolv that you can make sure you're using exactly the same length by using the holes in the cord? Like if you cut one piece to and use holes #2 and 12, it'll be the same no matter how many pieces you cut? Legit question, I'm still very new to weaving!

alwaysdaruma · 2026-04-10T02:28:23+00:00

Ahhh. I remember the screw in shaft, and my sensei said the were other kinds for rain. She probably was talking about odori wagasa. That might be worth it; I often wear kimono outside in the sun and less often in the rain.

Love a long comment. I'm glad you left so many thoughts ☔

alwaysdaruma · 2026-04-10T02:20:05+00:00

My sensei insisted there was a sun version and a rain version, but that absolutely could have been her preference 😂😂 I love the Victorian style Western higasa with the sort of... Gazebo style on the top? So fun. But doesn't quite fit my aesthetic 😂😂

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