Introduction - weaving tips for a broken warp thread
It is not uncommon for weavers to experience a broken warp thread when weaving either on a rigid heddle loom or floor loom. Whilst it can be annoying it is not a disaster and this blog has weaving tips which will serve to show you how to manage this problem. The images used in this blog show the repair of a broken warp thread during the weaving of a wool and silk scarf being woven on a TabbyandTweed rigid heddle loom. The exact same process can be applied to the repair of warp threads on a floor loom too.
What causes a broken warp thread?
There are lots of reason why warp threads break. Breakage can occur because the warp threads are not strong enough. If it is a woollen yarn the beating with the heddle creates friction which can weaken an area of the yarn resulting in breakage. The other reason might be that whilst using a pair of scissors to cut a weft thread a warp thread has inadvertently been cut and broken.
Step 1
The new thread is tied on using a weavers knot. Steps 1-4 show how to do this but a quick web search for 'weavers knot' should enable you to see a number of video tutorials if you would prefer. The broken thread is removed from the heddle and taken to the back of the loom where it is folded into a loop. A new thread is cut and also looped as shown in the first image below.
Step 2
The loop at the back (the original broken thread) is pushed through the loop of the new thread as shown in the middle and right hand picture below.
Step 3
The tail from the new thread is then taken over itself and pushed up through the loop of the broken warp thread.
Step 4
With the left hand hold the three strands (the two strands from the broken thread and the tail of the new thread. With your right hand hold the new thread. Pull and form a tight knot which can then be neatly cut.
Step 5
Use a threading hook to bring the new joined warp thread through either the slot or hole.
Steps 6-8
Put a pin into the body of the fabric below the broken thread. Take the new joined thread and wrap it around the pin.
Steps 9-11
After you have woven a few cm of fabric the new thread should be anchored into the fabric by the weaving that has occurred. Remove the pin and trim the ends of the new thread to be about 5cm long. Then continue weaving leaving these two threads sticking out of the fabric. These threads will be tidied up after the weaving has finished and before washing.
Step 12
Carry on weaving as normal and remove the fabric from the loom. Before you wash it you will need to make some repairs to tidy up the threads left coming out of the weave.
Steps 13-15
Remove the knot and pull the new thread through the body of the fabric so that you have sufficient thread at each end to neatly weave each end into the fabric with the needle.
The fabric has now been repaired. Wash the fabric as normal which helps to felt the fibres making the repair totally invisible.
The final scarf
This scarf was woven with 4 ply West Yorkshire Spinners Exquisite yarn. This is a beautiful blend of Falkland wool and Mulberry silk so weaves to create a scarf with a lovely silky feel and drape.
Rigid heddle looms with a scarf weaving kit and scarf weaving kits for those who already have a rigid heddle loom are available in our TabbyandTweed website shop for UK delivery and our TabbyandTweed Etsy shop for delivery elsewhere. We sell a variety of scarf rigid heddle loom weaving kits which include the pattern and yarn for both 8epi and 10epi reeds.
Interested in learning to weave? Then our workshop page has all the details found by clicking the link here.
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