Texsolv Treadle Ties

I spent some time this weekend changing the ties from my treadles to my lams on my loom.  Wow, why didn't I do this sooner?

I purchased a new Harrisonville Designs 8 shaft 10 treadle 36" floor loom earlier this summer.  I love this loom.  I had read on Ravelry that others had changed the chains to Texsolv  I thought about it but decided to give the chains a chance.

I found it difficult to hook and unhook the chains from the treadles.  I also found that the chains were very noisy.  They constantly rattle, clank and hit the treadles as I weave.  From hitting the treadles the chains were leaving black marks on them.

There were 4 chains per treadle.  Sometimes I needed more per treadle so I planned on getting enough Texsolv to put a tie on all 8 lams for all 10 treadles.

So I purchased the Texsolv and installed it on my loom.  It is so quite and easy to change the tie up, it works great.

If  you are not familiar with Texsolv here is a link for information.  In addition to lam tie ups they also make heddles. Link to Texsolv website

White Warp

For any non-weavers, In weaving cloth, the warp is the set of lengthwise yarns that are held in tension on a frame or loom. The yarn that is inserted over-and-under the warp threads is the weft. 

I have just threaded and beamed a new 9 yard warp entirely of white cotton to weave some Tea Towels.  As I work with the warp I keep asking myself, why white?  What a boring color.  I think to myself that I wish I was working with some exciting colors, a bright pink or sunny yellow; why white?

My answer is, white is like a blank canvas waiting for the colors to be applied.  Threading and warping the loom takes a lot of time to do so I like to use a long warp so I can weave several items from the same warp.  A white warp allows me to choose any color I want, knowing that white will work with all colors.

It is so exciting to start weaving with a color that exposes the pattern as I weave.  When I finish one towel I start another color and the excitement begins again.  Each new color makes me happy and wards off the boredom of weaving 9 yards of the same thing.

After a warp of white I do switch to something colorful for my next project, but you can't beat a white warp for it's versatility.  The possibilities are endless.