Warping a Saori loom the "Jane" way

[Susan Canning]

Does anyone have experience warping a Saori floor loom the way Jane demonstrates in the 1st & 2nd lessons?

The instructions with the loom says that lease sticks aren’t used and the cross is held in the hand. Sounds like a disaster according to Jane’s method.

Also means buying a $600 warp beam winder with stands for removable harness to wind the warp, thread heddles and sleigh the reed off the loom on tabletop.

Not wanting to buy more expensive equipment, I wonder if the Saori loom could be warped using this standard method, back to front?

[Jane]

I have never seen a Saori loom up close but I don’t see why you can’t use lease sticks.  You just have to find a way to attach them to the loom.   I couldn’t be that hard 🙂

Anyone else have any thoughts?

[Kathy]

Hi Susan,

I have a Saori loom and I used Jane’s method of dressing the loom. The only thing that was a little difficult for me  was threading the heddles because I couldn’t remove the breast beam. Everything else worked out great!

[Susan Canning]

Yes removing the breast beam on the Saori loom is not an option only the reed is removable so threading and sleighing isn’t fun. I bought this loom as it’s foldable and portable but is also meant to be used for folks with physical disabilities (wheelchair bound or limited mobility). Hence the elaborate and expensive method of using a removable square cardboard tube on the additional warp roller placed on a separate table top with harness holder and wooden cross holder for threading. If I had really researched the loom I wouldn’t have bought it because of these features  but the upside is one can begin plain weave weaving after a quick set up out of the box and pre-wound warps on cardboard tubes. Nothing like spontaneous shopping! but good to know you successfully warp the loom from back to front. That’s my next steep learning curve! Have you tried the Saori method with extra equipment for warping?

[Susan Canning]

I forgot to ask: did you use lease sticks to warp the Saori loom?

[Kathy]

No, I haven’t tried the new warping system for the Saori.  I have a four shaft Saori so I personally feel it would be difficult to thread the heddles, sleigh the reed, and wind a warp all at a table, then try and get it all back onto the loom.

I followed Jane’s back to front method and thought that was the easiest and best warp I’ve ever done!

Yes, I did use lease sticks.

[Susan Canning]

Thanks Kathy for the help! Lease sticks it is.

[Susan Canning]

Kathy:

If you don’t mind sharing? Where did you put your raddle on your Saori loom for warping.

I have a 4 shaft sx60 loom.

[Kathy]

I put a handmade raddle on the back of the shelf using Erwin quick grips. I have the Saori wx60 and it worked really well. The bobbin winder got in the way a little but I worked around it and used the smaller grips. This was the first time I used a raddle and I enjoyed the process…so much easier than holding the cross.

I’m happy to answer any questions you have, if I can. 😊

Happy weaving!

[Susan Canning]

Kathy: thanks for the tips. I figured the shelf would be the best place, too. When you made your raddle, what spacing did you use? 1/2 inch?

[Kathy]

Yes, the nails are spaced every 1/2″. My raddle is a piece of molding cut at a length of 25″.

Left 1-3/4″ on each end without nails so I had space for the grips.  Nothing fancy, but it works! 😊

 

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