Tips

 

Temples - 3 sizes

There are many assumptions that people make and there is one I see repeatedly.

"You use a temple to prevent draw in." 

Yes, the temple prevents the warp from drawing in.  But only during weaving and only if it is being used appropriately.

The cloth will still lose dimensions (shrink) during wet finishing.  It will even draw in once it is removed from the loom, particularly if left to 'relax' for a few days.

If a weaver assumes that there will be no dimensional loss after wet finishing, they will be in for a surprise.

If a weaver doesn't use the temple appropriately, it might even cause problems.  Like the teeth of the temple scratching the breast beam.  If that happens, I can pretty much guarantee the temple isn't being utilized 'properly'.  

For best results the temple should not be further away from the fell by more than about an inch (2.5 cm).

When using a temple I count how many picks I weave and when I've done an inch worth, I put the shuttle down and move the temple back up to about 1/4" away from the fell (depending on the thickness of the weft).

There are times when using a temple is essential and when it is, I use one.  Yes, even on narrower warps, although usually I mostly use one on wider warps, made of finer thread.  If it is necessary, I use it, even if it means I have to weave more slowly.

Sometimes, to get the quality of cloth I want, I *must* go more slowly.

Another tip that might come in handy is when using lots of colours in a warp, perhaps a plaid/tartan when one (or more) colour(s) has just two picks here and there.

I leave the main colour shuttle aside, then enter the two pick colour leaving a 'tail' at the selvedge.  Weave the first pick, then weave the second pick and then insert the tail back into the second shed in order to overlap the end of the second pick and trim the tail flush with the selvedge.

Happy weaving!