Ask Madelyn


Ask Madelyn: Loose Selvedge Threads

Why do my selvedge threads loosen as I weave?

Ask Madelyn: Warp Winding Woes

I have just wound a warp that took way too long to wind and I'm wondering if there is a better way.

Ask Madelyn: To Unweave or Not to Unweave

I am weaving a silk scarf in huck lace and noticed that about four inches back I had made a serious treadling error. What can I do?

Ask Madelyn: Twisting Threads

I had no idea how difficult woven rep was going to be—the threads are twisting between the reed and the heddles as I wind on. What else can I do?

Ask Madelyn: Two Ways to Wind Floating Selvedges

There are two typical methods for handling floating selvedges. One is to wind and beam the floating selvedge with the rest of the warp...

Ask Madelyn: Yarn Tracking

Yarn tracking is something that happens to some yarns when they are woven in plain weave—but why and how?

Ask Madelyn: Warping Question: Raddles and Warp Spacers

Winding the warp with spacers between the warp layers is a vital step in warping a loom. What material works best as a spacer? Cardboard? Paper? Sticks?

Ask Madelyn: Lashing Your Warp

The method you are referring to for tying the warp onto the apron rod is usually called "lashing." Madelyn gives instructions on just how this is done.

Ask Madelyn: About Marian Powell

I've recently become obsessed not only with shadow weave but also with the woman behind the Powell system. Do you happen to know anything about the life of Marian Powell? Where did she live? Did she leave any textiles behind?

Ask Madelyn: Sleying the reed

Do you have any tips regarding keeping threads in order when sleying 2 or more threads per dent?  I tend to get many crossed threads!