Setting up a warp - #1 making your pattern draft plan

This article is part of a series of instructions for setting up a warp.

For an overview of the articles in this series  go to article Instructions for setting up a warp.

To make a warp you need to be well prepared and also have some knowledge and insight of your weaving draft. The explanation in this article is based on a sample project. When making a weaving draft, the following items are recorded:

• width of the warp
• warp length
• the number of warp threads per centimeter or inch
• the number of threads per warp section (if splitting your warp into sections)
• warp parts of 20-30 cm (8-12”) are easier to handle when setting up a warp, rather than a very thick bundle of warp threads.

1. Making your pattern draft plan

For this instruction, the following weaving plan has been made for a cloth woven with Ne8/2 cotton (1625 m/250g - 1775 yards) in twill blocks on 8 shafts (picture below is a narrowed version of the final draft)

1. Width of the warp:
   • 24 inch 
2. Length of the warp:
   • 3.3 yard warp (after deducting loom loss - 2.75 yards of fabric)
   • Longer warps are possible, but then you will also need extra warp sticks (see step 5 warping )
3. Determining epi (ends per inch):
   • For a twill with this yarn 20 e.p.i. is recommended
   • Each weave structure and each yarn has its own optimal sett of e.p.i.
4. Determining the number of threads per warp section
   
   • This warp is made in two equal parts, each  12'  wide x 20 epi  = 240 threads/warp section

Back to the overview : Setting up a Warp

Continue stap 2: Making the warp