Setting up a warp - #4 Placing the warp in the raddle – Louët Support Helpdesk

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

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

Previous article- Setting up a warp - #3 making the loom ready for winding on your warp

Next article - Setting up a warp - #5 Winding on your warp

Before the warp can be laid across the raddle, the warp sections must be placed on the lease sticks and the lease sticks must be secured. You can use various tools for this (not included), including tying them between the castle and back beam.

Covering the raddle

TIP:

To prevent the warpthreads from falling into the raddle grooves accidentally, you can cover the raddle with a piece of cut open garden hose or use a Louet raddle cover. Two or three pieces about 9' (20 cm) wide work well.

With a piece of elastic cord (DO NOT use a rubber band) the threads distributed in the raddle can be held in place. (Such as the buttonhole elastic band tip discussed in the previous article, these accessories are not supplied by Louet.

NEW

Louet supplies wooden raddle covers with the Spring-2 and David-3.

They are also expected to be available as separate accessories at the end of 2021 for use on (most) other Louet looms.

Apply lease sticks

Lay the loose warp sections with the side with the closed loops, forward on the table.

Insert the first lease stick through the opening under the cross

Then slide the other lease stick through the other hole and check that the warps are not twisted.

Connect the other lease stick with a string and tie it. There must be space between the lease sticks . Some people use split rings or other tools to connect the lease sticks. It is important that the lease sticks cannot come loose spontaneously.

Connect the lease sticks to the loom

Buttonhole elastic bands stretched between the back beam and the raddle provide a perfect support for the lease sticks, prevent them from wobbling and also prevent them slipping out of the warp.

On the David-III and Spring-II you will find a hook just below the raddle, to attach the elastic band to.

If you have thin lease sticks (Jane) you can push the lease stickts through the buttonholes.

For the thicker lease sticks of the floor looms you can use a doublesided knot, or you can cut the buttonhole slightly bigger.

You can also use a double button to attach the lease sticks (demonstrated in the video)

Using the raddle covers

The raddle cover bar is a new product that has a double function: during the distribution of the warp threads in the raddle, the threads not yet sorted will not sink into the raddle. After the threads are divided in the raddle, the raddle cover will prevent the sorted threads from slipping out of the raddle.

Raddle covers are included with the Spring-2 and David-3. They will also be available as a separate accessory in 2022 . Alternatively, you can use a cut-open garden hose.

Slide the cover over the raddle and lay the warp over the loom with the lease sticks to the back. A comfortable working height is when there is approximately 6” space between the top lease stick and the raddle.

You will need to decide for yourself if you prefer working right to left, left to right or from the center. If you go from left to right (or right to left), measure half the warp width (here 40:2= 20 cm or approx 8”) from the center mark to the right and slide the raddle cover to that position.

From there, place the number of threads required per half centimeter in each raddle opening (in this example 4 threads per opening). To properly grasp the threads, keep one hand in the loop (without pulling) and select the threads at the cross with the other hand.

Slide the other cover over the threads distributed in the raddle.

If you don't have raddle covers, use a piece of elastic cord to hold the divided threads in place (don't use a rubber band).