Weighted Warps Need the Center Spring

There is so much to share about my weaving techniques. I can't offer every means I use to weave beads on a loom, but let me share this one.

The 'Weighted Warp' method can be set up to use on any 'vertical' style loom. I chose the Mirrix Loom because of some accessories they offer which help to make this easy (including a center spring to hold the weighted warps steady). The Loom is set up as standard directions denote, warping only those warps, which will be stationary and not used for 'increase or decreasing'. Therefore, count the number of beads you will be using for the 'movement in your beadwork'. My example has 'four' beads, on each loom edge, which will be creating an 'indent'. These four warps will need to be 'moveable', so I will thread these warps using 'weights' to hold them down, but allow them to be moved, as shown in the picture below.

The spring you see, in the upper portion of this photograph, is an additional spring to 'center' the weighted warps. A thin rod is then placed inside the spring, in front of the warps, to hold them in line, while the lower weighted warps move up to accommodate the pattern.

Now that the loom is strung with the correct number of warps, and the proper number of weighted warps, begin weaving the 'longest' row of beads, shown in your pattern. This row will be your constant, holding your rows together.

To indent, add your next row of beads. When you return the needle through that same row, as you do with every woven row, be sure to 'loop' the weft around the end warp, grabbing it to pull 'inward' towards the last bead on your row.

Because your four outside warps are weighted and not attached to the base of the loom, as the other warps are secured, this warp will be flexible to move inward as needed. Continue to decrease your row of beads, and continue to loop around the necessary weighted warps to pull them inwards.



You will notice the weighted warps starting to move upward towards your weaving. They will eventually pass the lower spring, but the 'center spring secured with a rod' will not allow you to loose their alignments.

Your rows can be indented as far as your pattern suggests. These can even be increased back to the original number of beads in a row.

Because I have weighted warps on each side of my woven warps, I can increase and decrease on each side of the beadwork. I am creating a full pattern of wavy edges. When these are completed, I will share how I edge these to complete the look and structure of this method.

There is much more to weave, to complete this cuff, but I'll share more as I progress. This pattern will have multiple indents and increases, before it is complete!
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