The way to thread without mistakes is to get comfortable so you can see what you’re doing. Suspending the cross so it hangs vertically is a no-brainer, yet many people have their cross in the horizontal position for threading. Can you see how much easier it will be to see this way? You may need to move the cross to get it into the best position.
It is important for the cross in the lease sticks to be level with the heddle eyes so you can comfortably thread them accurately. (threading accurately isn’t difficult if you can see what you are doing.) Move the cross to where you think it will be when it is suspended like the illustration. You can fine tune the position while it is suspended.
You’ll tie a broom handle or long dowel to the back of the castle. If your loom has a low castle, tie the broom handle to the back-most shaft and suspend the warp with its lease sticks over the broom handle as in the illustration above.
To stabilize the lease sticks, tie the top lease stick to the broom handle with 2 loops of string—one on each side of the warp. Make the strings long and use bows for ties so you can adjust the height of the cross later.
More photos are in a previous post. HERE
Simple ideas are nearly always the best ~ Hang the Lease Sticks Vertically!
Wow, that’s a game changer, thanks Peggy!
I couldn’t understand how the lease sticks should hang vertically until seeing the photos in the link. You meant that the strings holding the sticks are vertical, not the actual sticks themselves haha! That threw me.