Improve Your Inkle Warping with Painter’s Tape

One of my biggest challenges as a new inkle weaver was managing multiple colors as I wound my warp on the loom. Most inkle patterns are warp-faced—and those that aren’t are still warp-dominant—which means any patterning in an inkle band comes from the warp. If you want to weave attractive bands on an inkle loom, you need to know how to manage your warp color changes. At the start of my weaving journey, I tried a few methods of yarn management, but then one day (thanks to Joan Sheridan), I discovered my new favorite warping helper: painter’s tape.

While rewatching Joan’s video workshop Weave Turned Krorkbragd on an Inkle Loom, I paid careful attention to her “Wind the Warp” section. From the very first end, I knew my warping experiences from here on out would be better. Where I had previously been using knots and/or twists around the tension peg, Joan was using painter’s tape. I did not know this was an option, but now I can’t imagine warping without it.

I could try to describe how Joan uses painter’s tape throughout warping, but I think it would be easier for me to show you. In the short video tip below, Joan demonstrates how to start new warp yarns, how to handle inactive warps during color changes, and how to properly secure completed warp sections.

If you found Joan’s tip helpful, I highly recommend checking out the rest of her video workshop. Although the video focuses on weaving turned krokbragd, so much of what Joan teaches can be applied to other kinds of bandweaving, including tips for getting clean selvedges, ideas for decorative edging, and one particular use for a chip clip that made me literally gasp out loud. I plan to use all those tips in all my future bandweaving, whether I’m weaving turned krokbgragd, pick-up, or plain weave—I can even use them in tablet weaving!

I do hope you watch Joan’s workshop; it’s a truly wonderful resource.

Happy Weaving,

Christina