Tips for Perfect Tension on the Rigid-Heddle Loom

When I first watched Sara Goldenberg White’s new video Pick-Up Stick Basics and Beyond, I thought I’d be learning, well, about pick-up. I did, but the course really is so much more. Sara has been weaving and teaching for a long time and so, naturally, she’s come up with various general best practices for warping and weaving on a rigid-heddle loom, including some of the most ingenious tips and tricks for tying on a warp.

At one point she demonstrates how she uses large rubber bands to help her get perfect tension while tying on, and I had to stop the video, rewind, and watch it again because it was such an “A-HA!” moment. It’s such a tiny step—the work of a couple of seconds—and makes a huge difference. Of course, I don’t think I could describe it here and really do it justice—you must see it in action. Watch this clip of Sara Goldenberg White in her new video for the tip as well as a few others that will make tying on your warp and getting the tension just right easy peasy.

How easy was that? I don’t know about you, but after watching that clip the first time, I immediately wanted to grab my loom and put on a new warp using Sara’s techniques because they are so darn intriguing.

Of course, that’s not all the video has to offer. Sara’s explanations of pick-up and how to effectively use pick-up sticks are clear and concise, and it feels like you’re learning from a friend. She provides so many tips just as good as these all along the way—so many it was difficult to narrow down which one to share here!

So, check out Sara’s video and learn how to weave pick-up with one or two pick-up sticks, how to use string heddles while weaving pick-up, and so much more!

Happy Weaving,
Christina