Topic outline

  • Warping (ourdissage)

    • Warping (ourdissage) is the operation which consists of preparing the warp threads before assembly on the loom. This preparation is done according to the number of lames and the length of the tapestry to be installed on the loom.

      Each lame of warp, or portion of 40 cm of threads, is warped individually. These groups of threads corresponding to the lames are called crenilles.

      The length of the crenilles corresponds to that of the tapestry to be made by adding the loss of warp called saut, that is to say approximately 1,20 m (possibly a little more if it is a bar loom – métier à barre – or capstan).

      The number of threads contained in each crenille varies depending on the density of the warp, that is to say the number of portées per lame.

       

      The warping (ourdissage) is done from five wooden dowels allowing, on one hand,  to establish the length of the crenille, and on the other hand, to make crosses (encroix or enverjures or croisures), markers of threads in preparation for the arrangement on the loom. *

      *The cross (encroix) is the crossing of two layers of even and odd threads, between two wooden dowels i.e. sometimes a thread above then a thread below, sometimes six threads above then six threads below each dowel.

      The arrangement of these five dowels is done according to two kinds of crosses (encroix) A and B as follows :

      Image


      A – on one hand two dowels 1 and 2.
      B – on the other hand three dowels 3, 4 and 5.


◄Warping Μachines
►Warping Steps

  • Crosses (encroix) A and B

    • Before starting to warp, it is important to clarify the difference between the two crosses (encroix) A and B and the location of these and the ends of the crenille on the loom.

      Let's start from dowel no. 1 at the bottom of the warping machine and go up to dowel no. 5.

      A - A first cross (encroix) is made between dowels 1 and 2.

      It is a cross (encroix) with six threads, that is to say sometimes six threads above, sometimes six threads below each dowel. This end A of the crenille (bottom of the warping machine) corresponds when put on the loom to the rear beam (tension carriage side), and dowel no. 1 corresponds to the rear verdillon.

      This first cross (encroix) will allow a first installation on the rear beam of the loom in groups of six threads or half-portée.

      B - The second cross (encroix), more complex to make but much more precise, will be carried out between dowels 3 and 4 by means of a manual operation between the index and middle fingers of the right hand.

      It is a thread-by-thread cross (encroix), that is to say sometimes a thread above, sometimes a thread below each dowel.

      This end B of the crenille corresponds to the front of the loom (bench side). It will be cut at the level of dowel no. 5 during assembly on the loom, so as to pass the heddles, and openings 3 and 4 of the thread-to-thread cross (encroix) will be passed through an equalizing rope.

◄Warping Μachines
►Warping Steps