Posted by Gloria on Saturday, 6 June 2009, at 1:30 a.m.:
In Reply to: selvedge warp threads posted by alice hall on Friday, 5 June 2009, at 6:43 p.m.:
You can predict when you will need a floating selvedge by making a "draw-down" of your pattern.
Any good pattern book will show you the threading, tie-up, treadling AND a draw-down of the pattern you want to weave.
Look closely at the last few selvedge (warp) ends. If they travel OVER or UNDER multiple weft threads (as in twill) you will have a problem because the weft will not catch the selvedge warp on every row.
You can solve this by adding or deleting threads at the selvedge or by using a "floating selvedge". When you use a floating selvedge, ALWAYS tension it with weights hung over your back beam. (Fishing sinkers work great for this.)
If you've never used a draw-down. Now's a good time to learn. It will help you with all your weaving projects. The book "Learning to Weave with Debbie Redding" has a lot of good basic weaving informaiton, including a section on reading drafts and draw-downs.
Good luck!