Embedded Files
BEFORE USING THE TC2
BEFORE USING THE TC2
TC2 Loom User Contract FYI (guidelines for community tool + fees for misuse)
TC2 Loom User Contract FYI (guidelines for community tool + fees for misuse)
TC2 EQUIPMENT AND ROOM USE
The Fiber Department expects that TC2 loom users follow specific rules and guidelines to ensure the working condition of our equipment. Users must have training and acknowledge the guidelines and rules of the loom. This includes maintenance, warp cost, and communication guidelines. This agreement must be signed by the user in order to gain access to the loom. These forms are maintained by the Studio Manager to document user history.
The TC2 user agreement must be signed each semester by the student and the student must demonstrate that they can perform warp repair each semester before they are able to use the TC2.
WARP COST
* There is a warp cost for weavers.
- Those students who are enrolled in Pliable Plane will pay a flat cost for the warp yardage for the semester. This was applied to the class material cost.
- Those students who are not in the class but have previous training on the loom, may weave 36 inches without being charged warp cost. After 36 inches, students will be accountable to pay for the amount of woven material.
- Students who are planning +1 yards in one session are required to consult with the Studio Manager and the TC2 instructor regarding scheduling.
Warp use is measured in inches at each warp cut off. Students who are not registered for a class receive a receipt by email for the cost of the warp. Students can pay for the warp at the online MICA Store or at the MICA Store directly.
SCHEDULING/ LOOM USE
*The user schedule can be found on a Gmail calendar that is accessible to Agreement Signers. This includes students currently enrolled in a class whose curriculum engages the TC2 Loom, faculty, staff, or students who have had training and are approved users.
* Students can schedule two weeks in advance to weave on the TC2 Calendar. Any cancellations should be made in a timely manner.
*Students not currently enrolled in a course will need to participate in a Refresher Workshop to use the TC2 loom.
*The loom is available when the building is open. Closures and cleaning schedules will be posted on the TC2 Gmail calendar.
*The instructor and Studio Manager will plan warp cut off dates and it will be noted on the Gmail TC2 loom calendar. You will receive an invite to the calendar after this agreement is signed.
LOOM MISUSE WARNINGS------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Any person using this loom must follow these guidelines, listed in this document. Failure to follow a rule/rules will result in a "Warning" issued by the Instructor, Technician or Studio Manager. If a person receives a fourth warning, they will lose the privilege of using the TC2 loom.
If a student does not follow these guidelines below, a warning can be issued...
MAINTENANCE + LOOM CARE
*Room S103 follows the same general guidelines of conduct as other classroom spaces however these are specific rules to follow:
*No food allowed in S103, No food waste in the trash cans.
*Beverages must have a secure lid to prevent spills and be kept on a table away from the loom.
*No pets allowed.
*No removing tools from this room, including the ladder. Take care of the tools and be respectful of class materials stored in the room.
*No use of S103 for activities that are not related to designing, weaving, warping for the TC2.
I UNDERSTAND THAT BEFORE I WEAVE...
*I will stay updated on the ALL USER TC2 Reply-All Email Thread. I will Reply-All with all my questions and communications.
*I will check the TC2 email thread for any issues the previous weavers have had.
*I will check the back and front of the loom for broken warp threads, sticking warp thread, or tangles and repair them as trained.
*I will weave 2-3 (measured) inches of tabby before I weave my art file using designated tabby thread.
*I will not weave files that are smaller than 2640 pixels wide or that include structures that will damage the warp (check with faculty).
I UNDERSTAND THAT DURING WEAVING...
*I will adjust the lease sticks towards the back beam on the loom after every 5” or 15 minutes of weaving.
*I will monitor and adjust warp tension. If I notice that my file is causing an uneven tension for more than 12”
of warp length, I will stop.
*I will repair broken warps IMMEDIATELY when I notice them (irregular pattern or loose warps).
* I will try to find the reason why the warp threads broke.
*I will check and manage the threads that need to be wound onto a spool in the back (there may not be any).
* I will ASK QUESTIONS using the ALL USER TC2 Reply-All Email Thread when there is something that I do not know how to do.
*I will send a message to the TC2 Email Group immediately concerning any issues or damage that I do
not know how to resolve myself. I will contact the TC2 faculty or Studio Manager if further help is needed.
*I will turn off the main power switch of the loom if I leave the room for any reason.
*I will notice if certain heddles are consistently “misfiring“ (weaving an irregular pattern) and record the issue
to the TC2 Email Group.
* I will respect the scheduling system, and do my best to make sure the loom is ready to use for the weaver
scheduled after me.
I UNDERSTAND THAT AFTER WEAVING...
*I will weave 2-3 inches of tabby weave after weaving my art file. I will use the designated yarn to weave this.
*I will pull through any repaired threads pinned in back if their rear knot is able to reach the woven cloth in
front of the beater.
*I will email the TC2 user group if there are any complications where the loom is not working as well as it
should. This will alert others in the community of users and is a way to ask for help.
*I will complete the tasks for clean up:
-Switch the TC2 power to OFF
-Dust work space area: loom top, both front and back base surfaces, and in between heddles as trained.
- Return any tools and equipment used to their proper place.
- Remove ALL personal items and any large pieces of trash from S103.
CLEANING
*Entire work area clean- all surfaces and floors.
*Put away yarn, bobbins, t-pins, tools.
*No food in S103. This includes in the trash and recycling bins.
LOOM CARE
*Use the tabby to check for mis-threading and fix them. If unable to fix, document them in the TC2 User
Email thread and send to all users.
*Fix all broken warp threads as they occur.
*Untangle warp threads on the back of the loom, and pull lease sticks to the back.
*Check to make sure the file I am weaving does not drastically alter the warp tension.
*Weave files using the full 2640 warp width
*Wind all cast out warps onto spools in back (if applicable)
*Leaving TC2 on after weaving session is complete
COMMUNITY
*Leaving TC2 door open when not in use
*Not communicating significant problems to the REPLY-ALL communication email
*Not coming in for your scheduled appointment/cancelling without emailing the group
*Leaving loose broken warp threads, without the extension thread or unpinned
*Going drastically over allotted time without permission/contacting the next weaver
*Altering another user’s appointment on the calendar without their permission
*Cutting the warp with scissors or altering another student’s work
*Not completing class loom maintenance hours (warping etc) (if applicable)
A student who has made an offense will be given a "Warning notice" in person or by email from MICA staff or instructor to document that they received a warning. The student may have privileges revoked if they do not sign the warning documenting the offense. Warnings are documented. After the fourth warning, privileges to use the loom are revoked. The specific term "Warning" will be used. The instructor, technician or studio manager issuing the warning must cc the studio manager and instructor so all are notified.
TC2 USER STATEMENT:
I will be a responsible community member when using this shared tool. I realize that my negligence on loom care can and will affect the ability of my classmates to complete their work. If I have questions, I will ask them. I will be responsible for the time I have signed up for. My weaving appointment slot INCLUDES the time I need to maintain the warp, repair threads, and clean up the workspace so the next user can begin their appointment on time. If I cancel my appointment, I will promptly edit the calendar and REPLY-ALL to the email thread so that others can weave. If I finish my appointment early, I will email the person scheduled after me so that they can come in early if they are able.
User signature_______________________________________Date______________
As you are weaving, you may notice that you have broken a thread. There are several reasons that a thread might break, some of them are not your fault and others are due to operator error. The first step is to identify that you have broken a thread. This happens. You are not a bad person if you break a thread, but you ARE a bad person if you do not repair it properly!
DO NOT LEAVE BROKEN THREADS FOR THE NEXT WEAVER. You will incur a $5 FINE per loose broken thread you leave. If this happens 3 times, your weaving privileges will be revoked. This is a communal tool and we need to work together to maintain it. Please follow this guide to preventing + repairing broken threads, and PLEASE use the REPLY-ALL EMAIL THREAD to communicate with TC2 question or problems.
Here are written instruction for setting up on the TC2 and beginning to weave >>>
PREVENTING BROKEN THREADS
PREVENTING BROKEN THREADS
1>> LEASE STICKS ADVANCING:
Every 15-20 minutes OR 6” of weaving OR if you notice a tension inconsistency OR every time you wind a bobbin, check for tangles near the lease sticks. After weaving 6” of cloth, you must gently COMB the warp threads behind the lease sticks and shift the lease sticks back until they are just in front of the back beam. The TC2 auto-advances the warp as you weave. It can be easy to get in the flow of weaving and not notice that the lease sticks have advanced so far that they are hitting the TC2 frame.
The tension of the lease sticks pressing on the frame will break threads. T-pins from repaired threads can also get caught on the lease sticks and cause extra tension that will break threads. If a T-pin “butterfly” advances to near the lease sticks, unwrap it and move it back towards the bottom beam OR if the knot from the extension can reach in front of the reed, pull it through and butterfly it onto the front (See REPAIRING steps 7 + 8)
2>> WARP THREADS TANGLED:
Threads can break because there is extra tension on them due to entanglements with other threads. This can happen when there is not a direct path from the cross to the heddle to the dent- for example, if two threads cross each other at any point between the cross and the reed. Pay attention to the path of the thread when repairing threads, and when threading them through the reed- there should be 2 adjacent threads per dent. Tangled threads will show up in your woven cloth as two or more threads next to each other lifting together, regardless of the programmed pattern. To fix this, identify the tangled threads- re-thread one or more of them through the proper heddle and dent.
3>> A KNOT CAUGHT IN THE REED:
A knot in the warp will almost always get caught in the reed and snap the thread. Some warp knots are from manufacture, some are from repairing or adding on thread during the warping process, others are from repairing threads that break while weaving. Look out for these knots as you weave, occasionally, you can avoid breaking them simply by beating the cloth with less force. See the REPAIRING BROKEN THREADS PROCEDURE for another way to avoid snapping these threads at the knots. You would cut the warp at the knot and add an extension and follow REPAIRING steps 5-8.
4>> SHUTTLE HITTING UNDER-TENSIONED THREADS IN THE SHED:
There are several reasons that a thread may not be lifting to the full height of the rest of the shed: (1) Threads are entangled between the cross and the reed and lifting together. (2) A heddle is misfiring. (3) The thread is under less tension than the rest of the warp- this can be due to a poor repair, slack on the back beam, a tangle in the lease sticks, or even a result of the weave structure that you are using.
If (1): Untangle threads and re-thread to create a straight path from the cross to the reed.
If (2): Gently pump the misfiring heddle up + down with your hand. Sometimes this resolves the issue.
If (3): Gather the slack from the loose thread and use a T-pin to pin it onto the woven cloth. The pin should be applied perpendicular to the warp and should penetrate the cloth 3 times to be secure and have the point on the back side of the cloth. If there are many threads out of tension due to your file structure, try plugging in a different structure to the affected part of the file AND contact your instructor.
5>> WARP TENSION TOO TIGHT:
If the entire warp is tensioned too tight, threads may break.
REPAIRING BROKEN THREADS
REPAIRING BROKEN THREADS
1>> IDENTIFY THE BROKEN THREAD: There are several ways to tell that a thread has broken. If there are multiple broken threads, repair one at a time. If a knot has been broken by the reed, you will see a thread a few inches long squiggle up in front of the beater. DO NOT CONTINUE WEAVING. If you identify it right away it is usually still threaded through its heddle. If you don’t see it or don’t repair it immediately, the loose thread will entangle with other warp threads and cause them to not lift properly, or eventually cause additional breakages.
2>> FIND THE BROKEN THREAD’S DENT: You can identify it easily if there is a portion of the broken thread in front of the beater, or you may see a pattern deviation in the woven cloth if the thread has been broken and you continued weaving. You are looking for a dent that has only ONE thread in it. Put the sleigh hook through the dent and leave it as a marker.
3>> FIND THE HEDDLE: The broken thread may still be in its heddle, or the heddle may be open. You can easily find the correct heddle by identifying an adjacent thread and lifting it in front of the beater, then grab that thread behind the beater and follow it back to its heddle. Move that thread to the side and it should reveal the empty heddle/heddle with the broken thread. Part the threads slightly on either side of the empty heddle to subtly mark the open position on the lease sticks. Grab the empty heddle and gently pull it forward- just in front of the cluster of heddles, place your shuttle behind it to mark it.
4>> FIND THE BROKEN THREAD: If you found the broken thread in the heddle, make sure it is not tangled with any other warps, then simply pull it forward and catch it on the sleigh hook if it is long enough to pull through the reed. If the broken thread is no longer in the heddle, go to the back of the loom to find it. Always check that the thread is in the correct cross (alternating over-under, under/over) placement in the lease sticks- reference the threads adjacent to the empty heddle to locate the position.
5>> ADD AN EXTENSION THREAD: Measure 3-4’ of extension thread (Rule of thumb: from shoulder to opposite hand) Tie the extension to the warp thread with an overhand knot. Double check the cross/lease stick position, lay the thread extension perpendicular to the warp just behind the bay of heddles. Return to the front of the loom.
6>> RE-THREAD THE HEDDLE + REED: Grab the empty heddle, remove the shuttle that was marking its position, reach straight back through the opening in the heddles and grab the loose warp thread. Re-thread the heddle, hook the thread on your sleigh hook (which should be already through the correct dent) and pull through.
7>> T-PIN + BUTTERFLY IN FRONT: DIRECTLY in front of the extension thread’s dent and 1” from the last woven weft, weave a small T-pin perpendicular to the warp, picking up only a ¼” or so of cloth, both ends of the pin above the cloth. Use one hand to pull about 8” of the extension thread forward and place your other hand on the back side of the pin to raise it up slightly. Wrap the extension thread in a “figure 8” or “butterfly” around the T-pin. Tuck the sharp end of the pin into the cloth. Return to the back of the loom.
8>> PULL SLACK + BUTTERFLY IN BACK: Comb back slack from the thread extension past the lease sticks and all the way down to the bottom beam. Place a large T-pin behind ½ of the warp section that the thread is from. Butterfly wrap the loose warp thread around the T-pin. After weaving 12+”, undo this rear butterfly and pull the thread forward, if the knot reaches the woven cloth in front, butterfly it to the cloth with a small T-pin. DONE!
USE THE TC2 LOG BINDER TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE NEXT WEAVER ABOUT ANY WARP EXTENSIONS THAT ARE PINNED BACK AND THEY WILL HAVE TO PULL THROUGH WHILE WEAVING.
SETTING UP THE LOOM- FAQ VIDEOS
SETTING UP THE LOOM- FAQ VIDEOS
IMPORTANT: Fixing a Broken Warp (part 1)
IMPORTANT: Fixing a Broken Warp (part 2)
BEFORE YOU WEAVE
BEFORE YOU WEAVE
Setting up the TC2 + PC software
IMPORTANT: Check for warps caught in the back beam - they can be under extra tension and break if not adjusted as the warp advances.
Winding a bobbin
IMPORTANT: Lease Sticks + repairing warp threads
TABBY AND WEAVING YOUR FILE
TABBY AND WEAVING YOUR FILE
Setting up Tabby and Weaving
Weaving your TIFF file
Changing Sheds
IMPORTANT: Warp Manual Advance
Spool on the back beam (part 1)
Finished Weaving? Tidy the room, Fill out the LOG, and Turn OFF the TC2
Spool on the back beam (part 2)
TYING KNOTS TO ATTACH A NEW WARP
TYING KNOTS TO ATTACH A NEW WARP
Watch this entire video before you begin tying on the new warp. Each class member should use their regular TC2 time slot for tie-on, with the goal of tying 3-5 inches each. Be sure to use the light on the back of the loom.
Please ensure that you arrive for your tie-on shift having slept well, eaten, and are of sound mind.
The tie-on process is one of the most important parts of the loom set up and any errors made here will affect the entire 70-yard warp.
You can listen to music, but not podcasts or TV etc, because they will be too distracting. There should only be a single person in the room at a time. Please minimize distractions and focus on this task.
Take breaks. Stretch. Step out to have a snack.
Please ask if you have any questions and be in touch if you see anything that doesn't look right!
Report abuse