Tension but texture with variable-sized heddles

Have had so much fun experimenting with variable-sized heddles (segments put together in the frame and used as one heddle in my rigid heddle loom).

This has allowed me to use a lot of different sized yarns, but keep the finer yarns closely set, while still leaving enough room for the bulky yarns.

But here's the problem.  The bulky yarns use up more space on both the front and the back beam, which will inevitably lead to problems - the thickest yarns become tighter and tighter. One way to reduce this would be to add weights to the finer yarns and let them hang off the back of the loom; this works great on a conventional loom (my Dorothy table loom, for example), but my RH loom is portable, so weights get awkward really fast.

I use cardboard slats to keep my warp even as I wind it, so as I weave and advance the warp, these fall out (usually on my feet...)  I then put these on the back beam, under the threads that are finer, to bring them to the same tension as the bulkier warps.  As I weave, I find that I have to keep adding these slats, and sometimes even have to press against them towards the end of the piece, because there is quite a bit of difference between the tensions. But whatever works.

On this latest scarf, I've been using a wooden weaving sword, which has helped with tension, but also has helped me clear the shed because I forgot how sticky eyelash yarn is when you use it as warp. Only 4 ends of eyelash, but I have to clear Every. Single, Pick.  Remember:  use eyelash yarn for weft. Use eyelash yarn for weft.

I've also found it helpful to "beat" with a comb, rather than with the heddle.  There is such variety in warp sizes, that when I beat with the heddle, sometimes the pick gets pulled out as I push the heddle back to it's resting position.  The comb has allowed me to keep the lines of weft even.  Sometimes, when I tighten the warp, especially towards the end of the scarf, the last few picks I have just woven get out of shape. I can carefully  re-align them with the comb.

Oh, and I found that all the little heddle segments didn't like standing up straight, so I added a wider segment at each side for stability.  This may not be a problem with the Majacraft loom, but if you've done a DIY number, you may want to try this.

Yes, this is more work, but the results are worth it.

Experimenting with variable-sized heddles

    After seeing a discussion on Ravelry about the Majacraft dynamic heddle rigid heddle loom that has variable-sized segments of heddles, I had to try it for myself.  Not having $500 plus for the Majacraft, gorgeous as it is, I tried something else.  Here's a link to the discussion; you have to be a member of Ravelry to see it, but it's free to join.

    I purchased RH segments from Village Spin and Weave.  Folks use these segments for backstrap and other narrow weaving, and since they only cost $6.25 to $8.25 each, the outlay is small.  These are solid, sturdy plastic, made by Schacht (based on the name "Schacht" embedded in the plastic), a bit thicker than the plastic in my Ashford Knitters Loom heddles, and a bit less tall than the AKL heddles, but they're all the same height.

    My DH made me a wooden frame for the segments so that I can use them all together in whatever order I choose. The frame he made looks the same as the wooden frames for the heddles I already have.  I put the heddle segments I want to use in the frame, and hold the whole thing together with rubber bands.  Here's a picture from warping: 

    While direct warping, I was more careful than usual, as I didn't want the heddle to fall apart and leave me with a big snarl.

    From warping the scarf I'm using to play with the segments, I can already see some issues ahead.

First, the different thicknesses of the yarn will mean tension problems, so I will need to add something on the back beam for the skinnier yarn to keep the tension consistent.

Second, I think I need to get some more rubber bands, to make sure this holds together as I move the heddle up and down while I weave.

Third, the holes (vs. the slots) in the segments are not as tall as those in my AKL.  Don't know if this will make a difference or not.

Fourth, finishing will be interesting, with all these different yarns.  I used stash yarns for the warp, and will be using more stash yarns for the weft, so it's a real mix - cotton carpet warp, bulky variegated yarn (wool/acrylic), wool worsted weight, acrylic sport weight.

Fifth, there can be gaps between the segments.  Don't know if this will cause tracking, but since it's between different-sized yarns already, I don't think any tracking will be noticeable.

    Can't wait to see what develops.  Stay tuned.