Ask Madelyn: Using Texsolv Cords on Apron Rods

Hi Madelyn, I just read a post where you recommended Texsolv cords instead of a cloth apron to connect apron rods to the warp and cloth beams. How does one attach the Texsolv cords and what length do you use?
—Peggy

Hi Peggy!

My beams all have holes in them that go all the way through the beam. For most looms, the holes are about six to eight inches apart, and that’s about the distance apart the “apron” cords need to be. If my beams didn’t have holes in them, I’d drill holes. There are probably other ways you could attach the cords to the beam, but you wouldn’t want them to slip around the beam (as would happen if you just tied them around the beam).

First, you measure and cut all the cords so they are as long as they’d need to be to go from the cloth beam, around the breast beam, and to the reed plus a few inches (always burn the cut ends of the cords in a flame). For the warp beam, this would be the distance from the warp beam, over the back beam, to the back of the shafts plus a few inches. It’s easy to make sure the cords are all exactly the same length because you can count the loops in the cord––I just hold them next to each other and match the loops (see photo a). The length of the cord may be anywhere from 28-48 inches, I would guess; it just depends on the loom.

Then, working with the other end of the cord, you pull some of the cord through the last loop, which makes a larger loop of cord that is like a slipknot;(c, d, and e). You put the apron rod in that loop (f) and pull to tighten. All the cords will have loops and all will be exactly the same length and your job is done (g).

—Madelyn

 

a		b		c
d		e		f
		g