Check out my short video tutorial that inspired this blog topic!
For all you beginner bead loomers out there, I thought this would be a great topic to go over since the term Warp Threads is a common term thrown out there in the crafting community.
There are a lot of different definitions of what warp threads are on the internet, I thought that the following describes it the best:
Warp threads, also known as surface threads or ends, are stretched vertically on the loom and are therefore made of stronger, coarser fibers than the weft threads. The term comes from the Old Norse word “varp”, meaning “the cast of a net”. - Source
Now, in my own words, I'd like to explain what warp threads are. That is because I know a lot of you lovely followers of mine follow my accounts because you like the way I explain things in my tutorials, along with other reasons. And I only know this because many of you tell me constantly in the comments section of my videos, which I appreciate tremendously!
To put it simple, your warp threads are the threads you string across your loom at the beginning of a new project. The threads you create your bead loom piece on. Or, the threads you string 1 more "row" than however many beads WIDE you want your bead loom project to be. If you have watched my tutorials, I give the example; if you want your project to be 10 beads wide (10 beads in each row), you want to string 11 "rows" of thread across your loom, so that each bead has a bead loom thread on each side of it. I hope that makes more sense to you, especially those who haven't watched any of my tutorials.
However, despite what the definition from the internet says, I don't believe your warp threads have to be a thicker, stronger type of thread compared to the thread you use to bead with. In fact, I use the same thread for my warp threads (or as I call it, bead loom threads) and my beading thread.
While we're talking about both our loom and beading threads. I want to throw out another term that is usually talked about when talking about warp threads. That is something called your Weft Threads, (see example in above picture) which maybe you can guess which is your weft thread.
If you guessed the thread you string your beads on, or your beading thread as I call it, then you would be correct!
In bead looming, our weft thread is the thread our needle is strung on. The thread we use to string our beads on, coming up underneath our warp threads, and back through our beads, over the top of our warp thread to secure our beads in place.
I also want to mention, with this terminology, not everyone uses it. In fact, I'd say most people don't use it. In my opinion, it's used more when others are talking about the craft of weaving. Not bead weaving. The other type of weaving. Where the crafter uses a tool that looks like a giant bead loom that stands vertical. Usually thick cording, fabric or types of ribbon are weaved through the thick, coarse, vertical warp threads in whatever fashion the crafter chooses, to create their masterpiece. Below are some examples of regular craft weaving.
Just like most crafts, weaving can be done in many different ways. Not just how the final product looks, but in the way you create your final piece as well. Just as there are different types of bead looms you can use.
Lastly, let's recap what we've gone over. A Warp Thread is the same thing as, what I call in my videos, our Bead Loom Threads, the threads that we string on our loom at the beginning of a project. The threads where you string 1 more than however many beads wide you want your bead loom piece to be. A Weft Thread(s), this the thread or material you use to weave through your warp threads. Or in bead looming, our weft thread is the thread we use to string on our beads, coming up under our warp threads, then back through our beads, and over our warp thread, to secure our beads. Hopefully you have a better understanding of what a Warp Thread is, and a Weft Thread.
Until next time my friends!
-Maddy
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