Identifying and Repairing Weaver's Knots, Bobbin Changes, Pulls and Broken Threads
The looms we're working with for our Signature Line are almost 90 years old, and they do have an occasional skip or uneven beat that you don't get with modern looms. Each wrap is carefully inspected three separate times, and any skipped threads or other flaw that would compromise the safety or integrity of your wrap is repaired before shipment. While we usually cut around weft lines (where the loom beats a few weft threads at a higher density leaving a line across the width), sometimes it's not noticeable until after the first wash. Skip repairs and weft lines are not considered "seconds quality" since they exist in virtually every ABW Signature Line wrap. The tails from the bobbin change threads are also considered normal, and are the only way that we're able to offer wraps with a raw (unhemmed) selvage rail. While the vintage looms may leave a few flaws to repair, there is a certain character and history that comes from a loom that has been weaving cloth since our grandparents were young!
If you're wondering about a loose thread sticking out of your wrap then the pictures and videos on this page should help you determine what exactly that thread is from, and whether or not it needs to be repaired. Always feel free to email pictures to info@appleblossomwovens.com and we can help you determine what it is, but 9 times out of 10 it's either from a weaver's knot or a bobbin change and not something that needs to be repaired at all.
Free repair kits are available and include repair threads for each color yarn used in your wrap. If you need a repair kit, please send us an email at info@appleblossomwovens.com. Make sure to include the colorway and weft from your wrap so we know which repair threads to send.
Bobbin Changes
On wraps from the early runs (Morning Glory, Evening Flame, Secret Garden and Under the Sea), you may notice these little loose ends about every 12 inches along one edge of your wrap. They're usually an inch from the edge, and tend to fluff up after the first wash. Those are the tails from the bobbin change threads and are completely normal. They can either be tucked back into the weave structure or trimmed close (taking care to not snip any other threads).
These pictures show step-by-step how we weave each bobbin change back in by hand:
On Morning Glory, our first run, the bobbin threads were trimmed close by the weaver and were not woven back in like later runs. If the bobbin change thread has started to un-weave itself from the edge, please email info@appleblossomwovens.com for a repair kit and instructions on how to reinforce that section with a repair thread.
Identifying a Weaver's Knot
Weaver's knots occur whenever a warp yarn runs out and needs to be replaced, or if a yarn breaks during the weaving process. The tail ends often fluff up a bit after the first wash and can be worrisome, but it's quite easy to differentiate those ends from a broken thread after watching these clips.
Fixing a Pull
The looser weave can make these wraps more prone to pulls, but they're quite easy to fix!
Recognizing and Repairing a Broken Thread
If you find a broken thread, email info@appleblossomwovens.com for a free repair kit. We'll send you repair threads for each color yarn used in your wrap.
