Using the Tabby Jack with 1 to 3 heddle rods
The Tabby Jack is designed to be used as a heddle block for one to three heddle rods. This allow for the weaver to do up to four shaft patterns on their rigid heddle loom. Two rods can rest in the block at a time. If your pattern calls for all three rods to be raised simply placing the rigid heddle in the down position, as this will relatively raise the three rod heddles.
Below are directions for installing the Tabby Jack and setting up your rod heddles by making individual loops of string. At the bottom of the page is a link to my, personally, preferred method of making string heddles, using a continuous length of string.
Below are directions for installing the Tabby Jack and setting up your rod heddles by making individual loops of string. At the bottom of the page is a link to my, personally, preferred method of making string heddles, using a continuous length of string.
Step One: Attach the Tabby Jack to your loom
Place the Tabby Jack next to your loom with the heddle in the up position. Align the Tabby Jack so that it is level with or above the top of the heddle. Use the washer and bands to secure. Repeat on the other side.
Step Two: determine length of string heddle
Place a rod on the Tabby Jack. Using a mercerized cotton thread (Such as #10 crochet cotton thread), pick up a slotted warp thread and use the cotton thread to pull it level with the warp threads in the slots.
**note that if you are using two or three heddle rods, the string heddles for each rod may have to be slightly different lengths- especially if using a loom that angles the warp beam up. Make sure to test out your string heddles for ease of use with all rods in place before making hundreds.**
Next, wrap the thread once more around the warp thread and rod:
Now cut the thread where it meets the other end (where my fingers are pinching in the picture.)
You should have a string that will act as your guide.
Step Three: Making the string heddles
Take your guide string and wrap it around two pegs on your Tabby Jack. Try to arrange the pegs so that the guide string wraps around both pegs and the ends just meet. Below are two pictures. In the first, the guide thread is a bit long for the peg placement. So in picture two a third peg is used to get a better fit. (You may not be able to get a perfect fit, just get as close as you can.)
Next, get your thread and tie it around the pegs. Double knot (a square knot is best), trim the ends and slip off the pegs. Repeat until the needed number of string heddles has been made.
Step Four: attaching the string heddles to the rods
Place the string heddle loop under the thread you want, then loop onto the rod. Repeat until you have all the needed picks attached to the rod.
**Alternate way**
You can make a continuous string heddle using the directions found here:
Just make sure that the string heddles are the right length so that when the rod is placed on the Tabby Jack the warp is lifted high enough to get a clean shed.
