No matter how careful you are, there are sometimes flaws in your woven cloth. The occasional skip, knots in the warp or weft, and warp ends that break during weaving are just a few examples of what can go amiss while weaving.
This type of flaw is often easier to fix once the fabric is off the loom, before wet finishing. That way you can find the best available light source and manipulate the web (unfinished fabric) more easily.
The downside of waiting is that finding those flaws after the web is off the loom can be challenging, particularly if the yarns used are dark, or the pattern is complex. To make that easier, you can mark the flaw as you weave.
Marking flaws as you spot them
While weaving, keep a needle threaded with a length of yarn that is the same or lighter weight than the weft, in a color that contrasts with the piece that is being woven.
Once you’re a few weft picks past the flaw — or when you notice it, in the case of a skip — sew the marking thread under a few ends, either directly under the flaw or nearby.
Pull the marking thread through, leaving a tail that is approximately 1.5” (4cm) long. Then take another stitch in roughly the same spot. Perfect stitches are NOT required here, you are simply aiming to anchor the marking thread.
Pull the second stitch until it is snug around the warp threads, then trim the thread between the stitch and the needle to roughly the same length as the other end.
This little stitch will stay in place until you are ready to remove it. Note that it simply encircles the ends, it’s not crossed over itself like a knot.
If you keep a marking thread 12”-16” long nearby when you start weaving, you’ll be ready to mark several flaws without rethreading the needle each time.
Once the web is off the loom
When you are finished weaving, take the web off the loom, and find a comfortable place to inspect your weaving.
When you see a marker thread, simply slide a blunt needle under that stitch, and you can easily pull it out, allowing you to make the necessary repair without extra threads in your way.
From the Weavers Toolbox:
