Esther - I'm concerned that your question about the Project Planning 101 document might be buried in an old thread - so.... I'm attaching it here, Esther. Hope this helps - https://www.schoolofweaving.tv/season-1-episode-5-project-planning-101-putting-it-all-together

AND - don't be hard on yourself - remember the story of the turtle and the hare - the turtle one (am I dating myself ;-)

I am really so slow in warping that I'm wondering whether it's time to give up on weaving. I understand so much more than I can do because I get so caught up in not believing I can get the thing warped. I know it's just a tool and that I ought to be able to manage setting it up. I have a Harrisville 4 harness/4 treadles. I can't follow Jane's instructions as I am missing the castle bound thing. No one around me has this loom, they say. I'm so discouraged. It's mostly in my mind-set. I have a messy warp that I need to tie onto the back beam. I'm just full of feeling incompetent and brain damaged, even though I'm not.

Oh EsterGrace how I know that feeling. Started weaving last year at a guild and the “tangled yard world” welcomed me with open arms. Then I bought a David Loom hoping all the tricks of the trade would make warping better. I did Asymmetry, Colour & Weave Gamp and Parrot. Asymmetry was no badly tangled I cut it off. Colour Weave was “Entangled Heaven too” but blame it on my bad vision and Parrot…follow.

At first I could not understand why my yard would tangle so fast and was it bad yard, or just how I was twisting it when taking off the “warping board”. Then I started following a few new FB groups in the Weaving World and found “THE TRAPESE”. It saved not only my life but reaffirmed that this 70 year could continue learning how to weave.

If you would like a picture of the TRAPESE, the measurements and how to set up feel free to email me at mcdonagh@mac. I’ll also send you on which well known weaver has been using TRAPESE for YEARS.

My first attempt with the TRAPESE was so much easier but I still find that my “yarn” gets twisted when removing from “warping board”. The TRAPESE is hear to stay in my weaving life….

Cynthia

Not that my opinion should sway you one way or another - but I would suggest the 8 dent reed for your collection.
Look at your sett chart and check out what setts that you envisage needing the most, and then your choice might become clear for you.
😊

I hear you Cynthia...I am NOT a plaid fan either. You can just weave these off in bigger blocks of color, or stripes. Practice different twill treadlings etc. Throw in some boucle as weft.