Texsolv. Solving Textile Problems! – Blog Post
We recently posted about using Texsolv cord to make life easier on Countermarche looms. This brought up questions about what Texsolv cord is, where it came from and why you would want to use it. Let’s look a bit closer at the amazing invention known as Texsolv. As the name implies, Texsolv was invented to solve Textile Problems.
The company
A quick bit of research finds the Texsolv company website: https://texsolv.se. There, they fill us in on the history of the company: “Texsolv AB was founded in 1977 by Sune Ivarsson. The factory was at first situated in Alafors and was named Textilsolv. Initially heddles, cord and tie-up sets for handweaving looms and ladder strings for Venetian blinds were manufactured. Today the company is owned by Thomas Ivarsson (son of Sune) and is situated in Tösse, 15 kilometers south of Åmål in Sweden.”
Solving Attachment Issues
As handweavers, we appreciate Texsolv cord and Texsolv heddles. They are made from nylon cord and solve a myriad of textile problems. Texsolv cord is a polyester loop cord comprised of a continuous string of ”button holes”. You can poke the cord through the holes to make a lark’s head knot, then attach items like apron rods to cloth or warp beams. We use it that way in our Beam Me Up Scotties.
Do you have an Ashford Rigid Heddle Loom, and struggle with the plastic apron rod attachments? You can replace those plastic pieces with lengths of Texsolv cord. Check out our video on how to change the cords.
You can also attach Texsolv cord to your loom using anchor pins or arrow pegs. Push the pin or arrow peg through the holes to shorten the cord, attach your lamms to your treadles, or use the cord and pegs in a variety of ways to solve a myriad of textile problems. Click here to see more about the pins and pegs.
Solving Weight and Noise
Texsolv also reduces the weight and noise of metal heddles. If you have issues with your knees, or want to weave on a wide loom, this reduction in weight can be a blessing. They also eliminate some of the noise of weaving. We have all been weaving in a room with others and had them complain about the noise of the loom. Texsolv heddles can reduce the noise of the heddles clinking together as you raise and lower the harnesses. Unfortunately, it will not silence the clunk as the harnesses come down. We all know how fun it is to weave in the zone and forget about those around us. Perhaps the true answer to other’s complaints about the noise of weaving is to provide your companions with noise cancelling headphones or earplugs while you are weaving. Or turn up the tv!
Many looms come equipped with Texsolv heddles. AVL looms use them to reduce weight. Ashford and Louet looms all come with Texsolv heddles. In addition to their light weight and quiet disposition, Texsolv heddles have a nice big eye that is easy to thread. And they pack together more closely than some metal heddles. The only drawback is that they don’t slide as easily on the heddle bar, so threading can take a little longer as you move them around during threading. You can consider this as a positive…one weaving friend once said that if it takes longer to thread, just think of the weaving value you are getting for your money. So many happy hours spent at the loom!
Solving Size Variations
And just like there are many different sizes of looms, Texsolv heddles are available in multiple lengths. The heddles are sold by length, and the lengths are color-coded by the manufacturer with different colors of twist ties. Here is a chart that shows the length of the heddles and the color of the twist ties. Measure the heddles from the point where the heddle is stitched together at the top, down to the point where the heddle is stitched together at the bottom. Match this to the distance from the top of the top heddle bar to the bottom of the bottom heddle bar on your harnesses.
| Twist Tie Color | Heddle Length (cm) | Heddle Length (in) | Looms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red | 150 | 5-15/16 | |
| White | 160 | 6-3/16 | |
| Blue | 180 | 7-1/4 | |
| Black | 205 | 8-1/8 | Jane Loom |
| Green | 220 | 8-11/16 | Schacht Inkle, Ashford Table |
| Brown | 237 | 9-5/15 | Schacht Floor and Wolf Looms |
| Pink | 268 | 10-1/2 | Harrisville Floor Looms |
| White | 280 | 10-15/16 | |
| Blue | 318 | 12-3/8 | |
| Green | 330 | 12-7/8 | |
| Red | 370 | 14-1/2 | |
| Brown | 390 | 15-5/16 | AVL, Louet Floor Looms |
| Black | 540 | 21-1/4 |
Solving Threading Issues
The standard color of Texsolv heddles is white. Some sizes of the Texsolv heddles are available in colors other than white. Click here to see the colored heddles that we stock. Use colored heddles to color-code your harnesses, and make threading easier. For example, harness 1 could be red, harness 2 orange, harness 3 yellow and harness 4 green. This makes accurately threading your heddles a breeze!
Once again, Texsolv cord and heddles can solve many textile problems. Sometimes it is the small things in our studios that make a big difference. We want to give a huge thank you to all the inventors of things that make our weaving world efficient, creative and fun! Thank you for all that you do!
Happy Weaving!
