Wolf looms, the Standard Floor Loom, the Schacht Table Loom, and the Cricket Quartet are all considered shaft looms—they have a stainless steel reed and 4 to 8 shafts that hold the heddles.
Shaft looms are generally warped with warp chains (that is, indirectly). You can choose to warp your shaft loom from front to back or back to front. We recommend warping the Cricket Quartet from front to back.
| Front to Back | Back to Front | |
| 1 | Wind warp chain(s) with a cross. | Wind warp chain(s) with a cross. |
| 2 | Thread the reed. | Tie warp on at warp beam, using lease sticks and/or raddle. |
| 3 | Thread the heddles. | Beam the warp. |
| 4 | Tie warp on at warp beam. | Thread the heddles. |
| 5 | Beam the warp. | Thread the reed. |
| 6 | Tie warp on at cloth beam. | Tie warp on at cloth beam. |
There are many variations possible: some weavers combine front to back and back to front; some weavers wind chains with two crosses. Some weavers switch between methods, depending on weave structure or color patterning. You can choose based on preference and/or your specific warp needs for a particular project.
These books discuss different methods of warping and how to choose between them:
Learning to Weave by Deborah Chandler
Weaving for Beginners: An Illustrated Guide, 3rd edition, by Peggy Osterkamp