For all my students out there this is an example of why I say make 2 crosses, one at the top (the lease or porrey cross) and a lower cross (portee or counting cross). Usually a portee cross is recommended for long warps, I like to use 2 crosses in the event something happens to the first.
I was using narrow metal curtain rods as lease sticks and to my horror – they broke apart and I watched my cross disappear before my eyes. I knew I could use the portee cross which was at the end of the warp chain. If using this portee cross to set groups in the raddle then this cross would be used first. Usually I beam with the lease sticks in but when using wool it creates some furring. My warp had been spread in 1/2 inch increments and appeared in good order so I beamed without the sticks until the end of the warp chain. At this point I replaced the lease sticks into the portee cross and the warp was beamed without further problems.
When considering the Porrey and Portee cross, they can be easily identified by thinking of the Portee (from the word porte – meaning carry) as the raddle or carrying cross. You would carry this cross ready to be inserted into the raddle.
Happy Weaving!
