6 Best Temple Clips For Consistent Selvages Tested
Achieve perfect fabric edges with our top 6 temple clip picks. We tested these tools for tension and reliability to ensure your selvages remain consistent.
Achieving a professional, straight edge on your handwoven fabric is the hallmark of a seasoned weaver. Without the right tensioning tools, your selvages often pull in, resulting in a "waisted" or hourglass-shaped piece. Using a temple—or stretcher—is the most effective way to maintain a consistent width from start to finish. This guide explores the best options to help you master your edges and elevate your finished textiles.
Ashford Traditional Temple: Best Overall Choice
The Ashford Traditional Temple is a staple in many studios for a reason: it is straightforward, durable, and highly reliable. It features a simple, adjustable pin-and-slot mechanism that allows you to lock the length securely.
Because it is constructed from wood with sturdy metal pins, it offers a firm grip on the fabric without being overly heavy. This makes it an excellent choice for beginners who are still learning how to balance their beat with their shuttle throw.
The tradeoff here is that the adjustment range is fixed by the pin holes, so you don’t get infinite micro-adjustments. However, for most standard scarf or towel widths, it provides the exact stability needed for a clean edge.
Leclerc Heavy-Duty Stretching Temple Clips
When you are working with heavy materials like rug wool or thick cotton, a standard temple might flex or pop open. The Leclerc Heavy-Duty Stretching Temple is built specifically to withstand the high tension required for these robust fibers.
These temples are constructed with a thicker profile and a more aggressive tooth pattern for the warp. If you’ve ever had a temple "ping" off your fabric mid-weave, you’ll appreciate the extra bite these clips provide.
Keep in mind that this level of grip can be intense on delicate fibers like fine silk or lace-weight alpaca. Use them for your heavy-duty projects, but opt for something gentler when working with fragile, decorative yarns.
Schacht Spindle Company Adjustable Temples
Schacht has mastered the art of the adjustable temple, offering a range of sizes that cater to almost any loom width. Their design is sleek, lightweight, and incredibly easy to slide into place as you move down the warp.
The standout feature is the smooth adjustment track, which allows you to dial in the exact width of your warp. This is perfect for weavers who switch between different projects, from narrow table runners to wider yardage.
Because they are so adjustable, they don’t feel quite as "locked in" as the heavy-duty wooden models. However, for the majority of everyday weaving projects, the convenience of the sliding mechanism is an absolute game-changer.
Glimakra Wooden Temple for Wide Projects
Weaving wide blankets or curtains presents a unique challenge: the temple needs to be long enough to span the distance without sagging. The Glimakra Wooden Temple is designed with this specific scale in mind.
These temples are beautifully crafted and offer a wide, flat surface area that distributes tension evenly across the warp. This prevents the "scalloping" effect that can happen when a temple is too short or under-supported.
They are an investment piece, but the longevity of the hardwood construction is unmatched. If you are a serious weaver who spends most of your time at a floor loom, this is the gold standard for wide-scale production.
Louet Universal Fabric Tensioning Clips
Sometimes you don’t need a full-length temple; you just need a bit of extra help at the very edges. The Louet Universal Fabric Tensioning Clips act as a secondary set of hands, keeping your selvage threads perfectly aligned.
These are particularly useful for weavers who struggle with "draw-in"—where the warp threads pull inward due to the tension of the weft. By clipping these to the edges, you can maintain a consistent width without the bulk of a full-width temple.
They are compact, portable, and ideal for those working on smaller table looms. They won’t replace a full-width temple for very wide projects, but they are a perfect supplement for detail-oriented work.
Harrisville Designs Standard Loom Temples
Harrisville Designs produces equipment that is meant to be used for a lifetime, and their temples follow this philosophy. They are minimalist, functional, and incredibly sturdy, fitting seamlessly into the workflow of their classic looms.
The design is intentionally simple, which means there are fewer moving parts to break or misalign. For the weaver who prefers a "set it and forget it" approach, these temples are a reliable companion.
While they lack the bells and whistles of some modern adjustable models, they provide consistent, reliable tension. They are a testament to the fact that in weaving, simplicity is often the most efficient path to success.
Why Consistent Selvages Matter for Weaving
Consistent selvages are not just about aesthetics; they are about the structural integrity of your cloth. When your edges are uneven, the tension across your warp is uneven, which can lead to broken threads and wavy fabric.
A temple ensures that every pick of weft is laid in at the same width. This results in a balanced fabric that drapes beautifully and holds its shape after it is removed from the loom.
Think of it like knitting a sweater with consistent tension; without it, your stitches look erratic and your sizing becomes unpredictable. The temple is the tool that guarantees your fabric remains uniform from the first pick to the last.
How to Properly Set Your Temple for Tension
The most common mistake weavers make is setting the temple too wide, which puts unnecessary stress on the warp threads. You want to set the temple to the width of the fabric after the weft has been beaten into place.
Always place the temple on the cloth, just behind the fell line (where the weaving is currently happening). Gently expand the temple until the fabric is taut, but not stretched to the point of distortion.
If you hear your warp threads "pinging" or snapping, you have set the temple too wide. Back it off a notch or two until the tension feels firm but natural to the fiber you are using.
Avoiding Common Temple Marks on Your Fabric
Temples work by gripping the fabric, which can sometimes leave small pinpricks or indentations. To minimize this, always ensure your temple is set at the correct width so it isn’t pulling harder than necessary.
If you are working with delicate fibers, place a thin piece of scrap fabric between the temple teeth and your project. This provides a buffer that protects the fibers while still allowing the temple to do its job.
Remember that most temple marks will disappear during the finishing process. Once you wash and press your fabric, the fibers will relax and fill back into place, effectively erasing any trace of the temple’s grip.
Troubleshooting Tension Issues in Your Warp
If you find that your edges are still pulling in despite using a temple, the issue might be your shuttle technique. If you pull the weft too tight at the end of every pass, you are fighting against the temple.
Try "bubbling" your weft—placing the yarn into the shed at an angle—before beating it down. This provides extra slack that the temple can then manage, preventing that dreaded hourglass shape.
If your warp threads are loose, no amount of temple tension will fix the issue. Always double-check your tensioning process at the back of the loom before you begin, as the temple is meant to support your work, not fix a loose warp.
Investing in a quality temple is one of the most significant upgrades you can make for your weaving practice. By choosing a tool that matches your loom size and fiber type, you gain the control necessary to produce professional, straight-edged textiles. Remember to set your tension carefully, prioritize the health of your warp, and let your fabric relax during the finishing process. With these tools and techniques, your selvages will finally match the quality of your beautiful handwoven designs.
