Running Moon Farm makes a very nice warping reel for ease in measuring off warp thread for weaving. You can see this reel at equiptment.

To begin using a warping reel the first step is to measure a pattern thread to guide you in winding on the warp. Measure out a thread the length of the warp you will need. In this case I am using a pattern thread of 94" for a neck scarf. Take in concideration that you will need to measure for "loom waste" as well as the project length and allow for shrinkage of the yarn.

After winding the pattern thread onto the reel and attaching it at the opposite end of the reel you will begin to wind the warp. Fasten the yarn at the first peg and wind across the 3 pegs, and onto the reel following the pattern yarn to the opposite end of the reel

At the opposite end of the reel you will loop around the peg the pattern yarn is attached to and return on the same path back to the beginning.

your yarn will look like this

The cross that you will form at the beginning of the reel so you can remove the threads in proper order when threading through the reed on the loom will look like this

When finished winding the wrap onto the reel be sure to secure the cross with ties. I normally tie off 25 threads at a time for counting purposes and restart my warp winding every 100 threads. You will soon learn which is best for you. Chain off the warp threads from the reel for convience and control of the warp.