Abstract: A weaving machine starts-up in slow speed operation during a first weaving cycle following the machine start. To help avoid weft breaks, a method is provided to hold a weft thread inserted into the loom shed during the first weaving cycle. A sensor monitors the weft insertion. The inserted weft thread is held by binding threads at a location downstream from an inlet side of the loom shed, before the weft thread is bound by the warp threads. The binding of the weft thread by the binding threads is carried out dependent on a signal of the sensor.

Abstract: Even weft yarns having low tearing force shall be processible without problems on weaving machines, especially air-jet weaving machines, that are operated in the slow speed running in the first weaving cycle after a weaving machine start. This is achieved according to the invention in that the weft thread (3) inserted into a loom shed (4) in the first weaving cycle after a weaving machine start is bound by separate binding threads (8) temporally before the binding by the warp threads (2), and in that the binding by the binding threads (8) occurs spatially at at least one position of the loom shed (4) after its inlet.