A method of driving a sectional warping machine with a height adjustable cross reed for formation of yarn crossings in a yarn warp and with two guide rods arranged in front of the cross reed in the direction of passage of the yarn warp, one of the Rods above and the other Rod below the yarn warp, and where each of the Rods is movable in one plane towards each other in order to bring the yarn warp together, the improvement comprising a step of rotating a warping drum so that the yarns remain in tension when returning the cross reed from a yarn crossing position into a neutral running position.