I cant seem to figure out how to make just a line that varies in width, ie : a line with 7 width on one end and 2 at the other. When i try to change the line width it will change the whole line, and the path effect editor doesnt seem to change anything.

You might want to know more about the new PowerStroke path effect:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IztyV-Dy4CE
http://inkscapetutorials.org/2014/04/28 ... g-letters/

(this will not allow you to set the line width for the ends by entering a number anywhere.
Why does it have to be a path effect?
Variable line width is not an SVG feature. It is emulated in Inkscape path effects by creating (and continuously updating) a shape that you need to fill with the color of the stroke of your original path.)

If you use the Triangle In or Triangle Out options from the Shape dropdown menu, on either the Pen/Bezier or Pencil/Freehand tool control bar, the line you draw will automatically have the power stroke LPE applied to it, without having to call up the Path Effects editor. The line will have a pink node (all the others are gray) and when you drag it, it adjusts the width on only 1 end.

Or you could use Pattern Along Path, which comes as either an extension or LPE. I recommend the LPE. You can't edit the line live, like with power stroke though. You have to create a pattern (sort of like a brush, in raster graphics) and edit the pattern, to adjust the width.

I'm not sure with either of those how to have a specific width on each end.

To use the Path Effects editor, you have to draw your path first. Then with it selected, click the blue plus sign, and choose which path effect you want to use. I guess you'll want either Power Stroke or Pattern Along Path. After you do that, you will see some more controls appear below the blue plus sign. If you apply the power stroke, you probably won't need to use those extra controls. If you apply pattern along path, you will have to draw a custom pattern to be used - probably a triangle. It has to be drawn sideways, i.e. pointing either left or right, and the tinier the better. For details about PAP, which I haven't given you, you could consult the manual. Help menu > Inkscape manual. If you can't figure it out, post back again and ask. I don't want to make a long explanation unless I'm sure that's what you want to use.

A bit more about Power Stroke?

It would be nice if you could add Power Stroke to the title of your thread, just for others to be able to find these answers and links when searching for the same thing.

Maestral wrote:It would be nice if you could add Power Stroke to the title of your thread, just for others to be able to find these answers and links when searching for the same thing.

Not necessary. The forum search will find it, whether those words appear in the title or not.