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| weav:weaving [2026/03/11 21:28] – [Related topics] Simon Grant | weav:weaving [2026/03/26 18:33] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1 |
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| # Weaving | This topic is part of [[gt:crafts|Crafts & making]]. |
| | ====== Weaving ====== |
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| ## What is weaving? | ===== What is weaving? ===== |
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| There are four fundamental ways of making a textile: [felting](/felt/felt_making), [knitting](/knit/knitting), knotting or weaving. Weaving is among the most widespread: whereas knitted fabric is best for stretchy clothing, a woven cloth is structurally more stable (and won’t unravel in quite the same way), and similarly scaleable with mechanisation. The basic principle is that a grid of threads criss cross under and over each other. [Spun](/spin/spinning) fibre is usually used, woven on a simple or complex mechanical or electronic machine called a loom. | There are four fundamental ways of making a textile: [felting](/felt/felt_making), [knitting](/knit/knitting), knotting or weaving. Weaving is among the most widespread: whereas knitted fabric is best for stretchy clothing, a woven cloth is structurally more stable (and won’t unravel in quite the same way), and similarly scaleable with mechanisation. The basic principle is that a grid of threads criss cross under and over each other. [Spun](/spin/spinning) fibre is usually used, woven on a simple or complex mechanical or electronic machine called a loom. |
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| ### The basic weaving process | ==== The basic weaving process ==== |
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| Weaving is a way of making cloth/textiles using spun fibre on some sort of loom (although sometimes unspun fibres can be used – on a peg loom, for example). The vertical threads are called the warp, and the horizontal threads that are woven through them are called the weft. The warp is made on the loom, and tied to it in different ways, depending on the type of loom. The warp is tensioned and threaded through a ‘heddle’. A space (or a ‘shed’) has to be made in the warp to allow the weft through. This is done by raising or lowering the heddle, then the weft is threaded through the shed, either by hand or via a shuttle or bobbin loaded with yarn. Then the next shed is opened, and the weft passed back through for the next layer. This process is repeated until the fabric is the size you require, after which you cut and tie the warp, and you have your finished piece, which can then be set by moistening and pressing so that the stitches stay in place for a well-structured fabric. | Weaving is a way of making cloth/textiles using spun fibre on some sort of loom (although sometimes unspun fibres can be used – on a peg loom, for example). The vertical threads are called the warp, and the horizontal threads that are woven through them are called the weft. The warp is made on the loom, and tied to it in different ways, depending on the type of loom. The warp is tensioned and threaded through a ‘heddle’. A space (or a ‘shed’) has to be made in the warp to allow the weft through. This is done by raising or lowering the heddle, then the weft is threaded through the shed, either by hand or via a shuttle or bobbin loaded with yarn. Then the next shed is opened, and the weft passed back through for the next layer. This process is repeated until the fabric is the size you require, after which you cut and tie the warp, and you have your finished piece, which can then be set by moistening and pressing so that the stitches stay in place for a well-structured fabric. |
| ### Types of loom | ==== Types of loom ==== |
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| In rough order of complexity starting with the simplest, here are some kinds of looms that can be readily used, or even made, at home: | In rough order of complexity starting with the simplest, here are some kinds of looms that can be readily used, or even made, at home: |
| **Floor/treadle loom****:** a larger, freestanding loom operated sitting down and enabling larger and faster weaving by virtue of pedals (‘treadles’ usually made from wood and attached to the shafts with strings that lever over the castle). It employs the same number of treadles as shafts to change the shed with your feet – i.e. to lift alternate threads depending on the number of shafts and the kind of pattern you want. This frees up your hands to attend only to the weft. | **Floor/treadle loom****:** a larger, freestanding loom operated sitting down and enabling larger and faster weaving by virtue of pedals (‘treadles’ usually made from wood and attached to the shafts with strings that lever over the castle). It employs the same number of treadles as shafts to change the shed with your feet – i.e. to lift alternate threads depending on the number of shafts and the kind of pattern you want. This frees up your hands to attend only to the weft. |
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| ### Weave patterns | ==== Weave patterns ==== |
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| There are different kinds of weaves according to both the patterns sought and the fabric properties required (strength, durability, softness, stretch etc.). | There are different kinds of weaves according to both the patterns sought and the fabric properties required (strength, durability, softness, stretch etc.). |
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| ## What are the benefits of weaving? | ===== What are the benefits of weaving? ===== |
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| Methodical, systematic and design-oriented, weaving is simultaneously soothing and technically challenging for creatives and engineers alike. A lot of 20th century occupational therapy was shaped around weaving as therapy. Clothmaking for traumatised WW1 veterans followed on from the basketry taught to sufferers of mental health conditions in asylums before that. Occupational therapist [Shoshanah Shear](http://healingoccupationaltherapy.blogspot.com/p/about-me.html) remarks on benefits ‘in improving upper limb function, hand function, concentration, patience, work speed, work tolerance, standing tolerance’, to which can be added hand-eye co-ordination, dexterity, and, significantly, reduction of anxiety. | Methodical, systematic and design-oriented, weaving is simultaneously soothing and technically challenging for creatives and engineers alike. A lot of 20th century occupational therapy was shaped around weaving as therapy. Clothmaking for traumatised WW1 veterans followed on from the basketry taught to sufferers of mental health conditions in asylums before that. Occupational therapist [Shoshanah Shear](http://healingoccupationaltherapy.blogspot.com/p/about-me.html) remarks on benefits ‘in improving upper limb function, hand function, concentration, patience, work speed, work tolerance, standing tolerance’, to which can be added hand-eye co-ordination, dexterity, and, significantly, reduction of anxiety. |
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| ## What can I do? | ===== What can I do? ===== |
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| ## Further resources | ===== Forum ===== |
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| | This topic belongs to the section [[gt:crafts|Crafts & making]]. You can ask questions or add information on the corresponding [Forum section](https://forum.growingthecommons.org/t/crafts). |
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| | ===== Further resources ===== |
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| - [Free online course](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/weaving-course/) on all aspects of weaving. The tutor is Janet Renouf-Miller of //Create With Fibre// | - [Free online course](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/weaving-course/) on all aspects of weaving. The tutor is Janet Renouf-Miller of //Create With Fibre// |
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| ## Related topics | ===== Related topics ===== |
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| - [[knit:knitting|Knitting & crochet]] | - [[knit:knitting|Knitting & crochet]] |
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| ## Specialist curators of this topic | ===== Specialist curators of this topic ===== |
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