The Weaving Process
To download an illustrated step by step description of my weaving and sewing processes, click below:
The Weaving Process for Adobe Reader The Weaving Process for MS Word
The Sewing Process for Adobe Reader The Sewing Process for MS Word
Loom Parts: 1. Tension Arm 2. Warp Beam 3. Harnesses 4. Beater & Reed 5. Shift Handle 6. Doublebox Flyshuttle 7. Bench 8. Basket of Bobbins 9. Treadles 10. Cloth Advance 11. Cloth Storage Weight 12. Harnesses 13. Dobby Arm 14. Dobby Box & Fingers 15. Dobby Chain of Bars & Pegs 16. Cloth Storage Roller 17. Harness Cables 18. Warp Threads 19. Woven Cloth
The Fabric
I hand weave (on a 16 harness dobby loom) a fine warp into limited edition yardage. I use a weave structure called summer and winter weave. It can be woven in different variations of structure. The one I use the most is called polychrome summer and winter. It is mostly used in rug weaving. The warp (the yarn that is threaded onto the loom), is almost completely covered by the weft (the yarns that travel back and forth interlocking the warp). Using the proper density, this makes a very strong fabric. The bold pattern shapes I weave are created by using 2 alternate wefts, usually of contrasting color and/or texture. The wefts I use vary from rayon chenille to paper, wool, silk and alpaca. The final fabric has between 36 and 72 threads per square inch. When the fabric is cut from the loom, it is machine washed and dried to give it a luscious drape. This preshrinking before sewing assures that the finished product is stable in sizing and shape.
Sewing
Each item is individually sewn. Every seam encases the edges of the cloth and is triple stitched to ensure that there are no raw edges anywhere. Most items are reversible.