Discover key weaving terms, techniques, and tools in our detailed glossary. From basic loom parts to advanced weaving methods, this guide is designed to enrich your weaving knowledge and skills.
Apron rods are sturdy rods attached to the front and back beams of the loom. The warp threads are often tied onto these rods to distribute tension more evenly. Apron cords connect the rods to the beams and allow for fine adjustments to warp tension a
Beaming the warp is the process of winding the warp threads onto the loom’s warp beam (the back beam). It’s a critical step that requires careful attention, as even, consistent tension across the warp threads will directly impact the quality of the f
The beater is used to pack down each weft thread, determining the fabric’s density and feel. A heavier beat creates a tightly woven fabric, while a gentler touch gives an airy drape. Floor looms often have built-in beaters, while tapestry looms use h
The brake system on the warp beam allows the weaver to release or hold tension on the warp. Some looms have friction brakes or ratchet-and-pawl brakes for precise control, which is essential when advancing the warp between weaving sessions.
Bronson lace is a type of lace weave that produces delicate, airy patterns without the complexity of traditional leno weave. It creates small open spaces in the fabric, giving it a light and textured feel. Bronson lace is often used for shawls, scarv
The breast beam is the front bar over which the woven fabric passes on its way to the cloth beam. It provides a steady surface for the fabric, making it easier to monitor your work’s progress as it’s woven. Fun Fact: Some weavers use the breast beam
Crackle weave is a pattern weave known for its intricate, interlaced motifs. It’s popular in Scandinavian textiles and produces a visually complex fabric with small, repeated blocks of pattern. Crackle weave is both sturdy and decorative, making it i
Clasped weft is a color-blending technique in which two different colored wefts are clasped together as they pass through the shed. This method allows for controlled color transitions and beautiful gradient effects, perfect for creating unique, one-o
These mechanisms are common in larger floor looms and provide even tension across the warp threads, creating balanced sheds. Counterbalance Looms have pairs of shafts that work in opposition, so when one shaft rises, another lowers. This balance keep
Each slot in the reed is a dent, holding one or more warp threads. Dents per inch (dpi) measure warp density, affecting the fabric's final look and drape. Choosing the correct dpi for your yarn is key to achieving the right balance for each project.
Double weave creates two layers of fabric simultaneously, which can be interlocked or left separate. This technique allows for reversible fabrics, pockets, or extra-thick weaves. With careful planning, you can even weave patterns on one side that dif
A floating selvedge is a technique used when weaving with patterns that skip warp threads at the edge of the fabric. Extra warp threads are added on either side of the main warp and are not threaded through the heddles, allowing them to “float” freel
A harness or shaft is the frame holding a set of heddles. When a shaft is raised, the warp threads passing through its heddles are lifted, creating a shed. Each additional shaft opens up more possibilities for complex weaving patterns. Multi-shaft lo
A heddle is a loop or eyelet, typically made of metal, nylon, or string, through which each warp thread passes on its way to the reed. Heddles are attached to shafts on multi-shaft looms and control the movement of individual warp threads. When a sha
Lease sticks are two flat sticks placed crosswise in the warp threads to keep them in order as they’re wound onto the loom. They help prevent tangling and make threading the heddles easier, ensuring even spacing and smooth weaving.
A loom is the essential framework that supports weaving. Looms come in various types: rigid heddle for simpler weaves, floor looms for complex designs, and tapestry looms for creative freedom. Each loom type offers unique capabilities and a distinct
A pick refers to each pass of the weft through the shed. The term also relates to picks per inch (PPI), which influences the fabric’s drape and feel. Fewer picks per inch give a lighter fabric; more picks result in denser, sturdier fabric.
The reed is a comb-like component of the loom, usually located within the beater. It keeps warp threads evenly spaced across the width of the loom and helps to control the density of the weave by determining how many threads per inch (called dents pe
The shed is the temporary gap in the warp threads that allows the weft to pass through. A clear shed is crucial for smooth, efficient weaving. On rigid heddle looms, the heddle creates the shed; on floor looms, treadles lift different heddles to form
A shuttle carries the weft thread back and forth across the loom. Boat shuttles (fast and ideal for large projects) and stick shuttles (simple and perfect for smaller or intricate work) are both common. Using a shuttle suited to your loom size and fa
A Jack Mechanism is a system in multi-shaft looms, particularly jack looms, that allows individual shafts (harnesses) to be raised independently. This system is powered by a series of jacks, which are essentially levers or cams that lift each shaft w
On floor looms with more than four shafts, lamms are horizontal bars that connect the shafts to the treadles. When a treadle is pressed, the lamm lifts the attached shaft, making it easier to manage complex tie-ups with multiple shafts.
Leno weave creates an open, airy fabric by twisting warp threads around each other. This technique is often used to make lightweight, breathable fabrics with a lace-like effect. It’s great for curtains, scarves, and any project where you want a light
M’s and O’s is a classic weave structure that alternates warp and weft floats, creating an interesting texture with raised areas. It’s particularly effective for towels and other items that benefit from extra absorbency and softness. Pro Tip: M’s and
Overshot is a decorative technique that combines a plain weave background with complex, eye-catching patterns. This technique is known for creating large, repeating motifs and is often used in traditional American coverlets. Overshot patterns are wov
In pile weave, additional yarns are woven into the fabric to create a raised surface, like the pile on rugs or velvets. This technique adds texture and depth to the fabric, making it ideal for projects that need a plush, luxurious feel. Tip: Pile wea
A raddle is a comb-like tool mounted near the warp beam, used to spread warp threads evenly across the loom width before winding them onto the warp beam. This tool is crucial for maintaining even warp spacing, especially on wide or high-shaft looms.
Rep weave is a dense, warp-faced weave that creates a ribbed texture. It’s known for its bold patterns and color play, often created by alternating thick and thin wefts. Rep weave is popular for rugs, placemats, and other durable items because of its
The selvage is the clean edge where the weft thread reverses direction, keeping the weave neat. Good selvage control adds a professional touch to the piece. Techniques like twisting the edge slightly or maintaining steady tension help keep selvages s
Shadow weave creates optical effects and patterns through the interplay of light and dark yarns. The resulting fabric has a striking, textured look and is reversible. Shadow weave is perfect for projects like scarves, shawls, or anything that benefit
On some advanced multi-shaft looms, a shed regulator controls the height and evenness of the shed, allowing for precise adjustments. This is particularly helpful when working with different warp densities or when fine-tuning tension on large projects
Summer and winter is a double-weave structure that allows for two distinct sides of the fabric, often in contrasting colors. This technique can create reversible designs with high visual impact and is commonly used for decorative items like table run
A tapestry bobbin is a slender, often pointed tool used in tapestry weaving to hold and manage short weft threads. Unlike larger weaving shuttles, tapestry bobbins are designed for the precision required in tapestry work, where small sections of colo
A temple is an adjustable bar with hooks on each end that hold the fabric’s edges as it’s woven. This tool prevents the fabric from narrowing (known as “draw-in”) and maintains an even width across the fabric. Tip: For larger projects or dense weaves
The Theo Moorman technique is a tapestry-based method that allows weavers to “paint” with yarn, using a supplementary weft to create images on a plain weave background. This method is great for adding pictorial or abstract designs to fabric. Fun Fact
On floor looms, treadles control the heddles, freeing your hands for the shuttle and enabling complex pattern sequences. Each combination of treadle steps creates different shed arrangements, giving depth and dimension to your design.
The treadle tie-up connects the treadles (foot pedals) to the shafts, determining which shafts lift when a treadle is pressed. By arranging the tie-up in different ways, weavers can create complex patterns with ease. The treadle tie-up is essential f
Twill is a versatile weave structure that creates diagonal lines across the fabric. By changing the threading and treadling sequence, weavers can create endless variations like herringbone, diamond, and zig-zag patterns. Twill fabrics are durable and
The warp threads are the vertical backbone of any weaving project. They’re the foundation that holds the fabric together, so durability is key. Strong yarns like cotton and linen are popular choices, especially for projects under heavy tension.
Most looms have two main beams: the warp beam at the back, where the warp threads are wound, and the cloth beam at the front, where the finished fabric is stored. On double-shafted looms, these beams are often heavy-duty to support complex patterns a
A weaving draft is like a roadmap for complex weaves, showing the heddle threading, treadle setup, and order for creating patterns. Drafts are essential for floor loom weavers who want to explore detailed patterns beyond simple plain weave or twill.
The weft threads, woven horizontally across the warp, are where creativity shines. They can be colorful, textured, or variegated, adding personality and depth to the final fabric. Blending different weft textures, like silk with wool, can give surpri