Weaving the Cloth

Weaving the Cloth

Once the loom is dressed and the weft yarns are prepared, the weaver is ready to start weaving. The weaver sits facing the front of the loom. The first harness in the pattern is raised creating an opening in the warp called a shed. The weaver passes the shuttle through the opening laying the weft thread across the bottom layer of warp threads. Next, the second pattern harness is raised. The new shed is opened and the weaver grasps the beater (the rectangular frame that holds the reed) and pulls the weft thread snugly toward the front of the loom. Each time the weft thread is passed from side to side through the warp shed and pulled or beaten into place a pick is created. The weaver continues weaving the cloth pick by pick until the desired length of cloth is reached. [SB] {SB}