Weaving is a fascinating process where we can see the fabric grow in front of us. As part of the Textile Design course, ee were introduced to the more complex structures used in weaving. Some of which are used industrially for specific products. The course was much more than just these structures though, we experimented with these structures going beyond their capabilities in theory. We applied our new knowledge with lessons we’ve learnt previously to create new and interesting structures.
We used a 24-shaft ARM loom. It works on electricity and has an automated mechanism. Once we plan our weaving order we feed the lifting order manually and the machine then runs that order in loop. This facility gives us immense design options and increases our speed of work also.
Our rst assignment was to understand and explore the new structures. We worked in pairs and put up warps for the following structures — Imitation Imitation inlay, Backed fabric, Special warp / Special weft, Extra warp, Extra weft, Double weave, Quilting, Terry and Leno. We took turns and worked out samples in each of these structures. Our next step was to prepare a new warp with our understanding of these structures. I dabbled with various concepts and worked out trials to gure out the best way to go about the new task.
All in all it was an interesting module. My appreciation for weaving as a craft and as a technology has increased manifold through this course.
