We’re a studio in Berlin with an international practice in architecture, urban planning and interior design. We believe in sharing knowledge and promoting dialogue to increase the creative potential of collaboration.
We’re a studio in Berlin with an international practice in architecture, urban planning and interior design. We believe in sharing knowledge and promoting dialogue to increase the creative potential of collaboration.
Portrait of Princess Hemant Kanwarji, 1934
A. L. Sayed
Silver gelatin print
Have you ever looked at a piece of clothing and wondered how it is made? Textiles can be produced in a number of ways, including methods such as weaving, knitting, felting and braiding amongst others. In this lesson, we will explore the process of weaving, the most commonly used method to produce cloth.
Weaving is a construction method that entails the interlacing of two or more sets of yarn to produce fabrics. The vertical yarns are known as ‘warps’ and the horizontal yarns are known as ‘wefts’. As we see here, the weft moves back and forth between the stretched out warp threads, creating a pattern that interlocks all the threads together.
This process typically takes place on a hand operated or mechanical device known as a loom, which aids the weaver in interlacing both sets of threads together. This basic weaving process remains the same across different types of looms. Common hand-operated looms in India include:
- Frame Looms – which use a mounted frame to keep the warp stretched out. Notice how the weaver is using foot pedals — this helps her lift the warp so that she can use her hands to pass the weft through the warp.
- Pit Looms – Similar to the frame looms, pit looms are situated closer to the ground, with a pit for the weaver to place their feet in. The pedals in this loom are also placed within the pit.
- Backstrap Looms – Named after the strap attached on the weaver’s back, this portable loom is used to weave narrow strips of cloth. that do not exceed the width of the weaver’s waist.
