Weaving
Finally, we get to the actual weaving.
The first thing to do is pass the shuttle through the shed-the
space between the braid and the tablets. To do this determine which way the
weft thread is coming out of the weaving and go back through the shed from that
direction, i.e. if the weft thread comes out of the bottom, pass the shuttle
through the shed from the bottom to the top.
Turn all the tablets one quarter turn in a clockwise direction. Move the tablets
back and forth along the warp threads a little to recreate the shed. Place your
finger in the shed and push the weaving you have just done against the finished
braid. Do the same on the other side of the tablets. Don't worry, the tangling
that builds up on the other end of the loom only needs to be straightened out
when there is no longer room to turn the tablets.
Pass the shuttle back through the shed in the opposite direction.
Repeat steps 2 and 3 a number of times and you will soon see a piece of braid
forming. The width of the braid is controlled by how tight you pull the weft
thread, and the tightness of the weaving is determined by how hard you push
the weaving against the finished braid.
After you have been weaving for a while, you will find a tangle of threads at
the bottom at the loom. When you can no longer comfortably turn the tablets,
undo the bow and untangle the loose warp threads. If the braid you are making
is longer than the loom, this is probably the time to move your braid up the
loom. To do this, simply unhook the loops and knot the finished braid around
the top nail (pushing the nail through the braid can damage it). As before,
you will need to make sure all the threads are tensioned the same and then retie
them to the bottom nail.
When you have reached the end of your braid it can be finished in a number of
ways. After removing all the tablets, the loose threads can be plaited, made
into a tassel, or tassels, folded over and sewn, or individually woven back
through the braid using a darning needle.
|
|
|