Get an in-depth look at drafts, learn how different structures work, and level up your skills in reading and writing drafts for weaving.
So you have taken a couple weaving classes- or you have been teaching yourself from a book. You are so excited to actually do something other then plain weave. You have in front of you a book of weave structures, not knowing what is in store- you open the pages giddy with excitement. And then...
Last week I explained all the different terms that are used in weaving drafts. Today I will show you how all the fancy words come together, so you can read and translate a standard weaving draft. Disclaimer: A standard reading draft to me is translated for a jack-type loom where the shed is created by lifting the harnesses.
You have been finding cool weaving drafts all over the place, you are getting excited that you are starting to be able to understand what you are reading. You skip over to a library you know has books of weaving drafts and you try to explore some historical weaves. You open up a book and suddenly there are no pictures! All there is are grids and notes and nothing to indicate what you are looking at.
Recently, I received an email with a question about reading tie-ups, specifically referencing a page in the The Handweaver's Pattern Directory by Anne Dixon. If you look to pages 38 and 39 of this book (and elsewhere, this is just specifically mentioned in my email) the threading of the pattern looks simple enough. With most four harness patterns there are six treadles that are used. Two for the tabby and four for the twill patterning. In these drafts however there are 12-14 treadles being used. I also had that same surge of panic when I looked at those black blocks in the tie-up thinking to myself "how am I supposed to weave that?! My loom isn't nearly big enough to accommodate all of those treadles!"
I recently received an email from a weaver named Cindy, in regards to profile drafting and tie ups. She was curious about the ability to use 8 harnesses with a 4 block profile draft. And furthermore, how do weavers know which harnesses to assign for the tie up from a profile draft? Her questions were geared towards the particular structure M's and O's- so that is the structure I will be using to explain.