Reading Drafts Part IX

 

Bateman 

page from Virginia Harvey's publication Park Weaves, based on Dr. Bateman's work

page from Weaving Innovations from the Bateman  Collection by Robyn Spady, Nancy A. Tracy and Marjorie Fiddler

Dr. Bateman did a deep dive into a variety of weave structures, and eventually Virginia Harvey edited his work and turned them into a series of monographs.

There have been many individuals who have, for their own intellectual interest, took the time and effort to do this sort of examination of how threads can go together.  Sadly many of them never made it beyond their own limited circle.

We are fortunate that Virginia Harvey belonged to the Seattle Weaver's Guild and that the guild remains active to this day.  That three of the current weavers then took the time to examine Dr. Bateman's work more fully means that we have this information to draw upon now.

Perhaps the down side to something like Park Weaves is that they are shaft hungry.  However, in the 21st century we also have access to multi-shaft looms with computer assist which can make simple work of things like tied weaves and others that are similarly shaft hungry and which would, in 'older' days, require at the very least a drawloom or an affinity for using a pick up stick.

Not that a pick up stick is any deterrent to someone determined to bring into being a design!  

The above design was rendered by my brother based on a photo of the Royal Hudson steam locomotive, which I then edited to make it weave properly, and then, using Beiderwand threading wove with a pick up stick in a modified Beiderwand treadling.  (Beiderwand is traditionally woven with two pattern picks per block - I just did one.)

As always - read the beginning bits in the book to understand the notation and become acquainted with the weave structure, then maybe weave a sampler to make sure you understand how the weave is supposed to work.