Working Out The Code

 

This is a weaving draft for a four shaft loom with six treadles.  This is the way that I prefer to set up a simple twill progression, and my preferred tie up to weave plain weave and/or a typical 2:2 twill.

New weavers can get confused about what they are looking at.  Some discover 'a' draft and assume is it the only way to write that particular thread sequence (both warp *and* weft) when in reality it is just one graphic representation that depicts one way it can be done.

Why do I do it this way?  For me it is more ergonomic to thread from the back shaft to the front, starting at the right hand side and moving to the left.  I am right handed.  If you are not, you may well find it more ergonomic to work from the left to the right.

I have a four shaft counter balanced loom but it doesn't matter.  Whether I am using a rising shed or not, I still set up my tie up as shown above.  If the weave structure is balanced (equal number of shafts rising/falling) it truly does not matter.  

In fact, when I'm weaving on my 'big' loom (16 shaft Megado), I will frequently set up my warps as *unbalanced* (unequal shafts lifting/falling) so that I lift the fewest shafts possible - which means I will be weaving my cloth 'upside down' in some cases.  It doesn't matter (usually), and the savings on my physical effort is much appreciated by my body.

Newer weavers would do well to understand the language of weaving, especially the 'codes'.  The graphics.  The way we can convey information in graphics, or explanations.  Weaving can seem overwhelming, mysterious, the information draped in words that don't make sense, or drawings/graphics that confuse.

But you CAN learn.  There are books.  Lots of books (including my own) that will explain what is going on.  If you have a book with lots of drafts in it, *read the beginning pages*.  The introduction is generally where an author will explain the codes - the 'keys' for reading the graphics.

Since the advent of computers, weaving drafts now look very similar to the one I've given above - the horizontal lines across the top refer to the sequence of the threads.  The little box (4x6) show the tie up being recommended.  The long columns down the right hand side show the sequence of treadles to be used - I've given *one* repeat of plain weave and *one* repeat of a 2:2 twill.  And the rest is the graphic representation of how the cloth will look when it is woven.  The twill line will move in one direction or the other but if you don't see the structure the way you expect, look at the other side of the cloth.

My books are available as usual here

They are available in PDF download or print.  They are printed in the US so there is no tariff for USians.  People in other countries may wish to purchase the PDF (which is also cheaper - just saying).