Traditional Weaving Looms

Peruvian back-strap loom

Weaving is thought to be mankind's oldest craft, dating back in earliest records to around 10,000 BC. Weaving looms evolved over time, as technology improved and new threads and yarns were discovered. Every culture practices weaving of some sort, whether it is basketry, carpet weaving, bead weaving or cloth weaving.

Types

Traditional weaving looms come in many different types, from simple frame looms, to suspended warp looms (vertical threads suspended from a branch or rod) and back-strap looms to more complex floor looms and heddle looms, which use mechanisms to keep the weaving tight. Bead weaving looms are also a type of traditional weaving looms used often by Native Americans, as are the Navajo vertical weaving looms.

History

According to Susan Wylly's "Art and History of Weaving," looms developed simultaneously with weaving. The first looms are thought to be warp threads suspended vertically and weighted with stones; this was a clumsy and tiresome form of weaving. The back-strap looms developed in Peru and spread throughout the Americas, dating back to 5800 BC. These portable looms tie to a tree and around the weaver's back to keep the warp threads taught; they are still in use today. Frame looms were a revolutionary development in weaving, and allowed for the invention of the more complex floor looms that were in production as early as 5000 BC in Egypt. These looms produced finer cloths and larger bolts of fabric. Traditional weaving looms developed rapidly after the invention of the shed stick. According to Alien Travel Guide, one of the most important discoveries in traditional weaving looms came from China, where heddle looms originate.

Function

Traditional looms are used to make weaving of all sorts. Traditional-style looms still are used by hobbyist to produce decorative woven pieces, rugs, doilies, bags and fabric. The loom holds the vertical warp threads, through which the horizontal weft threads are passed, typically in an "under, over, under, over" pattern.

Construction

Constructing traditional-style looms can be very simple, in the case of frame looms and suspended warp looms or back strap looms, but floor looms and heddle looms are more complex. A basic frame loom can be made using an old wooden picture frame, with the warp threads simply bound around the frame in a vertical manner.

Developments

Traditional looms developed into industrial style looms during the Industrial Revolution. Weaving became mechanized and faster, producing larger bolts of fabric. During the Industrial Revolution, the condition of textile workers was so bad that they formed unions to try to get better conditions. So the birth of the mechanized modern loom was also the birth of modern workers unions.

References

• Alien Travel Guide: The History of Weaving
• Susan Wylly: Georgia College and State University: The Art and History of Weaving
• The Industrial Revolution: Innovations
• Weaving in Beauty: Build a Navajo Style Loom