How to Weave on a 4-Harness Draft
Weavers over the years have developed ways to pass on their knowledge of weaving patterns to other weavers. One of these tools is the modern threading, tie-up,and treadling draft. This style of notation shows the way in which the weaver threads the loom in the harnesses, how she ties up the treadles under the loom and the order in which she depresses the treadles as she inserts the weft. Learning to read a four-harness draft opens up almost unlimited possibilities for the emerging weaver.
Instructions
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1
Wind the warp on a warping board, making a figure-eight cross at one end. Tie off the cross and tie the warp at 1-yard intervals. Remove the warp from the warping board and bring it to the loom. Pre-sley the warp in the reed, place the reed in the beater and wind the warp onto the back beam. Cut the warp in front of the reed. Remove the beater and the reed. Hang the four harnesses in the loom.
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2
Look at your four-harness draft. There are three basic parts to it: the threading draft, the tie-up and the treadling sequence. The part that you refer to now is the threading draft. This is the grid that is at the top of the draft and to the left. It is four squares deep, and each column of the grid has one X in it, or sometimes a number such as 1, 2, 3 or 4. This grid shows you how to thread the loom. For example, look at the far right of the grid. If there is an X or a 1 in the bottom square, pull a warp thread through the first heddle to the right on the first harness. Read the draft from right to left. The second column may have a 2 or an X in the second square from the bottom. This means that the next warp thread should go through a heddle on the second harness. Thread the loom following this threading draft.
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Finish threading all the threads through the correct heddle on the correct shaft or harness. Put the reed back in the beater and sley the warp at the desired sett (or distance between threads). Tie the warp to the front apron rod.
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4
Look at the grid that appears on your draft to the top right. This is the tie-up. It shows how you should tie the harnesses to the treadles of your loom. The tie-up for a counterbalanced loom has an X for the harnesses that should be tied to the corresponding treadle. For example, if there is an X in the bottom right square of the grid, it means that the first harness will be tied to the first treadle on the right. There may be another X in the third square of that column; if so, the third harness will also be tied to that treadle. This is one of the two tabby sheds. The next column will probably show an X in the second and fourth squares; this means that the second treadle from the right will be tied to the second and fourth harnesses. Tie up all the treadles according to your tie-up draft.
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5
Weave in a few picks of rag weft to start the weaving and space the threads evenly. Refer to the treadling diagram (the grid below the tie-up). It shows you which treadle to step on for each pick of weft. You read it from top to bottom. For example, if there is an X under treadle Number 4 in the first row of the treadling order, you depress treadle Number 4 first. The next row may show an X under treadle Number 3; therefore, for the next pick, you depress treadle Number 3. Follow the treadling order as you weave your piece. When you reach the bottom of the draft, begin again at the top until all the warp is woven. Cut the piece from the loom.
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Tips & Warnings
If you are using a jack loom, the tie-up will have an "O" instead of an "X," and it will designate a rising shed, since on a jack loom the harnesses rise instead of fall. A draft for a countermarche loom may show Xs and Os, since some of the harnesses are raised and some are lowered.
References
- Photo Credit Photos.com/Photos.com/Getty Images
