How To Weave With Silk
Silk is the strongest natural fiber and is known for its beauty when woven into material. Silk yarn, when woven in specific patterns, will create a variety of materials, such as damask, chiffon, velvet, crepe de Chine, brocade and satin. The methods used to weave with silk are the same as with cotton and other fibers. The choice of loom will dictate the type of material (or rug) that is created. Silk weavers typically use the velvet loom, the Axminster or the Jacquard loom. A weaving board is easy to manipulate for smaller projects and, as it is portable, allows the weaver to enjoy the craft in any location.
Instructions
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1
Determine the type of material you would like to produce and set the warp threads into the heddle eyes of the heddle wires of the loom's harnesses in the appropriate pattern. The warp threads run up and down and parallel to each other. These set the pattern of the material.
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2
Attach to the shuttle the silk thread that will be used as the weft thread: the thread carried by the shuttle back and forth across the warp. Throw the shuttle horizontally through the pattern of warp threads of the loom. Catch it on the other side.
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3
Shift the harness to move the warp thread to the next row of the pattern. Throw the shuttle back across the loom through the new pattern of warp threads. Catch it on the other side.
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4
Repeat Step 3 until satisfied with the length of material created on completion of the pattern.
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References
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