I'm watching Becky Ashenden's video on weaving on a Swedish drawloom, before setting up my drawloom. Becky talks about pattern units. Her pattern units are all on the same pattern shaft then threaded through each ground shaft. Does the number of threads in a pattern unit always equal the number of ground shafts? For example if I am using 5 end satin for tge griund there are 5 tgreads per pattern unit?

Thanks,

Erica

Comments

Sat, 09/21/2013 - 20:09

kerstinfroberg

the short (and very traditional) answer is "yes".

As usual, any weaver can choose any combination, but to get the clean cut your pattern unit ("stitch", we call it in Sweden) has to match the ground binding ("structure"?). If you use (say) 5 ends per "stitch", but use a (say) 8-end satin as your ground, the lines/"edges" (between pattern and ground) will not be crisp.

Fri, 11/29/2013 - 18:14

Erica

Thank you Kirsten! I think I have wrapped my mjnd around the requisite conceots enough to start windin my first drawloom warp. I am hoping to start with Samitum rather than damask.

Cheers,

Erica

Fri, 11/29/2013 - 21:08

Sara von Tresckow

Try it the traditional way first. I am now at the point where I do occasionally experiment with 4 thread units against a 5-end satin and test it first usin software. If the effect appeals to me, I set the loom up that way. This allows to use narrower units, getting more across a set width giving more pattern detail. 

I then experiment with the number of picks as well, completing the last piece with 4 ends and 4 picks to a decoupure - every 5 rows you start with treadle 1 again, but are not usually able to chat while doing this.

Your guide to setting up for fabric will become testing the whole cloth (background thread by thread against the pattern areas) to see if the edges are as crisp as you'd like. It is also allowed to have fuzzy edges if that's what you are trying for.

Sat, 11/30/2013 - 00:47

Del (not verified)

I'm with Sara; try the traditional balanced approach and then try an unbalanced set-up. I've used both and it depends on what I'm doing and what I want for the final result. And don't be afraid to be a bit loosey-goosey, if you like the effect.