Label Type
Cultural/Historical ContextLabel
Looms have at least two harnesses, through which the warp threads pass. The harnesses are connected to treadles. By stepping on the treadles, the harnesses are lifted up and down, creating a passage in the warp, known as a shed, for the shuttle to travel through. The shuttle is thrown by hand from one side to the other. After each passage, the weft was driven into the cloth by means of a beater, the bar that also holds the reed. Label Type
Cultural/Historical ContextLabel
The warp yarns are those that are stretched in place on the loom. They run from the large warp beam at the back of the loom, through the harnesses and the reed, and are attached to the cloth beam near the front. The weft yarns are threaded through the warp yarns from side to side using the shuttle, going over and under every other warp thread. The pattern and weave are determined by the way the warp is lifted when the weft passes through.