The most labour-intensive part of weaving is in the next step: sleying the loom. Each thread end must be drawn through a heddle with a hook, carefully keeping the order in which they were wound on the warping board. Then it's just a matter of sitting down and throwing a shuttle back and forth, beating the thread in place after each throw. The shuttle is propelled back and forth, back and forth through each shed as the weaver rhythmically raises and lowers the harnesses with the treadles. The clatter of a loom in operation is almost hypnotic, and listening to it is a very pleasant way to spend those rainy winter days.
365Caws is now in its 14th year of publication, and was originally intended to end after 365 days. It has sometimes been difficult for me to find new material, particularly during the winter months, but now as I enter my own twilight years, I cannot guarantee that I will be able to provide daily posts. It is my hope that along the way I may have inspired someone to a greater curiosity about the natural world. If so, I can rest, content in the knowledge that my work here has been done.
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
220 Ends
The most labour-intensive part of weaving is in the next step: sleying the loom. Each thread end must be drawn through a heddle with a hook, carefully keeping the order in which they were wound on the warping board. Then it's just a matter of sitting down and throwing a shuttle back and forth, beating the thread in place after each throw. The shuttle is propelled back and forth, back and forth through each shed as the weaver rhythmically raises and lowers the harnesses with the treadles. The clatter of a loom in operation is almost hypnotic, and listening to it is a very pleasant way to spend those rainy winter days.
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