Weaving Vocabulary

Beater of the Loom: Part of the loom structure which is moved back and forth to pack the weft rows taut; composed of two vertical side pieces and horizontal end pieces for holding the reed, the whole device working back and forth in an arc from its pivot at the base or top of the loom; also called Batten. Could be as simple as a comb or kitchen fork.

Board Loom: a simple wooden frame or contrivance made out of a flat board, on which warp may be stretched taut to provide for weaving.

In-and-Out Weave: Another name for Simple Weave, Plain Weave, or Tabby Weave; also applied to Simple Weaving in Basketry.

Loom: The framework across which threads are stretched in parallel order and at a tension for the weaving of cloth.

Selvage of cloth: the edge formed when weaving, at the right or left side of the cloth, by the loops of the weft as it passes back and forth and around the outside warp threads.

Set, Sett, or Setting of the warp: the number of warp threads per inch in the reed to obtain a certain texture.

Warp: the name given to the series of threads stretched lengthwise of the loom.

Warp-Around Loom: a frame or a board around which thread is wrapped to provide warp for weaving, generally having some arragement for keeping the warp threads spread evenly apart and parallel.

Wattling: the ancient process of interlacing rigid sticks by twisting of pairs of softer fibers around them; know today as Pairing.

Weaving: the interlacing of two sets of threads at right angles to each other in various warp to form a fabric or cloth.

Weft: the name given to the weaving thread used crosswise of the warp through the sheds made by the harnesses; also called the Filler or Woof.