Weaving Lab

Rapier weaving is a process in which one or two rapiers carry the filling yarn across the loom. As one of the metal rods carries the yarn across the loom from the right, the other rod comes from the left, picks up the filling yarn and carries the yarn across the loom. Compared to other weaving processes, the rapier method is fairly fast and very versatile.

Projectile weaving uses a bullet-like object called a projectile. The projectile is shot across the loom, carrying the filling yarn. The filling yarn is then compressed by the warp yarns to create the interlacements and floats. Projectile weaving is comparatively slower than other forms of weaving.

Air jet weaving is a very efficient weaving technique in which a blast of air expels the weft yarn across the loom at very high speeds.

Wet jet weaving is similar to that of air jet in the way that it is a very efficient weaving technique in which a stream of water expels the weft yarn across the loom at very high speeds.

Shedding is a process in which the warp yarns are separated into two sections by a harness. The harness works to pull some of the warp yarns up while the other warp yarns remain stationary or are pulled down. The opening between the separated warp yarns is called a “shed”. The shedding process is what helps to develop the weave design in the fabric.

Cam shedding uses 2-8 harnesses to manipulate the fewest number of groups.  Cam fabrics are made with the smallest design repeat size.

Shedding is a process in which the warp yarns are separated into two sections by a harness. The harness works to pull some of the warp yarns up while the other warp yarns remain stationary or are pulled down. The opening between the separated warp yarns is called a “shed”. The shedding process is what helps to develop the weave design in the fabric.

Dobby shedding uses 8-28 harnesses to create a design with more complexity than that of cam shedding. Dobby shedding can create intermediate design repeat sizes while also carrying smaller motifs throughout the fabric. 

Shedding is a process in which the warp yarns are separated into two sections by a harness. The harness works to pull some of the warp yarns up while the other warp yarns remain stationary or are pulled down. The opening between the separated warp yarns is called a “shed”. The shedding process is what helps to develop the weave design in the fabric.

Jacquard shedding is used to create the most complex designs. The number of harnesses is unlimited, and can possibly control individual warp yarns. The immense control of the jacquard machine allows for intricate details of very large design repeat dimensions to be woven into a fabric. Jacquard fabrics, such as brocade and tapestry, are very expensive to produce.