WEAVING

Weaving is the interlacing of two or more threads or pieces of material in order to create
a joined structure. While it is most often used to make cloth, the technique is also
common in other crafts such as basket-making. Weaving has existed for thousands of
years, and remains as popular and useful in the modern world as it did in ancient
civilizations.
The basic principle of cloth weaving involves lacing two sets of threads together at 90
degree angles. The warp consists of thread laid parallel to one another, stretched across
a loom or other structure that keeps it in place. The woof or weft is then pulled through
the warp in an under and over pattern, creating a single joined piece of fabric when
completed.

Warp and weft:

The terms warp and weft are used in reference to textiles, specifically those that are
woven. In the literal sense, they are the technical terms for the two types of thread used
to create a finished woven product. The warp is the tightly stretched lengthwise core of a
fabric, while the weft is woven between the warp threads to create various patterns.
Some people also call the weft the filler thread, since it fills in the design, and the
archaic woof is also used instead of weft in some regions.
In order to weave any kind of textile, the weaver needs to start with the warp threads.
Warp threads tend to be stronger and more coarse, because they must be able to
withstand tight stretching. They also provide a core of support for the finished piece,
giving
the
textile
body
and
form.
The
warp
is
stretched
onto
a loom before weaving begins, and it may be coiled onto a spool for very long or large
projects. This spool is unwound as needed, while the finished weaving on the other side
is rolled up to get it out of the way.
The weft threads make up the body of the fabric. They may be one color, or they may be
multicolored, creating patterns and forms. Some weavers also like to use different types
of material for an assortment of textures. In many cases, the weft threads are attached
to a shuttle, which is run back and forth through the warp. On weaving machines, setting
up the weft can get rather complex, especially when patterns are being made.

The word for weft comes from an Old English word, wefan, which means to weave.
Since these threads are the ones that are literally woven in a textile, this origin makes
sense. Warp, on the other hand, comes from an Old Norse word, varp, which means
the cast of a net. The warp of a fabric, in other words, acts like a net to capture the
weft, holding these threads firmly so that they will not escape, causing the textile to
unravel.