Weaving looms have been around since the beginning of civilization.
Weaving involves crossing two sets of threads over and under each other to create items such as rugs, blankets and cloths. A weaving loom is any machine or object that weaves these threads into the end product. There are many different types of weaving looms available, ranging from antique frame machines to hand-held looms to modern computerized ones.
History
Weaving looms are thought to have originated thousands of years ago. No one knows exactly when the process of weaving began or the building of weaving machines started; however, it is thought that these two things date as far back as to the very beginnings of civilized life. Historic examples of weaving can be seen in the interlacing of vines to make nets for fishing, and the interlacing of twigs to make mats to cover floors.
Technical Information
A loom weaves two sets of yarn or thread together using the warp and the weft. The warp runs vertically through the fabric and the weft runs horizontally. The loom holds the warp in place while the weft is woven through. The width of the fabric that is woven is dictated by the width of the loom, and similarly the length of the fabric is dependent on the space available to the loom. While thread and yarn are the most common types of material used in weaving, looms can also weave thin strips of wood, grass or any other pliant material. Examples of modern weaving can be seen in tapestries, scarves and table runners.
Types
There are quite a few types of looms, such as rigid heddle looms, tapestry frame looms and back-strap looms. However, the two most common types are the floor loom and the table loom. Floor looms are heavier, stronger and faster than table looms, but they require much more room space. Table looms are cheaper and easier to move around. They are perfect for beginners, but they are hand-operated, which means they are much slower. Because of their low height and width, weaving possibilities are limited.
Other Looms
Mechanical weaving looms are a relatively new invention, because in ancient times weavers would use their hands to weave. Simple looms can be made from cardboard or paper towel rolls, but the warp is limited by the size and the type of the handmade loom. Currently, weaving ranks as a major industry throughout the world, but due to the commercialized nature of clothing and textile production, it is often completed on high-speed looms in order to allow large quantities of products to be created.
