Introduction to Weaving

The technique of fabric forming probably became known to mankind before spinning. Primitive people may have observed the interlaced grasses and twigs in the nests of

birds and thus discovered the way to make clothing for themselves, baskets and nets, thatch like huts and fences using such materials as grass, leaves, twig, branches etc.

Spinning developed later when people discovered that the raw material could be improved before they were woven. In course of time, rude looms were made, which were crudely simple and hand operated. The modern looms used in the textile industry today essentially performs the same operations as the simple hand operated loom. (but in much sophisticated manner).

Process Sequence in Weaving

Weaving process contains these steps warping, sizing and final weaving. The flow diagram of weaving process is shown in Figure 7.

Warping

This process is also known as beaming. A beam contains large number of individual threads parallel to each other. The resulting package is a warper’s beam.

Sizing

It is the heart of weaving. In the sizing process, coating of a starch based adhesive is applied to the sheet of yarn to improve its weavability. Sizing increases yarn strength, reduces hairiness, which minimize the abrasion that occur between the warp thread and various parts of the loom.

Weaving

A woven cloth consists of two sets of yarns namely warp and weft. The yarns that are placed lengthwise or parallel to the selvedge of the cloth are called warp yarn and the yarns that run crosswise are called weft yarns. Each thread in the weft is called a pick3