Bergdala Spinnhus

Weaving has existed for about 27000 years. Only 250 years ago the machines that made it possible for one weaver to work several looms at a time began to evolve. The history of handweaving is long, and it has not come to an end yet...

On these pages I want to share some tricks and tips I have learned during the short 20 years I have been weaving.

Under articles there are some articles on weaving theory and drafting. Some important dates in the history of weaving (in the western world):

• the upright loom (also called warp-weighted loom) was in use ca 7500 years ago
• the shedding mechanism was first invented in Iraq or Turkey about 6000 years ago
• the horizontal treadle loom, as we know it today, was commonly used from the 1300s
• 1733 the flying shuttle was first patented in England. It resulted in a dirth of yarn, which led to the invention of spinning machines
• 1774 Cartwright invented a mechanised loom
• 1785 Cartwright's steam driven loom
• 1801 JM Jaquard got his first patent on a punch-card patterning mechanism
• 1805 the first powered loom in production, in England
• 1835 figures from England: 14000 power looms for the weaving of woollens (vadmal and such), 39000 power looms for worsteds
• hand looms with fly shuttles are still used in industry in several "low-cost" countries

Sources for the facts above are, among several encyclopedias, Prehistoric textiles and Women's work, the first 20000 years by E W Barber. Older encyclopedias often have long and interesting articles about weaving and textile industry.