The Process of Loom Weaving
Once the cotton is ready the dyed cotton is taken to our weaving village. The weavers then began preparing their looms to weave by conducting these 6 steps. The weavers work in open air studios under their homes so that they can earn a dignified living and care for their children. Some homes have a variety of looms beneath them, where the women can work together and share child care and daily responsibilities.
1. Spinning
First the cotton must be spun together to create yarn that is thick enough to weave.
2. Warping
Once the yarn is spun, then the loom must be warped. This step takes place by setting up a board with pegs on each side. The weavers walk the thread back and forth, placing it over the adjacent peg each time until the warping is complete.
3. Denting
The denting process is very tedious and requires the weavers to insert each single thread into each reed/comb. It is very tiny space and takes great precision and attention to detail.
4. Beaming
Beaming takes place by rolling the yarn onto a wooden board to place at the foot of the loom. This process requires at least 5 women to warp one loom.
5. Drafting
The drafting process is when a weaver threads a bamboo stick through the strung loom to create texture or style for that specific piece.
6. Weaving
Once all of those steps are complete, the weaving magic begins!