weaving process, step 5

The basic simplified steps to a weaving project:

1. design — the most important part of any project; issues of functionality, color, fiber, hand (drape) of the fabric and pattern are all considerations
2. calculations — project length, width and density (sett), yardage requirements for warp and weft
3. measuring the warp — winding the yarn on a warping board or pegs for conventional loom setup
4. dressing the loom — putting the warp on the loom, through the reed and heddles, tying it to the beams, and winding it up
5. winding bobbins or shuttles — for the weft, or crosswise threads
6. weaving the pattern — more theraputic than Prozac, the rhythmic throwing of the shuttle and beating the weft can produce the little-documented "weaver's high" (okay, that's little-documented cause I just made it up, but it's true)
7. on-loom finishing — hemstitching, if desired (for fringed ends)
8. wet-finishing — just as in knitting, the project isn't complete until it's been wet-finished (washed, steamed, pressed, etc.)

It sounds like a lot, but in reality, weaving projects can go pretty quickly. The loom preparation can be quite enjoyable, though some people dislike this part and just want to get to the actual weaving. I'm a textile geek, I love it all.