Let’s Talk About Selvedges, Part 2 (Mechanics of Shuttle Throwing)
Hand position: How to throw a shuttle is one of the heated debate topics in some weaving communities. I am not sure why, but passions rage. My technique is different from many weavers, and from many weaving teachers. Consider it a gentle offering. What I can say is that I have spent over twenty years weaving hard production and my wrists remain healthy and happy, my weaving is fluid and quick, and my cloth is lovely.
Start with tight, well-wound bobbins. This on its own can make a world of difference. It helps the weft snuggle in on the selvedge, and it makes it easier to understand what is happening at your selvedge by the way the shuttle feels when you catch it. This is mostly intuitive, although maybe I just don’t yet have the words to explain it.
Throw and catch your shuttle with your palms facing down. Use your index finger, as you catch the shuttle to tension the bobbin. It is important to slow it down, but to never clamp on it so it stops completely. The bobbin should always be free to move. It can be tempting at first to clamp down on the bobbin, and your selvedges will look fabulous for a short time, but you will have too much draw-in, soon enough your fabric will start “smiling”, and then the edge threads will begin to break.
Throw and catch your shuttle on the shuttle race, if you have one, up near the beater. If your reed is wider than your fabric, you can use it to help guide the shuttle into the proper position. This does away with the need for “weavers angle”. It is already a natural part of what you are doing and letting the weft relax while you are beating (by not clamping on your bobbin) gives you enough extra weft to accommodate for any take-up in your weft (the difference in length between threads going in a straight line, and threads that are going over and under other threads).
Beating Sequence: One of the benefits of walking your treadles is that it allows for a smoother beating sequence. You can begin stepping on your next treadle as you are removing your foot from your previous treadle. When you are well practiced and in rhythm, this is happening at the same time that you are beating. At the beginning, it can feel like learning to ride a bicycle. There are so many small details that go into keeping yourself upright and getting to where you want to go, but it is something that your body needs to find.
To start with, you can break down the steps to:
1) Throw the shuttle
2) Start to beat
3) Change feet
You should be beating at the same time your feet are moving. If you do want to break that down into individual steps, it would be beater to the fabric, change feet, beater back. Over time, and with muscle memory, this can all be one fluid motion.
More to come!
Happy Weaving, Dena
Angle #1
A view from the other side
Putting it all together
And adding Willie, just for the fun of it.