Plain Weave

“A weave in which every thread alternately passes over and

under the threads of the other system, and in which each thread
weaves exactly opposite to the adjoining threads. Plain weave
gives the simplest form of interlacing but it is used more than
any other weave. It gives a greater number of intersections per
unit space than any other weave and, other factors being equal,
will give a stronger fabric. A great many ways of ornamenting
and varying the weave are used; e.g., by using threads of differ-
ent color, material, count or twist. Common examples of plain
weave fabrics are sheeting, lawn, muslin, chiffon, etc. Other
names for the plain weave are: tabby, calico, taffeta, etc.”

Callaway Textile Dictionary

First Edition 1947
 Plain Weave woven as drawn in or dented:
number of weft shots=number of warp ends per inch
Sampling from COE project done in 1976

Woven with 3/2 trevira, set at 8 ends per inch.

An extremely gauzy fabric resulted lacking in
stability and body.

Woven with 3/2 trevira, set at 15 ends per inch.

A very firm fabric probably the best choice of set for
an average fabric.

Woven with 3/2 trevira, set at 10 ends per inch.

This fairly loose weave is useful for letting the light
come through and for a lighter weight fabric.

Woven with 3/2 trevira, set at 16 ends per inch.

This fabric is beginning to have a warp faced appear-
ance and take on a boardy feel.

Woven with 3/2 trevira, set at 12 ends per inch.

This sample has more body and would produce a
heavier fabric.
2
Plain weave is popularly called tabby by many weav- threading, it does not matter if it is done from the
ers. The American Heritage Dictionary describes plain center out to the sides, from left to right or from right
weave as a weave in which the filling threads and the to left as long as it appears on the loom as shown in
warp threads interlace alternately, forming a checker- the diagram. Plain weave does not have a preference
board pattern. for direction, but pattern weaving if not symmetrical
4 must be done according to the diagram or it will not be
4
4 successful.
4 4
3
2 2 2
1 1 1

1 3 1
2 4 2
1 3 1
4 4
2 4 2

The diagrams above show

plain weave formed by using only two shafts or sheds
which are mainly found on a rigid heddle loom or a
simple loom with only two shafts. The diagram on the
right above is a plain weave structure threaded Relationship between the diagram and the actual
on four shafts and treadled or used 4
thread interlacement (note the black squares or vertical
on a dobby, table or electronic 4 4 bars indicate warp)
4
loom. The treadles would be 3
shown as they would be tied 2
1 When reading old European weaving
up in the diagram above (trea-
dles shown in black squares 1 books, the word leinwand meaning linen
2
and used in the sequence 3
is used to indicate plain weave. Another
shown in the treadling area.) 4 4 reference to plain weave is from the Ha-
oyufa Technology & Trade Company where,
Note that color bars appear above the threading or in addition to their Plain and Twill Weave
warp area and to the side of the treadling or weft area. wire, they weave wire called Hollander
In most computer weaving programs this is how color (Dutch) Weave where the warp wires re-
is depicted. If the color area is shown in black, con- main straight while the weft wires are plain
vention dictates that black indicates warp and white woven to lie as close as possible against
indicates weft but this does not always hold true. Simi- each other in “linen” weave.
larly, few programs show numerals in their draw down
diagrams but the norm is black squares in both warp
and weft. A good program will allow the diagram to be
read from top to bottom or vice versa. Although many
of the older conventions used in weaving show the top
to bottom method, this will not be successful if figures
or lineal designs are used as they will appear upside
down as the weaving progresses. A man standing on
his head is rather unusual!

While many weavers still thread from right to left

(probably because the loom is situated with light com-
ing from the right or because it seems easier to thread Warp faced plain weave
heddles from right to left), this is not how most of us with pick up areas
read. The weaving industry and most modern weav-
ers look at a diagram reading from left to right. When
3
 6 12 18 24 30 36 42 48
6 12 18 24 30 36 42
4
4

4
4
8
8
12
6 12 18 24 30 36 42 48
16
4 20

24
4 28

8 32

12 36

40
16
44
20
48
24
6 12 18 24 30 36 42 48
28
4
32

36
4
All of these plain weave drawdowns could be done 8
on two shafts but the examples show that they can
also be done on four or more even numbers of 12
shafts. The tie up in the upper left corner will always 16
have to show every other shaft being lifted for the 20
first weft shot and opposite shafts being lifted for
24
the second weft shot. This is repeated throughout
the weaving. The color bars show the sequence of 28
colors to be used for both the warp and the weft. The
numbers on top and beside the bars give the number
of threads of each color to be used. Of course, substitution for the colors can be made at any time.

6 12 18 24 30 36 42 48 6 12 18 24 30 36 42 48
12 6
12 4

6
4

4 12

8 16

12 20

16 24

20 28

24 32

28 36

32 40

36 44

48
4
 Plain Weave Ornamentation
A knowledge of hand manipulated weaving on plain
weave background gives the opportunity of enhancing
design without the need of many shafts.

Embroidering on the loom or while the weaving

This leno variation was done with 20/2 linen warp progresses gives the fabric a stabilizing effects as the
and weft set at 12 ends per inch. It has been reduced warp is under tension. Weft bouquets such as the Dan-
from its original size. It is a process of crossing warp ish Medallion can be done on the plain weave. This
threads by hand or with a pick up stick and fixing the was done in 40/2 linen warp and weft with embellish-
position with a weft thread. ment in silk and crêpe yarn. Reduced in size.

More lace done on the loom in this sample is Spanish

lace made by interchanging sheds in plain weave and
working the yarn back and forth over a group of warp
threads. This is 20/2 linen warp and weft with various
fancy yarns for hand manipulated work. Reduced in
The pattern above has been laid in on a plain weave size.
ground of 20/2 linen warp and weft with Bernat Krys-
ta. It has been reduced in size. This method requires Samples scanned from work done for the COE in
picking up the warp threads and is easier done if four Handweaving by Eleanor Best
shafts are used.
5
Shadow Weaves or Log Cabin Patterns 6 12 18 24 30 36 42 48 54 60 66 72 78

Many different patterns can be woven in plain weave 4

by varying the color sequence in warp and weft. Usu- 8

12
ally this is done by interrupting the color sequence by 16

doubling one of the colors, then proceeding with an- 20

other sequence of colors and then doubling the colors 24

28
and returning the original sequence to form the break 32

in the weaving pattern. By weaving the entire warp 36

40
sequence of colors as drawn in, sections of the pattern 44

form “blocks” in the overall pattern. 48

52

56

60
6 12 18 24 30 36 42 48
64

68

72
4 76

80
8

12 of the second repeat have been omitted in the repeat

16 of the draw down below.) The main difference is that
20

24
6 12 18 24 30 36 42 48 54 60
28 4
4
32

36 4

40 8

12
44
16
48
20

24
In the design above, the maroon threads are repeated 28
in warp threads, 16 and 17 and the teal, threads in 32 32

and 33. The weft threads are done in the same order as 36

the warp threads, but note that the treadling is done in 40

a sequence beginning at the top and working down. 44

48

52

56

Computer programs vary in the way that they 60

handle the information in their drawdowns. 64

Some work from the right side to the left, while

others start at the left and proceed to the right. In one of the draw downs has been prepared for two shaft
the same manner some work from the bottom to plain weaving while the other is arranged for four
the top in the treadling while others start at the shaft plain weaving. Adjacent heddles are used in the
top and work down. top draw down for each color but progressive heddles
in a straight draw are used to thread the lower dia-
A good program will allow you to start where gram. A change occurs in the tie ups of the two draw
you wish usually by changing the preferences downs when the second one weaves with shafts one
found within the program to your choice. and two together followed by three and four together
so that two weft threads have to be thrown in the same
shed. To do this the weft thread should be caught on
The two draw downs in the next column are essential- each side around the outside warp threads otherwise
ly the same as far as the patterns go (threads 66 to 78 they would just pull through and not remain in the shed.
6
not in selection of weft sequence to change the effect
6 12 18 24 30
as seen below.

4 8 12 16 20 24 28 32
4

8
4 12

8 16

12 20

24
16

28
20
32
24

28
By interchanging the warp with the weft colors in dif-
32
ferent numerical groups, the results may vary in the
overall appearance of the design. The above design
6 12 18 24 Color plays
30 has alternating two light and two darkwarps with two
an impor- dark and two light wefts, while the design below does
tant part in the same except with four threads each.
4 a successful
8 plain weave 6 12 18 24 30
12
fabric. In
general,
16
contrasting 4
20 colors will
8
24 produce
28
the most 12
dramatic 16
32
effects. If 20
the shades
24
of the yarn are too close, the result may be too subtle
to warrant 28
the work in 6 12 18 24 30
32
producing a
handwoven
fabric. 4

8
All of the drawdowns found on these pages
Some have been taken from the CD entitled Books
12
experiment- and WIFs by Eleanor Best. The book used
ing may be
16 in these designs is Patterns for Color.
necessary 20
to produce 24
WeaveMaker MI and SwiftWeave were
a special used for the drawdowns done on the com-
28
effect as puter in WIF format. This means that WIF
the one
32 files are compatible with programs support-
seen here in ing this system.
black and grey. The grey areas seem to be outlined by
the black and give the pattern an interlocking effect.
7
 A
. ll of the
6 12 18 24 30 36 42
examples
48 6 12 18 24 30 36 42 48

done in two
4 shafts can 4
8 be done in 8
12
four shafts 12
16
on a straight 16
20
threading 20
24

28
of 1,2,3,4. 24
32
Just make 28
36 sure that 32
40 the threads 36
44 follow the 40
48 correct color 44
order and 48
that the tie up produces sheds for plain weave (usually
13 and 24.) designs and color combinations to be used as estate
“uniforms.” The colors were usually muted to blend
So far the drawdowns have been in groups of light, in with the countryside while hunting and some were
dark, light dark etc., then reversed to dark light. “copyrighted” as to pattern and colors. See literature
The next on Scottish Distric Checks for detailed information on
combina- 6 12 18 24 30
this subject.
tion of col-
or groups 6 12 18 24 30 Other color
is done in 4
combina-
groups of 8 tions used
three lights, 4 a check
12
three darks within a
16 8
or more check to
threads in 20 12
produce an
each group 24 16
illusion of
as desired. 20 complexity.
28
Color ef- Others used
32 24
fects begin only the
to form 28
warp for
when odd numbers of threads are used or interchanged 32
color de-
with odd sign while
6 12 18 24 30 and even 6 12 18 24 30 weaving
numbers. the weft
the variety with a colid
4 in this type 4 color.
of design-
8 8
ing can be Instead of
12 endless. 12
weaving
16 16
the warp as
20 In Scotland, 20 drawn in,
the Low- it may be
24 24
land people reversed in
28 adopted 28
color but
32 various 32
8
Warp face plain weave Weft face plain weave

A whole study of Weft face plain weave is most often found in rugs and
Rep weaves can tapestries. The warp is widely spaced, strong and will
be found in Bibi- become covered by the weft. the choice of weft yarn
ane April Proulx’ is crucial to
book Reps. Al- the success
though it is writ- of covering
ten in French, the warp—it
the diagrams and should be the
pictures should right thick-
be sufficient to ness and soft
understand and enough to pack
proceed with the down well. Ex-
methods used. perimentation
will be neces-
Determining the sary to find the
warp set in rep best yarn.
weaves requires
that the warp be the dominant feature of the weave
so it must be set close enough to cover the weft. This
means that the weft will push up the warp threads to
form ridges which can be either large or small accord- The sample
ing to the size of the weft thread used. Many of the found to the
patterns can be varied by using a mixture of sizes of right shows
weft. Pick up (as seen on page 2) can add to the scope several tech-
of the patterning. niques that do
not have the
Another method of weaving plain weave is to use an weft passing
inkle loom on which you must raise and lower the two from selvage
sheds using a sword or stick. The shed is formed by to selvage but
threading the warp alternately through heddles and being worked
then manipulating the shed by pushing up or down as into shapes and
the plain weave joined with the
is formed. A background.
stick or sword is
used to form the This form of
shed and then tapestry is called
to pack the weft hatching and the al-
down as the shed ternating grey and
is closed. Many white stripes show
wonderful colors a form of blend-
can be put into ing, all of which
the warp and in give a great amount
addition, pick up of versatility for
methods may be designing free form
used to augment tapestry.
the design.

9
 Embroidery tech-
A plain weave niques like pulled
ground can be threads, hemstitching,
used as the base insertion of shi shi
for knotted, looped mirrors and so on can
and other types be used to decorate
of raised textured plain weave. Usually
effects such as these effects should
those used in rugs be used in small
and wall hangings. quantities, such as the
The picture above triangular corner of
shows pile constructions which can be trimmed or left hemstitching at the
long for shag appearance. bottom of the sample
on the right.
To the right is Borders or inserts for clothing can add the touch
a looped tech- that makes the
nique which fabrics or
usually give a garments a
slightly tighter success. Plan-
more compact ning for the
appearance. ornamenta-
The loops tion should be
may be varied done before
in height or the weaving
shaded with begins as it
several colors may need to be
for ornamental placed in stra-
appearance. tegic areas to
Note the “knit- become most
ted” effect of twining yarn around warp threads for a effective.
raised cable view.
Most of these
Another possibility for using plain weave is to space applications will be for the advanced weaver as the
the warp in the reed by leaving empty dents and by learning curve in mastery of the stitches, placement
cramming other warp threads so that several threads in the fabric and color application will be needed to
are placed in one dent. The fabric can then be woven achieve a well coordinated textile.
with a plain weave or woven as sleyed by using spac-
ers to separate the weft threads.
Many more applications can be applied to plain
Embroidery on the Loom weave so let the imagination roam freely in your
weaving. New threads combined with old threads
may produce some exciting results.
A form of ornamentation that is rarely used with plain
Try the new elastic threads combined with the
weave is a combination of pick up (not necessary if
old mercerized cottons to produce a seersucker
more shafts are used) and needle weaving. Yarn can be
effect—pull some threads to gather the fabric—
threaded through the skips in the picked up areas and
don’t be afraid to try something new. We all
traced in a path around the skipped areas. The pattern
have some stunning successes and sadly, some
can be “invented” to suit if the path of the threaded
failures that are only fit for the trash can!
yarn is varied.

10