Brochure of Vocational Training for Mentally Handicapped : Chapter X

Brochure of Vocational Training for Mentally Handicapped : Chapter X

CHAPTER X

INTRODUCTION – (WEAVING)
Weaving is a very old technique. Its origin can be traced back to the enclosures of interlaced branches made by early men. Weaving consists in interlacing two sets of threads, one set placed longitudinally and the other transversely in a fabric. The longitudinal thread which is known as warp having been carefully arranged and evenly wound – upon a beam, must be separated into two lines, and a transverse one which is weft thread passed through the division. It is by the proper selection of warp threads for successive upper and lower lines that patterns are formed in fabrics.
It is essential to the making of all fabrics, whether tapestry or materials of silk, linen, woollen or cotton. Weaving is done on looms. The early looms were worked or operated by hand (i.e., manually). But today power-looms are practically everywhere. it is now rather universal.
Weaving was practiced in India, China, Egypt, and other countries of antiquity, as it was later in Greece where the classic instance of Homer’s reference to Penople weaving and unweaving her threads. In the middle ages, the weavers of Netherlands, became famous and later greatly influenced the craft in England, Germany & elsewhere.
In our Country, the then United India, Dhaka, now the Capital of Bangla Desh, was famous for its weaving genius. Even now also to some extent it is, such as Dhaka Muslin cloth, Dhakai Sari, Tangail Sari etc., were very famous and were accepted as an aristocratic dress. It was in 14 – 15 century. There after slowly, the Handloom industries taken by other provinces. Even now in Bangalore, Madras, Coimbatore, Madurai etc., the weaving were still carried out on the traditional looms. In the North of our Country, Banaras and its adjoining places and villages, weave costly sari, cloth, curtain materials etc., by handloom. The costly marriage saris, known as ‘Banarasi Saris’, come from Banaras and its adjoining villages. Gradually now in
many places, these traditional handlooms have been replaced by Power Looms, and to meet the demand of cloth, many Mills also have sprung up. Now handloom is practically dying and the weavers cannot maintain their families by being in this trade. As their children are receiving education, modern technical education and training, they like to join other professions, industries, to earn more money rather than to continue their traditional trade.
“But, one is not sure who invented the ‘Hand-Loom’ first. PENELOPE? In Greek Legend, the wife of Ulysses, duringthe protracted absence of her husband was besieged by Suitors, but she told them, before she could accept any of them, she must finish the rope she was making for her father-in-law. She worked at this all day and at night undid all she had done.”

DEFINITION :
“The Hand-Loom may be defined as a simple machine (Manually Operated) used for or making or weaving textile fabrics, from yarn or thread.” In the simplest form of weaving, one set of thread or yarn runs the whole length of fabric which is known as Warp. It is manipulated with the help of a shuttle, a boat shaped implement, on which the weft thread (fixed in a bobbin), is shot across between the warp threads through one shuttle box to other alternately over and under a crosswise set of warp threads. The Shuttle moves right to left and left to right vice-versa over the slay, carrying the thread parallel to ground. This interlacing creates a woven fabric. This is weaving.
The hand-loom has been replaced by Power-loom, first introduced by Cart Wright in 1785-87 and a further improvement was effected when automatic action was introduced by JACQUARD in about 1801.
TEXTILES
General name for woven goods. The raw materials employed may be silk, wool or cotton yarn etc.

FABRIC
The act of constructing : texture : manufactured cloth : anything framed by art or labour : to produce & manufacture.

“Being civilised means making and liking beautiful things, thinking freely, living rightly, and maintaining justice equally between man and man.”

English Author – Joad

“Gratitude is the mother of virtues, the most capital of all duties.”

Roman orator – Cicero

“A living and growing knowledge cannot be procured merely by the study of books, but by taking part in the stream of human activity.”

Indian Scientist – C. V. Raman