Weaving
Weaving is an ancient art form that involves making clothing, tapestries, rugs, or blankets using pieces of yarn that are wrapped together. Most weaving is done on a large loom with most of the process today being just by automated looming machines. In the old days though women and children spent their days weaving to make the items they need. They also make them to sell and trade for other items they need. Signs of weaving techniques have been found dating back to 500 B.C.
There is speculation that Egyptian slaves were forced to make weaving products. They had to make everything from hand including the thread they were to use for the weaving process. Women were placed in teams of three and severely beaten if they didn’t produce quality products in a timely manner.
The loom was invented in 1801 to make the weaving process much faster and easier. The term weaving can also be used to describe the art of basket weaving. Regardless of the type of weaving or the material used, the process is basically the same. It involves interlacing the different sets of threads at the right locations to create the finished product. Basket weaving often includes the use of fibers to weave the product. Other weaving products include hats, screens, and metal fences.
Today weaving continues to be a profitable industry for various countries. Many of them still incorporate the weaving processes learned from their ancestors. They lack the resources to have high tech machinery to complete the work. Many women often work together to coordinate the completion of large weaving projects.
Having large scale looms allow the work to be completed faster and with more accuracy. Watching the patience and talent that goes into weaving is amazing. Many of these women make it look quite easy to do. Ask anyone who has actually tried it though and they will tell you definitely is a skill that takes plenty of learning to accomplish.
These handmade woven items are in high demand by individuals all over the world. The details of such work can’t be compared to factory made products. Weaving allows poor countries to have an opportunity to fill a need in others while earning money to support their people. Too often though the pay for their weaving work isn’t nearly what it is worth.
