Three shaft twills aren’t often given a lot of attention in weaving books and draft collections. If they are mentioned, only a few examples are offered with a brief paragraph or two. Three shaft twills have some some unique advantages over their four shaft cousins, though, and are more accessible to rigid heddle weavers, so they deserve more than a casual mention!
For rigid heddle weavers, the three shaft twill is the Goldilocks of structures: just complex enough to be satisfying, yet easier to thread and weave than four shaft twills. Three shaft twills require just two heddles, so most rigid heddles equipped with two heddle blocks can manage them easily. They produce a cloth with two distinct sides, giving you more design potential. Best of all, with practice the weaving sequence can go almost as fast as a plain weave with a single heddle. What’s not to like?
This course is for shaft loom and rigid heddle weavers alike. You’ll meet several different three shaft twills and learn why there’s no such thing as a three shaft broken twill, or a three shaft point twill! You’ll also learn about the strengths and limitations of twills woven on just three shafts (or two heddles), and how to maximize their design potential.
Finally, you’ll use what you’ve learned to design your own three shaft twill draft.
Recommended reading:
Course Includes
- 3 Lessons