Weaving: The 50 most important terms for aspiring weavers explained! (Glossary)

Are you ready to dive into the wonderful world of weaving? Before you get started with your loom, let's get to know some of the most important terms and vocabulary – in the form of a glossary – that you will come across along the way.

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Whether you are a beginner or an experienced weaver, these terms are essential for understanding weaving and for successfully creating your own weaving projects. So grab your yarn and let's get started!

1. Loom (also: weaving device): A loom is the tool that weavers use to weave fabrics. There are different types of looms, such as floor looms or table looms.

2. Warp: The longer, stronger threads that are stretched lengthwise on the loom form the warp. They form the basis for weaving.

3. Weft: The threads that are woven across the warp are called the weft. They run horizontally and are drawn through the warp with a shuttle or by another method.

4. Weaving width: The weaving width refers to the width of the woven fabric, which is limited by the width of the loom.

5. Warp thread: A single thread of the warp that is interlaced with the weft during weaving.

6. Reed, weaver's reed or rigid heddle: A tool used to beat the weft firmly into place and press the threads closely together.

7. Weaving frame (rigid heddle loom): A weaving frame is a tool used to make fabrics or textiles. It holds the warp threads taut while you weave the weft threads in horizontally to create a fabric.

8. Shafts: The shafts are frames in which the warp threads are arranged. Raising or lowering the shafts creates different patterns.

9. Treadle (also: weaving pedal): A pedal used by the weaver to operate the treadles, which in turn raise or lower the shafts.

10. Weaving draft (also: pattern card): A document or pattern sheet that describes the weaving pattern.

11. Selvedge: The outer edges of the woven fabric, created by the interlacing of warp and weft threads, which form the edge of the fabric.

12. DPI (dents per inch): The number of dents in the reed per inch. More on this here: Understanding reeds and choosing the right one

13. Plain weave: A basic weave structure in which each warp thread passes alternately over and under the weft threads.

14. Twill weave: A weave structure in which the threads run diagonally and create a diagonal texture.

15. Shed: The opening between the warp threads that is created by raising or lowering the rigid heddle.

16. Sett/warp density (epi): The number of warp threads set per inch on the loom. epi = ends per inch.

17. Weft density: The number of weft threads woven horizontally per inch. More on this here: Calculating weft yarn

18. Herringbone weaving: A special pattern in which the warp and weft threads run diagonally to create a zigzag pattern.

19. Threading hook or sley hook: A tool for pulling the warp threads through the rigid heddle or through the heddles. For example here: Threading hook.

20. Bobbin: An aid onto which the yarn is wound before it is put into the loom.

21. Woven fabric: The finished product of weaving, consisting of warp and weft.

22. Tensioning the warp: The process of tensioning the warp threads on the loom to make them ready for weaving.

23. Warping mill: A device used to wind the warp threads evenly and in the correct order. Here is an example: Warping mill.

24. Multi-shaft weaving: A more complex weaving process in which several shafts are used to weave more intricate patterns.

25. Beating: Pushing the weft into the right place. In rigid heddle weaving this is done by pulling the heddle forwards.

26. Beaming with warp separators: Method in which the warp is wound onto the warp beam under firm tension.

27. Temple: Tool for holding the warp at its full width while weaving: Temple (wood) and metal temple.

28. Direct warping: Beaming technique in which individual sections of the warp are wound onto the warp beam under tension directly from the cone or the ball of yarn.

29. Picking (entering the weft): Passing the shuttle through the shed of warp threads from one side of the weaving frame to the other.

30. Sleying: Pulling a warp thread through the rigid heddle.

31. Winding rod: Smooth rod that is used when beaming the warp. It looks like this: Winding rod.

32. Wet finishing: Fabrics that are taken off the weaving frame have to be "wet finished" – by washing and steaming with an iron.

33. epi (ends per inch): Number of warp threads per inch (2.54 cm) of fabric. See also sett/warp density.

34. Reed holder: Device on the weaving frame into which the reed is clamped. For example: Presto reed holder.

35. Rigid heddle: Part of the weaving frame that raises or lowers the warp threads. In rigid heddle weaving the heddle also acts as the beater for beating in the weft.

36. Balanced weave: A weave structure with the same warp and weft density.

37. Up shed: Shed that is created when the rigid heddle is in the upper position.

38. Loom waste: Unwoven warp threads left over once a project is finished, also called thrums.

39. Warp-faced: Fabric on whose surface more of the warp threads than of the weft threads can be seen.

40. Beater: Tool for beating in the weft. In rigid heddle weaving the heddle serves as the beater.

41. ppi (picks per inch): Number of weft threads per inch (2.54 cm) of fabric. See also weft density.

42. Counterbalance loom (roller pulley): Loom on which a shed is formed by raising some of the warp threads and lowering the remaining warp threads. An example: the Julia loom by Glimåkra.

43. Warping frame or warping board: Rectangular frame for warping a warp. For example: Warping frame.

44. Sizing: Coating applied to the yarn before weaving to make it easier to work with. It is washed out once the fabric is finished.

45. Pick (weft shot): A weft thread entered into the fabric.

46. Weft density: Number of weft threads per 1 or 10 cm, or per inch (2.54 cm), of fabric.

47. Weft-faced: Fabric on whose surface more of the weft threads than of the warp threads can be seen.

48. Singles yarn: Unplied yarn consisting of a single strand rather than of several strands twisted together.

49. Ratchet and pawl brake system: System in which a pawl engages between the teeth of a ratchet wheel in order to lock it.

50. Down shed: Shed that is created when the rigid heddle is in the lower position.

Those were 50 important weaving terms! Have fun weaving!

Last updated on 23 May 2025