Pictures of the past emerge from woven tapestry

Woven tapestry is one way that tapestries are produced. Tapestry is a broad term for different kinds of household textiles from rugs to wall hangings and throws. It is a heavy cloth often with pictures of historical events or flowers featured in the design. In a woven tapestry the design is incorporated into the weaving process. The skillful working of the weft thread creates the picture in the weaving process. The weaver layers these threads arranging the colors in such a ways as to produce a picture often with amazing detail and clarity. The pattern is carefully worked out before the weaving begins and then the woven tapestry can be created with precision. The most skilled weavers can produce art that can be mistaken for a painting because of its intricate details.

The process of weaving allows textiles of different thickness to be produced. Woven tapestry is well suited for the making of throws and tablecloths because it can be light and flexible. Tapestry produced in a needlepoint method is stiffer and thicker. It is suited best to wall hangings and cushion covers. The threats crossing both the warp and the weft of a needlepoint tapestry caused the material to be firmer than a woven item.

Until the early 1900’s it was very common to find a loom in most homes. The ladies of the house would produce the textiles required for clothing and other needs. Woven tapestries evolved as woman were challenged to exercise their minds while passing time with manual labor.

Author Notes:

Laurie Simpson contributes and publishes news editorial to http://www.tapestry-tapestry.com. Tapestries make elegant gifts as table runners, pillows, throws and wall hangings found in traditional and medieval prints.