tribaltextiles.info

Dear All,

In my textile reading, I keep running across the word "warps" for "warp threads." I have been told by master weavers (in Canada) , and have read in Dorothy Burnham's Warp and Weft, a dictionary (also Canadian) of weaving and textiles, that the word "warp" refers to a set of lengthwise yarns in a textile/loom. I see that in the literature, the individual threads of the warp are often referred to as "warps". My sense is that this is incorrect and one should refer to "warp yarns" "warp ends" or "warp threads". As I see individual warp ends referred to as "warps" so very frequently, I wonder if I am wrong.

I would love to have members views/understandings of the definition of the word "warp", and what they think when individual warp ends are referred to as "warps". To me, the plural, warps, refers to several sets of warp ends.

I am looking forward to your insights.

Thanks,

_________________
Sandra Niessen

www.bataktextiles.com
http://bataktextiles.blogspot.com/

Sandra

I wonder if there is a difference when it is someone who is an 'expert' of weaving writing/talking and when it is someone who has some knowledge but is not an expert. I would count myself as the latter. I think I use 'warps' and 'warp' pretty interchangeably without too much thought when I am talking about the many threads which make up a warp strung on a loom. I might specifically refer to one warp thread if this was relevant for pattern or specifically to identify it. I guess we tend to try and shorten what we say/write and so might use 'warps' when we mean warp threads. I don't think we often talk about several looms and their warps when there would certainly be confusion.

Perhaps we need forum member Marla Mallett to give us her opinion (as being the most experienced weaver I can think of who is a forum member).

_________________
Pamela

http://www.tribaltextiles.info
on-line tribal textiles resource

Yes, you might wonder why I get all worked up about something so trivial, but I am doing a translation for publication, and I think it is important to get this right. I suspect that in the centuries when weaving was a common thing, people may have automatically known that a warp was a set of threads. Often dictionaries must change to adapt to how a word is used colloquially. I am wondering if we are that far along.... however, the Oxford of 2005 still has the warp (singular) consisting of threads (plural) etc ....

_________________
Sandra Niessen

www.bataktextiles.com
http://bataktextiles.blogspot.com/

_________________
Pamela

http://www.tribaltextiles.info
on-line tribal textiles resource

_________________
Sandra Niessen

www.bataktextiles.com
http://bataktextiles.blogspot.com/

_________________
Pamela

http://www.tribaltextiles.info
on-line tribal textiles resource

_________________
Pamela

http://www.tribaltextiles.info
on-line tribal textiles resource

_________________
Pamela

http://www.tribaltextiles.info
on-line tribal textiles resource

_________________
Sandra Niessen

www.bataktextiles.com
http://bataktextiles.blogspot.com/