CONCEPT
Exploring Computational History and Weaving¶
I grew up watching my mom weave on her four harness floor loom. As I got older, I learned to weave myself and went to school to study textiles. Though I have always loved textiles, what drew me to weaving was a facination with the mechanics of the loom. The floor loom was the first piece of technology I developed an intimate enough relationship to to be able to understand its innerworkings.
While in school I fell in love with the TC2 digital jaquard loom. This loom allows for individual control over 2,600 strings, meaning you can weave complex images as opposed to the traditional repeat patterns found in weaving. Though this machine mechanizes many parts of weaving, there is a lot of delicate work to be done by hand to ensure it runs properly. Weaving felt like a dance or collaboration, taking turns between my hand movements and programmed ones. After graduating from school, I no longer have acess to the TC2 (which is a VERY expensive and still pretty rare piece of technology).
For my research in fabricademy, I want to build a loom inspired by the complex history of this machine. Although mine will be much smaller scale (85-160) threads, I will still have individual control over each heddle to form more complex imagery than a floor loom can. This will (hopefully) be not only a functional machine but a way for me to continue to form a closer understanding of looms themselves.
My version of this loom will be made for designers and artists looking to make woven samples from home without exporting designs from a factory. The loom will be designed to be able to be constructed out of parts produced in a fablab, arduino controlled electronics and acessible hardware pieces. The goal is to make a loom that places agency back in the hands of weavers allowing them to costruct and edit looms based on personal needs.
WHO
- Weavers, anyone interested in sampling jacquard woven structures from home
WHAT
- An open source, punch card controlled jacquard loom
WHEN
- Final protype made by mid March
WHERE
- I will be constructing this at the WAAG Futurelan in Amterdam but all files will be published online to be made wherever it is needed. I also hope to make the design modular enough for me to take back with me to the States in May.
REFERENCES¶
Books and Papers¶
Other Projects and Inspiration¶
VISUAL INSPIRATION¶
