Dobby-weaving: handweaving with more comfort
Dobby is short for “draw boy” which refers to the weaver’s helper who controlled the warp thread by pulling on draw threads.
A dobby loom has a dobby mechanism which programs the harness combinations for the weave pattern. The dobby mechanism replaces the treadle/lam combination of the traditional floor looms. The performance of a multi-harness loom is vastly improved by using a dobby mechanism, as it overcomes the major problems associated with the use of a large number of treadles.
Weaving on a dobby loom remains manual operation: warping, threading, weaving and beating works exactly like every loom.
You experience the comfort during weaving on a dobby loom. You do not have to think which shaft selection or treadle you have to choose. On the dobby you can program the weave pattern electronically or by putting pegs in the program bars. You no longer have to crawl under the loom to tie up the treadles.
Comparing the selection methods of shafts manual - treadles - dobby
This is how the weaving on an electronic dobby looks like!
This picture will be replaced by a video as soon as possible ...
The dobby receives the shaft selection electronically and with a pedal movement the selected shafts are rising.
A computer with weaving software is connected to the dobby and every subsequent shaft selection is passed on.
With the new electronic Dobby 2 the shaft selection can also be transmitted through a wireless connection, for example from an iPad.
This is how the weaving on an mechanical dobby looks like!
The shaft selection is programmed with pegs on program bars. With a pedal the next bar from the dobby chain is selected. By pushing the weaving pedal, the weaving shed will open.
Thanks to Marloes van 't Klooster for making this video.
Visit her website http://www.marloesvantklooster.com/