VIP Making Fashion Accesible

This project in collaboration with Intertwine Arts is about finding and designing accessible looms and attachments.

Glossary

Warp. The vertical threads, tensioned on the loom before weaving starts.
Weft. The horizontal threads woven through the warp.
Shuttle. The tool that carries the weft through the warp. A large tapestry needle works in a pinch.
Heddle. The part of the loom that lifts alternating warp threads so the shuttle can pass under them.
Shaft. A frame that holds heddles. The Saori is a 2-shaft loom. More shafts mean more complex patterns.
Selvage. The finished edge of woven fabric.
Rigid heddle loom. A simple loom with one combined heddle-and-reed. The Schacht Cricket is the most common example.
Heat-set insert. A small brass thread melted into a 3D-printed hole so you can use real screws.
Weight shifter. An assistive attachment that replaces the pedals on a Saori, for participants who use wheelchairs.