k does. A great many articles, such
as alms-bags, frontals of all kinds, stoles and book-markers, for use in
churches could most excellently be carried out in tapestry.

CHAPTER XVI

NECESSARY APPLIANCES AND MATERIALS

The Loom--Mirror--Bobbins and Needles--The Comb--Embroidery Frame
treated as a Loom--Warp--Wools--Silk--Gold and Silver Thread.

TOOLS AND APPLIANCES

The chief requisite for weaving is the loom; this can be made by a
carpenter from a working drawing. In the Victoria and Albert Museum
there is a model of a small tapestry loom, presented by William Morris,
which a novice will do well to examine. It is quite possible to carry
out a small piece of weaving upon an embroidery frame, but to work in a
loom which has all the proper appliances is always quicker, better, and
absolutely necessary with work of any size.

There are two main varieties of tapestry loom, one in which the
warp-threads are horizontal, and another in which they are vertical. The
latter kind is considered to give the best results, mainly owing to the
possibility of the worker's seeing the right side of the work whilst it
is in progress. This is a great advantage, for tapestry is woven with
the reverse side towards the worker, and progresses by such gradual
steps that the weaver is prone to lose sight of the whole whilst paying
attention to the part in progress, and it will be easily understood that
to be able to go round and view the entire piece is of immense help. A
detail may perhaps be corrected during the progress of the work, but
afterwards this would be an awkward matter. It is one of the
difficulties of weaving to have to finish completely each step as it
comes up. Working from the wrong side is not so hard as it might seem,
for both sides are practically alike; the side towards the worker,
however, shows ends of thread and thread passing from one place to
another, which make it somewhat unpresentable.

[Illustration: Fig. 170.]

[Illustration: Fig. 171.]

Fig. 170 shows a drawing of a small loom with some warp stretched upon
it in readiness for commencing work. It stands upon the ground, and is
about 4 feet high by 2-1/2 feet wide. It is made of beechwood; a hard
wood like this is best, for there must be no possibility of the rollers
bending with the strain of the warp. The loom consists of two uprights
standing upon heavy feet; these uprights are joined together at the top
and base by strengthening cross bars