e completed piece of heraldic work
would be most annoying. In order to get a tracing of the design upon the
threads, a sheet of paper, with a distinct outline of the pattern upon
it, must be attached, possibly by pinning, to the further side of the
warp-threads, exactly where the weaving is to take place. The outline
will be clearly perceivable through the threads, and the next process is
to take pen and Indian ink and make a dot upon each warp-thread in
sequence round the outline of the pattern. When this is completed, the
tracing-paper can be removed, and the dots upon the warp must be taken
all round each thread instead of marking one side only. The marking
round is done by holding a warp-thread between the finger and thumb,
placing the side of the nib against one of the dots, and then twisting
the thread to and fro against it. All the marks upon the first thread
are treated in succession in this way, then the next thread is taken up
and treated in similar fashion, and so on until all are done. Fig. 180
shows a leaf marked upon the warp-threads in readiness for working.
This marking should be clear, sharp, and decided, all the lines being
taken horizontally round, as in fig. 180; if the pattern seems to run up
a thread, a mark just half-way up is sufficient guide. In a piece of
work of any size the tracing must be done, a part at a time, for the
threads moving slightly when the warp is unwound and the web wound up
may displace the marks and make the guiding lines incorrect.

[Illustration: Fig. 180.]

CHAPTER XVIII

THE TECHNIQUE OF WEAVING

Weaving--Commencing and Fastening Off--The Interlocking Stitch--Fine
Drawing--Shading--Added After-stitches.

The way in which the woof threading in and out of the warp makes the web
is shown at C, fig. 179. Here the woof has been taken once to and fro; a
movement called a weft or a course, one way only, goes by the name of a
half pass or a shoot. By the use of the cross stave for one direction,
and of the coats for the other, the tediousness of the process of
darning in and out and so picking up the right threads is avoided. It is
not always practical to make use of these appliances; for instance, in
working over only two or three threads it may not be worth while, but
when they can be made use of the work is done twice as rapidly by their
help.

The bobbin enters the loom rather high up, for there the division of
threads is greatest. One hand starts the bobbi