# Common Weaves

### What It Does

Common Weaves gives you instant access to 18 weave structures, organized into six categories. Instead of building a threading, tie-up, and treadling from scratch, you select a weave, adjust its parameters, and apply it to your draft. TempoWeave generates the complete structure — threading, tie-up, and treadling — ready for you to customize with your own colors, sett, and dimensions.

Whether you need a quick plain weave to start a project, a specific twill for sampling, or a complex block weave as a foundation, Common Weaves saves you the setup time.

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### Opening Common Weaves

* **Ribbon**: Design tab > Weave Explorer group > Common Weaves button

The dialog opens as a separate window.

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### The Dialog

#### Category Filter

A dropdown at the top filters the weave list by category. Choose "All" to see every weave, or select a specific category to narrow the list.

#### Weave List

The left panel lists all weaves in the selected category. Click a weave to select it and see its parameters and description.

#### Parameters

The right panel shows adjustable settings for the selected weave:

**Shafts** — The number of shafts the weave uses. Some weaves have a fixed shaft count (like Plain Weave at 2); others let you scale up (like Satin from 5 to higher counts).

**Treadles** — The number of treadles. For many weaves this auto-syncs with the shaft count. Others (like Monk's Belt with its 6 treadles) have independent treadle counts.

**Weave-specific parameters** — Each weave may have additional settings like Float Ratio, Block Size, Group Size, or Cell Size. These are described in the weave listings below.

**Warp Threads** — How many warp threads to generate (4–5,000).

**Weft Picks** — How many weft picks to generate (4–40,000).

The threading and treadling tile (repeat) to fill the specified thread and pick counts.

#### Description

A text area below the parameters describing the selected weave — its character, traditional uses, and what makes it distinctive.

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### Weave Library

#### Basic (4 weaves)

**Plain Weave**

The simplest and most common weave structure. Each warp thread alternates over one, under one weft thread. Creates a balanced, stable fabric.

* **Shafts**: 2 (fixed)
* **Treadles**: 2 (fixed)
* Also known as tabby

**Basket Weave**

Groups of threads pass over and under together, creating a softer, more flexible fabric than plain weave with a distinctive checkered texture.

* **Shafts**: 2–4
* **Group Size**: 2×2, 3×3, or 4×4 — how many threads travel together

**Rib Weave**

Creates pronounced ridges running either vertically or horizontally across the fabric.

* **Shafts**: 2 (fixed)
* **Treadles**: 2 (fixed)
* **Rib Direction**: Warp Rib (horizontal ridges) or Weft Rib (vertical ridges)
* **Rib Size**: 2–6 — the width of each rib in threads

**Canvas Weave**

An extended plain weave that produces a heavier, more textured fabric. Groups of threads interlace in a plain-weave pattern.

* **Shafts**: 4–8
* **Rib Factor**: 2–4 — threads per interlacement unit

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#### Twill Family (5 weaves)

**Straight Twill**

The fundamental twill — diagonal lines running across the fabric. The foundation for countless textile designs.

* **Shafts**: 4 (fixed)
* **Treadles**: 4 (fixed)
* **Float Ratio**: 2/2, 3/1, 1/3, 2/1, or 1/2 — how many threads float over vs. under

**Point Twill**

The diagonal reverses direction, creating V-shapes or diamond patterns. Both threading and treadling use a reversing (point) sequence.

* **Shafts**: 4 (fixed)
* **Treadles**: 4 (fixed)
* **Float Ratio**: 2/2, 3/1, 1/3, 2/1, or 1/2

**Herringbone**

Point threading combined with straight treadling produces the characteristic zigzag pattern seen in classic coats and suits.

* **Shafts**: 4 (fixed)
* **Treadles**: 4 (fixed)
* **Float Ratio**: 2/2, 3/1, 1/3, 2/1, or 1/2

**Goose Eye**

A diamond variation of point twill. The distinctive "eye" shapes appear at the center of each diamond, created by the tie-up pattern.

* **Shafts**: 4 (fixed)
* **Treadles**: 4 (fixed)
* **Float Ratio**: 2/2, 1/3, or 3/1

**Rosepath**

A traditional Swedish weave structure that creates diamond motifs resembling rose petals. Uses point threading with tromp-as-writ treadling (treadling matches threading).

* **Shafts**: 4–8
* **No additional parameters**

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#### Satin (1 weave)

**Satin / Sateen**

Long floats create a smooth, lustrous surface. Satin is warp-faced (warp threads dominate the surface); sateen is weft-faced.

* **Shafts**: 5 (fixed)
* **Treadles**: 5 (fixed)
* **Move Number**: 2–11 — the step between interlacement points. Must be coprime with the shaft count to ensure even distribution. TempoWeave validates this automatically.
* **Warp Faced**: Check for satin (warp on top), uncheck for sateen (weft on top)

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#### Textured (6 weaves)

**Crepe Weave**

An irregular interlacement that avoids any visible diagonal or pattern. The surface has a pebbly, textured character — no straight lines anywhere.

* **Shafts**: 4 (fixed)
* **Treadles**: 4 (fixed)
* **No additional parameters**

**Bedford Cord**

Raised lengthwise cords separated by fine divider threads. A classic structure for trousers, upholstery, and outerwear.

* **Shafts**: 4–8
* **Cord Width**: 4–12 (even numbers) — threads per cord

**Rep Weave**

A warp-faced structure where the weft is completely hidden. Creates thick, firm fabric with bold vertical stripes defined by color.

* **Shafts**: 4–8
* **Block Size**: 4–16 — warp threads per color block. Excellent for rugs, belts, and bags.

**Waffle Weave**

Creates a three-dimensional grid of cells that trap air, making the fabric highly absorbent. The classic structure for kitchen towels and dishcloths.

* **Shafts**: 4 (fixed)
* **Treadles**: 4 (fixed)
* **No additional parameters**

**Honeycomb**

Creates three-dimensional hexagonal cells. Like waffle weave but with a different cell geometry. Excellent for towels and thermal fabrics.

* **Shafts**: 4–8
* **Cell Size**: 4–12 — threads per cell

**Crackle Weave**

A block weave where each block shares border threads with its neighbors, creating a distinctive textured surface with a "crackle" effect.

* **Shafts**: 4–8
* **Block Sequence**: A-B-C-D, A-B-A-C, A-B-C-B, or A-B — the order of blocks in the pattern
* **Block Repeat**: 3–9 — threads per block unit

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#### Block Weaves (4 weaves)

**M's and O's**

Alternating blocks of warp-dominant and weft-dominant areas create a textured surface. A versatile 4-shaft structure popular for towels and placemats.

* **Shafts**: 4 (fixed)
* **Treadles**: 4 (fixed)
* **Block Size**: 3–15 — threads per block (odd numbers recommended for best results)

**Monk's Belt**

An overshot-like pattern with a plain weave ground. Blocks of pattern floats appear on a stable tabby base. Originally used for Scandinavian bedcovers.

* **Shafts**: 4 (fixed)
* **Treadles**: 6 (fixed) — 2 tabby treadles + 4 pattern treadles
* **Block Width**: 3–15 — threads per pattern block (odd numbers recommended)

**Summer and Winter**

A versatile block weave where each block can independently be warp-dominant or weft-dominant. Produces reversible fabric — the pattern on the back is the inverse of the front.

* **Shafts**: 4–16
* **No additional parameters**
* Uses 2 tie-down shafts plus N pattern shafts (blocks = shafts minus 2)

**Overshot**

The quintessential American handweaving tradition. Pattern weft floats over a plain weave ground, creating bold geometric designs.

* **Shafts**: 4–8
* **Block Sequence**: A-B-C-D, A-B-A-C, A-B-C-B, or A-B
* **Block Repeat**: 3–11 — pattern threads per block

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#### Lace (3 weaves)

**Huck Lace**

Alternating sections of plain weave and float create a lacy texture that opens up when the fabric is washed and relaxed.

* **Shafts**: 4–8
* **Block Size**: 3–11 (odd numbers recommended)

**Bronson Lace**

A spot-pattern lace where shaft 1 serves as a ground thread in every block. Simpler to thread than Huck lace, with float areas that open into delicate windows when washed.

* **Shafts**: 4–8
* **Block Size**: 3–11 (odd numbers recommended)

**Swedish Lace**

Alternating blocks of plain weave and openwork. The plain areas contract while the lace areas open when the fabric is wet-finished, creating a beautiful dimensional effect.

* **Shafts**: 4–8
* **Block Size**: 3–11 (odd numbers recommended)

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### How to Use It

1. Go to **Design tab > Common Weaves**
2. Browse by category or select "All"
3. Click a weave to see its description and parameters
4. Adjust the parameters for your project:
   * Set the shaft and treadle counts (if adjustable)
   * Configure weave-specific settings (float ratio, block size, etc.)
   * Set warp thread and weft pick counts for your project dimensions
5. Click **Apply**
6. The complete structure — threading, tie-up, and treadling — is generated and applied to your draft
7. Add your colors, adjust sett and beat, and you're ready to weave

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### Step-by-Step Example: Setting Up a Waffle Weave Towel

You want to weave kitchen towels in waffle weave:

1. Open a new draft
2. Go to **Design tab > Common Weaves**
3. Select **Textured** category, then **Waffle Weave**
4. Set Warp Threads to 200 and Weft Picks to 300 (adjust for your towel dimensions)
5. Click **Apply**
6. TempoWeave generates the complete 4-shaft waffle structure
7. Add your warp and weft colors
8. Set sett and beat for your yarn weight

### Step-by-Step Example: Sampling Twill Variations

You want to weave samples of different twill ratios:

1. Open **Common Weaves** and select **Straight Twill**
2. Set Float Ratio to "2/2" and apply — this is a balanced twill
3. Note the pattern, then undo (Ctrl+Z)
4. Change Float Ratio to "3/1" and apply — this is a warp-dominant twill
5. Compare the two patterns
6. Try "1/3" for a weft-dominant version
7. Each variation shows how the float ratio changes the fabric's drape and appearance

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### Tips

* **Start here for new projects** — Common Weaves is the fastest way to set up a draft with a proven structure. Apply the weave, then customize.
* **Undo works** — Ctrl+Z reverts the entire weave application.
* **Tiling fills your draft** — The threading and treadling automatically repeat to fill your specified warp and weft dimensions.
* **Odd block sizes** — For block weaves (M's and O's, Monk's Belt, lace weaves), odd block sizes generally produce more balanced, attractive patterns.
* **Float ratio matters** — In twills, 2/2 creates a balanced fabric; 3/1 is warp-dominant (smoother face); 1/3 is weft-dominant. The ratio significantly affects drape and texture.
* **Scale up with shafts** — Weaves with variable shaft counts (like Summer and Winter or the lace weaves) gain more pattern blocks as you add shafts. More shafts means more independent design areas.
* **Combine with Color Weave Explorer** — Apply a Common Weave for the structure, then use the Color Weave Explorer to set up a color-and-weave pattern on top of it.

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### Quick Reference

| Category     | Weaves                                                        |
| ------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Basic        | Plain Weave, Basket Weave, Rib Weave, Canvas Weave            |
| Twill Family | Straight Twill, Point Twill, Herringbone, Goose Eye, Rosepath |
| Satin        | Satin / Sateen                                                |
| Textured     | Crepe, Bedford Cord, Rep Weave, Waffle, Honeycomb, Crackle    |
| Block Weaves | M's and O's, Monk's Belt, Summer and Winter, Overshot         |
| Lace         | Huck Lace, Bronson Lace, Swedish Lace                         |

| What's Generated | Details                                                |
| ---------------- | ------------------------------------------------------ |
| Threading        | Complete shaft assignments, tiled to warp thread count |
| Tie-up           | Full shaft-to-treadle connection matrix                |
| Treadling        | Complete treadle sequence, tiled to weft pick count    |
| Mode             | Tie-up mode (not liftplan)                             |