Mrs Bowden’s top tip – Grainlines
Let’s start at the root.
When fabric is woven on a loom there are two threads. The WARP thread which travels along the length of the fabric and the WEFT thread which travels from side to side – this is the moving thread on the bobbin.
As the bobbin moves it creates loops at the side of the fabric which creates a SELVAGE. Sometimes you will see manufacturer’s information printed along the selvedge or a pattern is woven into the selvedge.
The lengthwise grain of a fabric lies on the WARP threads that are parallel to the SELVEDGE.
The crosswise grain of the fabric are the WEFT threads at 90°to the selvedge.
The true BIAS lies at 45° to the selvedge although anything ‘off-grain’ is mistakenly referred to as the BIAS.
In stitches,
Amanda x
Ps – next week I’ll talk about the lovely qualities of BIAS!