TRAINING IN WEAVING

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25581, 24 August 1948, Page 6

TRAINING IN WEAVING

WORK WITH DISABLED SERVICEMEN A thorough and complete training in all branches of weaving is now provided for trainees at the Disabled Servicemen’s Re-establishment League training centre at Riccarton. The material made by the men now in training will form a substantial part of the stock of the new shop to be opened by the league at the beginning of September. Great advances in work nave been made in a comparatively short time. When instruction in Weaving was first given at the centre titere was only one loom and very little qtojpjfcfuipment. There are now six operation, five of which have beeiraesigned and constructed in the carpentry division at the centre. One of die looms is operated by the' feet only; another by the hands only; and all can easily be adjusted for either foot'or hand operation. When sufficient yarn, is available the six weaving trainees now at the centre can turn out 200 yards of material a month. This includes cot blankets, travelling rugs, and tweed suiting. The training period lasts for about 18 months or two years, and by the end of the period the men are adept in the threading and setting up of looms, the finishing of materials, and. even in designing the materials. The threading up of the looms is usually done by two trainees working together Travelling rugs, 60 inches wide, are turned out by the score. Sixteen to 20 can be made in one setting up of the loom. Thirty-six small rugs and 75 scarves can be made from one setting. All these articles can easily compete in price with commercially manufactured goods. Three trainees who recently finished their training period are now working in their own homes with looms built at the centre. Assistance and advice are given whenever needed by the centre’s instructors, and maintenance and repairs of looms are done by the centre. These men all find a fairly ready market for their goods. Another former trainee sells his material through the centre. A blinded serviceman without hands had a loom specially made for him at the centre. He operates this in his own home and turns out a good supply of cot blankets. It is hoped that it will eventually be possible to form a co-operative group of such former trainees.

Although most of the eauinment used conforms to regular mill equipment. some has been made especially to suit the particular needs of the trainees and would not be found anywhere else. One such device is a shuttle winder which was improvised at the centre. It enables shuttles to be wound by the use of one hand only. The motor which works the winder is controlled bv foot. A great deal of care is taken with the finishing of materials. The men learn how to examine them carefully for knots, which are all cut out. Any fault or break in the weaving is carefully darned in so that the pattern is left intact. Twisting of rug ends is also done bv hand. This is one of the few jobs where two hands are necessary. Such finishing work is taught in the final period of training