Weaving
Vlisco-like-Vlisco
Inspired by large pattern designs, I wanted to design upholstery fabrics of which the pattern would challenge the upholsterer to play with the fabrics. I myself did that with cushions and hassocks for my own brand TeTTex. The designs sprang from my admiration for the Vlisco designs, and especially for the way African men and women use these fabrics. They kind of paint with the patterns.
The patterns are woven on a jacquard loom. The warp consists of 5 different colours that come up, depending on the blend colour: see ‘blanket’ with all 5 different blends. The weft consists of 2 or 3 colours.
Various Vlisco fabrics converted into curtains, duvet covers and upholstery for furniture.
In the photographs you see my couch with a Vlisco pattern. Next to it an upholstery fabric in the same style that I made for TeTTex.
For weaving you need a warp and weft. The warp consists of one or more colours.
Each warp thread runs through a heddle bar, then through an eyelet in a shaft, and then through a reed. The shafts move up and down allowing space for the weft to be made. The shafts that move the warp threads up or down determine the definitive pattern.
In jacquard weaving each thread can be individually controlled (up or down) by means of a computer programme. In the past a punch card determined the pattern.
