The Principal Operations Of Weaving
January 24, 2026
These copperplate engravings illustrate The Principal Operations of Weaving reproduced from a book of 1748 in the collection at Dennis Severs House. Many of these activities would have been a familiar sight in Spitalfields three centuries ago.
Ribbon Weaving
Dennis Severs House, 18 Folgate House, Spitalfields, E1
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Well thank you very much.
I have just reached the attic, the Weaver’s Loft in my Georgian doll’s house, or is it “dollshouse” ? The wooden floor is laid. The furniture awaiting a coat of old oak.
I cannot believe how timely these blueprints dropping into my Inbox are, for constructing my loom and spinning wheel. Nor how authentic l have made the structure so far, using wooden coffee stirrers
I had thought my acquired miniature spinning wheel was off the scale, but it seems that a wheel far bigger than the person operating it is quite acceptable. Very gratifying.
AND l have enrolled for a Weaver’s Workshop to make an authentic sample l will place in my loom.
ALL inspired by a visit to Denis Severs’ home courtesy of Spitalfield Life.
The detail in these drawings are wonderful but I kept wanting to see even more! I wish they had done this from the sheep to “working the wool’ bit for I am curious as to how the wool was made into those connected ‘sheets’. Perhaps I am misinterpreting the pictures but the wool they are washing and then working seem to be in one connected large sheet. Too bad there isn’t a museum showing actual wool to woven work of art in full scale, with real people performing the whole process.
Thank you for sharing these pictures.
My mother was a carpet weaver to trade before WW2 and it was very hard work so she joined the WAAF when the war started. In the mid 60s she returned to weaving this time in a linen factory as we were about to move to a new council house and she wanted extra money for carpets.
Last week I went to a very interesting exhibition about woven fabrics at the Paul Klee Centre in Bern. It was about the work of an artist who became a designer after training and working at the Bauhaus in Dessau, Germany. It was really fascinating being able to see how fabrics and rugs were constructed.
Hi, I have a Ernest sargieson orginal Lloyds building print which I’m looking to sell.