This method of weaving is not confined to carpets, but is equally applicable to quilts, curtains, &c., and a plain texture need not be adhered to; a twill or any simple fancy texture may be used. With 80 to a 100 threads per inch, one warp peacock green in satin texture for the figure, and the other warp gold for the ground in a crêpe or mottled texture, all shot peacock, a handsome curtain can be made.
Fig. 183
Brussels Carpets.—Brussels carpets, with their less expensive allies, the tapestries, are the commonest of the better class of carpets. They are a loop-pile fabric, the pile being formed by the figuring warp, which is wool, the ground warp and weft being hemp or flax. As the pattern is formed by raising the figuring warp threads of the required colours, and as any thread of any colour may require to be raised, it follows that all the threads must be on separate spools or small warp rolls, so that any one thread can be drawn forward without slackening any of the others. Large frames are therefore made to hold the number of spools of each colour, and these are placed one above the other in a slanting position, at the back of the loom, and when filled with spools the whole set of threads are brought forward to the harness as if from a warping creel or bank. According to the number of these frames used the carpet is styled a 3, 4, or 5-frame carpet, the greater the number of frames the richer the carpet both in colour (generally speaking) and in body of warp. Sometimes 6 frames are used; but 4 or 5 are more frequent, 3 and 4 frame being the lower qualities.
The texture of a Brussels carpet is shown in [Fig. 184], which is a section through the weft. A and B are two of the ground warp threads, a pair of these coming between the rows of pile loops, a portion of one row being shown in the section. The weft threads are shown in section coming under the loops of the ground warp at the top, and above them below. Both this warp and weft are of coarse hemp, about 3’s: the weft is steeped in glue size before being thrown into the cloth, which makes it stiff and firm when dry. The pile warp threads are numbered, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5; they are of soft-spun worsted, about 2/24’s, 2 and sometimes 3 threads being drawn in together as one through the mails and reed. These five warp threads go to form one line of loops, being raised over the wires as is required for the pattern, and lying straight between the weft threads when not raised. By considering this it will easily be understood that each thread must be on a separate bobbin so as to admit of being drawn forward independently of any of the others. In low qualities of these carpets one or two threads of hemp warp are used to each splitful or row of pile threads; the hemp thread lies in a straight line below the worsted threads in the same way that No. 5 thread is shown in the section. These stuffing threads add to the weight and thickness when the worsted is reduced in quantity, but make a harsher and stiffer carpet. This warp, when used, is put on a beam or warp roll, as is also the ground warp of the carpet.
Fig. 184