Weaving

Weavers were commonly called shuttle launchers in the region. In times past, rural people were more linked to the rhythms of the seasons. During the wonderful season, many farmers worked in the fields, and during the winter, they engaged in more or less profitable pursuits such as weaving.

Peasants and laborers, who needed additional incomes during the low season, worked on looms mainly to supply large centers, such as the city of Amiens. Many of them had a domestic loom installed on the ground floor. The noise of the machines echoed late at night.

The shuttle, on which the weft wire was fastened, was being handled as the item sprang to life. It was essential to exert pressure to tighten the threads using the comb. The pedals were used to operate the mechanism that selects the appropriate yarn. The more complex the pattern, the greater the number of threads, and colors and the longer the handcrafted time.

It was a work of patience, which could hurt the hands with the sequence of gestures, the pace, and the pressure on the wires. The posture could generate pain after several hours of bending over the work. The handloom remained the tool of homemakers for a few years, even if power looms began to be available. In 1926, a few weavers continued to produce beautiful fabrics in Vignacourt despite the decline of activity.

A traditional wooden loom.