Alice Knapp

Multiple Tabby Weaves is edited by Virginia I. Harvey from Dr. William G. Bateman's personal manuscripts. .

According to Dr. Bateman, a multiple tabby weave is any draft which contains two or more tabby weave threadings.

I should probably note here, that Dr. Bateman uses "tabby" synonymously with "plain weave." Today, "plain weave" is more often interpreted to mean the simple over-one, under-one weave structure. "Tabby" on the other hand, refers to the single shots of plain weave which are thrown in between pattern wefts, such as in overshot. A lot of older publications however, use the two terms interchangeably, as is the case in Dr. Bateman's manuscript.

On four shafts, Dr. Bateman used three different threadings to create a plain (tabby) weave. By using combinations of these three blocks in a single draft, Dr. Bateman created a wide variety of "multiple tabby" fabrics.

These various tabby blocks can be arranged in a variety of orders, or expanded (such as M's & O's). In addition to 4-shaft drafts, chapters are included for 6 and 8 shafts ideas as well. There are black and white photos of all the drafts included.

Based on Dr. William G. Bateman's Manuscript