Textile Field Guide | Pennsylvania

BEHIND THE SCENES

A FIELD GUIDE TO THE ART OF HAND WEAVING + DYEING

WEAVING: A HISTORY OF THE LOOM

The earliest record of loom use dates back to around the 5th millennium BC. These primitive looms were constructed of simple beams and bars to form a framework that supported the manipulation of warp and weft threads. The overall function of the loom remained virtually unchanged, but improvements were introduced in Europe and Asia during the medieval era. By 1500, The Navajo tribes were weaving vibrant blankets and rugs made from their abundant supply of sheep wool. With the ability to incorporate intricate stripes and various geometric shapes with color, the traditional loom was once again advancing. By 1700, the Jacquard loom with its punchcard and guided hook system, reinvented the textile industry, deeming itself one the most important inventions of the Industrial Revolution.

tie-up refers to the draft used to create a weave structure

A STEP INTO THE STUDIO: OUR LOOMS

The Tie-Up Textiles studio originated in the suburbs of Philadelphia but has since grown considerably and during the pandemic, relocated itself to the tiny city of Wilmington, Delaware. Currently, Tie-Up produces handwoven fabrics on two floor looms: a Norwood, and a Loüet David loom. The Norwood loom is constructed from gorgeous cherrywood with a convenient collapsible option for saving space between projects. This particular loom is a four-harness rising shed loom with a 28" weaving width. Now considered an antique, Norwood looms originated in Cadillac, MI by a furniture maker during the Great Depression. By 1996, all American-made production of these magnificent little looms had ceased. To come across one now is quite rare. Kathleen obtained this loom during her senior year of college and has used it for all production for over ten years.

In the spring of 2023, the studio obtained its second production loom, a Loüet David. This piece is a retired studio loom from an art center in upstate New York. Named after David and Goliath, it is also a floor loom with compact 8-harnesses and a unique sinking shed. The David can achieve a 35" weave width and is considered the Rolls-Royce of floor looms today for its simple, light, and user-friendly construction.

A DYEING ERA:
PIGMENT & THE ART OF SHIBORI

Shiboru, which translates "to wring, squeeze and press" fabric originated as a Japanese art form. This manipulation of fabric by stitching, tying, knotting or twisting is still practiced today in an array of styles and techniques. Tie-Up's fabric collection of yardage, pillows and tabletop goods has taken Shibori-dyed fabrics, digitally manipulated them, and recreated them for an array of ready-made products available in a rainbow of colors. One advantage to this method is the ability to significantly reduce water waste by digitizing our main product offer. Our boutique line of hand-dyed linens uses fiber-reactive dyes known for their color and wash-fastness properties. These dyes are specially formulated to bond to protein fibers such as cotton, linen, and silk.

INDIGENOUS PEOPLE &
SACRED GROUNDS

TIE-UP TEXTILES WILL SOON INCORPORATE A BUSINESS MODEL THAT RAISES AWARENESS FOR NATIVE COMMUNITIES & THE PROTECTION OF SACRED GROUNDS

A PORTION OF OUR SALES WILL BE DONATED TO THESE EFFORTS - MORE TO COME IN 2024

SWOON BY

THE S0UTHWEST

Textile artist, Kathleen Fitzpatrick, has always felt a deep connection toward southwestern culture, architecture, and design. Subtle hints of rich colors and graphic geometrics can be found throughout most of her portfolio work and current product base.

THE MAKING OF A
COLLECTION

A special detail that is consistent throughout the Tie-Up Textiles line is that our designs started with fabric and resulted in altered fabric. In other words, all motifs in the yardage collection are engineered renderings of our very own handwoven fabrics, shibori-dyed swatches, or prints from our curated collection of laser-cut wood blocks. Scanned, cleaned up, and digitized for continuous yardage, this innovative process has allowed a microbusiness to scale its otherwise limited design structure to the interior design and architectural professional fields.

SHOPPING SMALL

Tie-Up Textiles understands that you have endless options when it comes to consumer choices for home decor. There is no doubt an abundance of low-cost, pretty products. However, the notion of both sourcing and selling ethically has always been at the forefront of our business model. When purchasing our products, hours of work have gone into weaving fabric, investing in raw materials, and fabricating an entire line of products within our small studio. No portion of our production process is outsourced. We partner with industry-leading companies that share this passion and employ their teams with fair pay. While we understand that our specialty items may not be accessible to every household, we have consciously built our line with a wide range of price points, welcoming all to experience quality decor.