Kete Weaving

Kete Cloth Weaving

During our visit to Agbozume, I was invited to sit at the loom of a weaver and was shown the basic steps. It took many attempts before I was comfortable enough to weave the simple pattern on my own. Controlling the foot pedals, two metal disks you grip between your toes, required coordination and concentration and took a while to get used to. I managed to complete several inches of a simple box pattern with much support from my teacher.

Adjusting the loom

Each aspect of the loom is carefully adjusted to ensure weavers can work swiftly.

Beating

The weft threads are "beaten" after each pass with the shuttle to keep the cloth taut.

My work

I learned how to make the top pattern using two different colors of thread worked alternately.

I was able to continue practicing once we were back at the Institute. Mr. Walter set up his loom under the shade of a tree in the courtyard, and he instructed us on how to operate the loom. The thread he used was thinner than the one I had used in Agbozume, and I found it more challenging to control the weft. There was a delicate balance between pulling the shuttle too hard and not enough, and several areas of my weaving showed my learning process. I was grateful to have this additional opportunity to continue weaving in the Ewe Kete tradition.

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