HONEY COMB WAVES

HONEY COMB WAVES:

The honey comb weaves derive their name from their partial resemblance to the hexagonal honey comb

cells of wax in which bees store their honey. These weaves form ridges and hollows which give a cell

like appearance to the textures. Both warp and weft threads float somewhat on both sides, which coupled

with the rough structure, renders this class of fabric readily absorbent of moisture. The weaves are of

two classes, namely,

1. Ordinary honey comb or honey comb proper
2. Brighton honey comb.

ORDINARY HONEY COMB WEAVES:

These weaves are characterized by the following features

• Cell like appearance with ridges and hollows
• Single line crossing a single line or double line crossing a double diagonal line
• More warp and weft floats
• Moisture absorbent due to floats
• Constructed with pointed drafts
• A reversible fabric having similar effect on both sides.

Add caption

Add caption

Fig.  A to F, show the design of an ordinary honey comb weave. Fig. A shows the first step of constructing the design (single diagonal line). Fig. 5.1 B, C and D show the design, draft and peg plan or ordinary honey comb weave constructed on equal ends and picks. A pointed draft is used here. Fig. E shows the first step in the construction of the honey comb weave on unequal ends and picks. Fig. F shows the final design developed by incorporating a floating motif. Fig. 5.1 G shows the interlacement of design B.

BRIGHTON HONEY COMB WEAVES:

These weaves are characterized by the following features :

1. Non-reversible cloths in which face appears different from back side of the cloth
2. Constructed on straight drafts only
3. Repeat size is a multiple of 4
4. Length of longest float is N/2 – 1, where N is the repeat size
5. A single diagonal line crosses a double diagonal line
6. Formation of 4 cells per repeat i.e., two large and two small cells (ordinary honey comb forms only one cell per repeat)
7. The number of threads in a repeat must be a multiple of 4.

Fig. shows the construction of a brighton honey comb weave.

In the construction of Brighton honey comb weaves, a diamond base is first made by insertion of a single diagonal and then a double diagonal to cross it. Suitable motifs as shown in figure above are inserted inside the spaces of the diagonals. It is to be remembered that the length of the longest float in the motif should not exceed (N/2 – 1), where N is the size of the repeat of the weave. Figs. B and C show brighten honeycomb designs constructed on repeat sizes of 16 & 20 respectively.

QUALITY PARTICULARS OF HONEY COMB WEAVES:

The following cloth quality particulars are suitable for both ordinary and Brighton honey comb weaves,

For a heavy cloth,

                            Warp - 2/6s cotton

                            Weft - 2/6s cotton

        Ends/inch - 50

        Picks/inch - 20

For a lighter cloth,

                            Warp - 25s cotton

                            Weft - 16s cotton

        Ends/inch - 88

        Picks/inch – 82

END USES OF HONEY COMB WEAVES:

The fabrics constructed from honey comb weaves have more thread floats on both sides and have a rough structure. This renders more absorption of moisture.

The weaves are, therefore, suitable for towels and also in various forms for bed covers and quilts.