Supplementary Warp

(Glossary Term)

Extra warp, in addition to ground warp, which is used for patterning. Supplementary warp usually has a contrasting color to that of the ground weft. Supplementary warps can be raised to float over several wefts to create a warp-float patterning, such as in Sumba ceremonial skirt for women, Lao Pahudu. They can also be raised to make piles, as in velvet weaving. Because the weaving take-up of the supplementary warps may differ from the ground warps, a separate warp beam or individual spools for each supplementary warp end may be required. The latter is especially true for velvet.