What Are the Different Types of Weaving Jobs?

Weaving jobs are less common than in the days when textiles were made entirely by hand, but there are still some ways to be involved in the craft of weaving on a professional level. Textile design, while not always directly involving weaving, is one area in which people who understand this craft are still needed. Some people are able to work professionally as craft weavers by selling weavings or displaying the work as art in galleries. In addition to these jobs, there are also factory jobs that involve weaving but are more focused on the industrial aspects of the craft. Finding weaving jobs does often require a little ingenuity if a person wishes to be directly involved in the craft, so new job opportunities must often be created rather than found.

Designing fabrics is one of the most interesting weaving jobs, but it often requires not only knowledge of the craft but also a degree in a related field. Working with weaving in this manner allows a person a significant amount of control over the finished product and reasonably steady employment, but it also involves a deep understanding of other aspects of the production process. Designers of this type must also often understand knitting and other forms of fabric creation, as well as the way these items are produced.

Craft weaving jobs often allow a more personal connection to the work of weaving, but these jobs can be risky careers. A person working in this type of job typically sells his or her finished projects at a price that permits a comfortable lifestyle. Art shows and teaching may also be involved, as these can provide additional income. Teaching weaving, in particular, can provide consistent income from activities directly related to weaving and can help pass on this time-honored tradition. This professional tactic does require some interpersonal skills and is highly competitive in some areas.

Many people who work weaving jobs create fabrics on an industrial scale. Hand-woven fabrics used in garments are often produced in countries where wages are very low in order to cut down on costs, and in other areas materials are usually woven by machine. Weaving machines, however, do need to be maintained and monitored by employees. This means that many weaving jobs involve working with the machines that create the woven textiles. Machine work may not provide the sense of craftsmanship that is gained from working with smaller looms, but it can still be considered a type of weaving job because this is the way most textiles are currently produced.