Weaving Technician for Skill Woolen Fabrics

ITI Weaving Technician for Silk & Woolen Fabrics Syllabus 

Course Overview

• Trade Name: Weaving Technician for Silk & Woolen Fabrics
• Duration: 1 Year (2 Semesters)
• NSQF Level: Level 4
• Eligibility: 8th Grade Pass
• Objective: To train candidates in preparing bobbins, cones, and weaving silk and woolen fabrics on handlooms and power looms, enabling them to work as weavers, loom operators, weaving masters, or quality inspectors in textile industries, or pursue self-employment in silk/woolen fabric production.
• Certification: National Trade Certificate (NTC) by NCVT

Detailed Syllabus

Semester 1

Trade Theory

• Introduction to Weaving: Overview of silk and woolen textile industry, types of fabrics (sarees, shawls, tweed), economic importance.
• Fiber Identification: Properties of silk (mulberry, tussar) and wool (merino, cashmere); fiber characteristics (strength, fineness, crimp).
• Yarn Preparation: Winding, warping, sizing; yarn count systems (denier, worsted), twist effects.
• Loom Anatomy: Types (handloom, power loom), parts (warp beam, healds, reed, shuttle), setup principles.
• Basic Weaves: Plain, twill, satin; draft and peg plans, weave applications in silk/woolen fabrics.
• Safety Practices: Handling fiber dust, loom safety, PPE (masks, gloves), workplace ergonomics.
• Textile Calculations: Yarn consumption, fabric weight, loom production rates.

Trade Practical

• Fiber Testing: Identifying silk and wool fibers (burn test, microscopic view); sorting by quality.
• Yarn Preparation: Winding yarn into bobbins/cones, preparing warps, applying sizing.
• Loom Setup: Assembling handloom components; drafting, denting, gaiting up looms.
• Weaving Practice: Weaving plain weave samples (silk scarves, woolen fabric); adjusting warp tension.
• Safety Drills: Practicing PPE usage, cleaning looms to avoid dust hazards.
• Defect Analysis: Inspecting woven samples for defects (broken ends, floats), noting remedies.
• Project Work: Weaving a small silk or woolen fabric sample (plain weave) with proper selvedge.

Hours: Theory: 160 hours | Practical: 240 hours

Semester 2

Trade Theory

• Power Loom Operations: Shuttle and shuttleless looms, primary/secondary/auxiliary motions, tuning for silk/woolen fabrics.
• Advanced Weaves: Dobby, jacquard patterns; designing twill, satin, herringbone weaves.
• Fabric Finishing: Degumming silk, fulling wool, calendaring, shearing; impact on fabric quality.
• Loom Maintenance: Oiling, aligning healds, troubleshooting faults (e.g., shuttle jams, misaligned reeds).
• Quality Control: Testing fabric for strength, pilling, shrinkage; identifying defects (stains, slubs).
• Entrepreneurship: Setting up a weaving unit, costing yarn/fabric, market trends in silk/woolen textiles.
• Environmental Practices: Managing sizing effluents, eco-friendly weaving, waste recycling.

Trade Practical

• Power Loom Weaving: Operating power looms; preparing warps for silk/woolen fabrics, weaving twill patterns.
• Jacquard/Dobby Weaving: Creating jacquard designs on graph paper, mounting harnesses, cutting cards.
• Finishing Techniques: Degumming silk samples, fulling woolen fabrics; checking texture and appearance.
• Maintenance Tasks: Lubricating loom parts, correcting minor operational faults.
• Quality Testing: Conducting tests for fabric shrinkage, pilling; documenting defect remedies.
• Field Exposure: Hands-on training in silk/woolen textile units or weaving centers (2-4 weeks).
• Project Work: Weaving a patterned silk or woolen fabric (e.g., jacquard shawl) with finishing and quality analysis.

Hours: Theory: 160 hours | Practical: 240 hours

Additional Components

• Workshop Calculation and Science
  
  • Calculations: Yarn count conversions, fabric dimensions, cost estimation for folded yarn.
  • Science: Fiber chemistry (silk proteins, wool keratin), effects of heat/moisture on weaving.
  • Hours: 40 hours/year
• Employability Skills
  
  • Communication: Interacting with clients, reporting production issues, teamwork.
  • IT Literacy: Using software for weave design, inventory tracking, online market research.
  • Soft Skills: Time management, resume writing, interview skills.
  • Hours: 60 hours/year

Assessment and Certification

• Exams:
  
  • Theory: Written exams per semester (MCQs, descriptive questions).
  • Practical: Tasks like loom setup, weaving patterned fabrics, defect analysis.
• Evaluation Criteria: Weaving precision, fabric quality, safety compliance, project execution.
• Certification: NCVT National Trade Certificate (NTC) upon passing both semesters, recognized worldwide.

Career Opportunities

• Employment: Weaver, loom operator, weaving master, quality inspector in silk/woolen textile mills, garment units, or cooperatives.
• Self-Employment: Handloom/power loom weaving business, silk saree/woolen shawl production, textile retail.
• Further Studies: Diploma in Textile Technology, certifications in jacquard weaving, or entrepreneurship courses.