International studio (45.1912)

Austrian Schools for Weaving

with the technical processes involved in the produc-
tion of a fabric and so gets to know what designs are
suitable, and what are not, and it is exactly in the
fact that he can learn to find out his own failings,
instead of having them told to him by the teacher,
that the high intellectual worth of such training lies.
During the second year the course of study
gradually advances, beginning with point and line
designing necessary for machine-knitting (see Figs.
8-11), followed by interlaced designing in every
form, oblique, perpendicular, horizontal, and so on
until so-called “ patterns ” are achieved. This is to
be seen in Fig. 12. Figs. 13-18 show the method
of designing stripes, while Figs. 19-26 will give an
idea of the application of ornament ready for the
“rapport,” and Figs. 27-30 the treatment for bed-
spreads, coverlets, table-cloths, curtains, &c. Now
since the students, before studying designing, have
mastered the technical difficulties and learnt to
weave by machine, these designs are all technically
correct and could be woven by any one conversant
with the manipulation of the weaving-machine.
It would be idle to speak of the benefits derived
from the methods of teaching employed in the
Fachschulen—I mean those over and beyond the
material gain earned by the increased knowledge
and better workmanship. The moral gain is
infinitely higher, for the students are brought, as it
were, into close contact with the world without, and
so life becomes a bigger thing to them. They
find so much joy in drawing and designing that it


FIG. 20. TEXTILE DESIGN. BY A SECOND-YEAR STUDENT
AT THE SCHOOL FOR WEAVING AT REICHENBERG
is a real pleasure to regard them; indeed, it is as
hard to keep them from it as it is other boys from
play.
The nature of the home life must be taken
into account when measuring the benefits derived
from this greater life. Their homes are small and
food scarce, for many of
the parents are far too poor
to even nourish their chil-
dren properly or give them
any help in life. Here
the State steps in, plants
schools, grants stipends and
gives first-class instruction,
both theoretical and prac-
tical; the manufacturers
employ the boys, for they
are as eager to get them as
the students are to find
employment at the end of
their course.
The schools in Vienna,
Warndorf, and Marisch-
Schonberg have special
courses for what is called
“ Muster Zeichnung,” that
is, the designing of patterns,
which are bought by the
smaller manufacturers who


FIG. 19. TEXTILE DESIGN. BY A SECOND-YEAR STUDENT AT THE SCHOOL FOR
WEAVING AT WARNDORF