What is the Weaver Craft like at Triad?

[PastMember]

When looking through the Craft Information section of the FAQ, I noticed that the Weaver Craft has no section devoted to it, although it is listed in the "Craft Specialties" section. I can understand that it may have simply been overlooked, but information on how the Weaver Craft is run would be useful. In the information about Emerald Falls Hold, it is mentioned that "Both Halls can take advantage of the Hold's electrical power to power looms and tools, and supply lighting and heated water." One would think a switch to electrically powered looms would significantly change the way the Weaver Craft was taught and run.

Would Weaver apprentices still be taught the traditional methods of weaving (not only on a standard wooden floor loom, but also on the backstrap, frame, and table loom)? Would they still learn traditional spinning if, presumably, electically powered spinning machines had also been invented? Obviously, much of Pern still does not have electricity, so traditional methods cannot be forgotten outside the Weaverhall, but how much would still be taught there? Would the electrically powered looms, like those produced by the Industrial Revolution, require less skill to operate than traditional looms? If so, who then would be doing the actual weaving? Surely weavers wouldn't be trained for years only to waste their skills hawking a machine, so who then would run them?

Of course, all of these questions most likely won't be answered, as the Hall itself isn't a PC area, but at least a general history of the craft might be useful.

[Eimi]

I would think that they would need to learn all aspects and methods of weaving from hand worked looms, to large scale looms, to electrical looms, since they would be making not only cloth and rugs, but tapestries as well.

As far as who would opporate the electrical looms, I would think it would still be the trained weavers.  They would design and make the cloth/tapestries, probably also maintain the loom, as well as the fact that they wouldn't be producing on such a tremendously large scale that would require the labor force of an Industrial Revolution factory.  It might be just a few looms that are electric in the Hall, maybe only one in other places.  The Hall would have more for the apprentices/journeymen/masters to learn on, but most places wouldn't be large enough in scale that they would need workers.

That's my understanding at least