Open Textile Fabrication

OPEN TEXTILE FABRICATION

# HANDCRAFTMACHINES      # OPEN-SOURCE TOOLS + RECIPES         # COLLABORATE      # TEXTS      # REFERENCES      # ABOUT

ECOLOGY OF OPEN-SOURCE TEXTILE FABRICATION TOOLS

The Ecology of Open-Source Tools for Textile Fabrication illustrates the interconnected landscape of open-source hardware within the fiber-to-fabric process. This map visualizes how tools, machines, and techniques—from fiber processing and spinning to weaving, knitting, and finishing—form a dynamic and collaborative ecosystem. Rather than isolated machines, these tools exist in relationships, influencing and supporting one another through shared knowledge, modularity, and adaptability. By making these connections visible, the map highlights the potential for an open, decentralized approach to textile production—one that empowers makers to experiment, hack, and redefine traditional workflows while fostering a culture of accessibility and innovation.

 

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?

Introduction to Textile Processing with Open-Source Tools

Overview of Open-Source Tools for Textile and Material Design

Material Recipes

Patterns for knitting, crochet + sewing

How to get started with open-source machines

Textile Processing with Open-Source Tools

INTRODUCTION

Textile processing is a complex, multi-stage system that transforms raw fibers into functional fabrics. Traditionally, this process has been shaped by proprietary technologies and industrial infrastructures, limiting accessibility, adaptability, and knowledge exchange. Open-source tools disrupt this paradigm by offering decentralized, modifiable, and community-driven alternatives that enable experimentation and innovation across the fiber-to-fabric spectrum. This document categorizes key processes and tools within an open-source framework, providing a structured approach for practitioners, researchers, and designers seeking to engage in textile fabrication outside of conventional manufacturing models.

Textile processing is a complex, multi-stage system that transforms raw fibers into functional fabrics. Traditionally, this process has been shaped by proprietary technologies and industrial infrastructures, limiting accessibility, adaptability, and knowledge exchange. Open-source tools disrupt this paradigm by offering decentralized, modifiable, and community-driven alternatives that enable experimentation and innovation across the fiber-to-fabric spectrum. This document categorizes key processes and tools within an open-source framework, providing a structured approach for practitioners, researchers, and designers seeking to engage in textile fabrication outside of conventional manufacturing models.

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