interlocking

Tapestry is a decorative woven fabric where the design is created during the weaving process. Unlike other patterned weaves, tapestry weaving involves weft threads that only extend across the specific area of color they represent, rather than the full width of the fabric. These weft threads are pushed tightly together, completely concealing the warp threads and creating a dense fabric.1

A specific technique within tapestry weaving is called "interlocking." In this method, wefts of adjacent color sections are looped through each other between the warps that mark the color boundaries. This creates a continuous, evenly weighted surface, which was favored for its ability to mimic the appearance of a painting. The term "tapestry weave" can refer to this handmade technique, a machine method where weft threads run from selvage to selvage, or a weave where warp threads are entirely covered by weft threads.12