Design and Development of a Small Jacquard for Increasing the Effectiveness of Thai Song Dam Woven Fabric Products

Abstract

This research used a mixed-method approach. The objectives of this study were 1) to study the identity of woven fabric patterns of the Thai Song Dam ethnic group at the Traditional Thai Dam Cultural Center, Moo 1, Ban Don Sub-district, U-thong District, Suphan Buri 2) to design and develop a small-scale Jacquard weaving machine to preserve traditional patterns and consistently improve production efficiency and 3) to determine the efficiency of the small-scale Jacquard weaving machine. The population and samples in this study were divided into two groups: 1) community leaders, folk philosophers, and villagers at the Traditional Thai Dam Cultural Center, Moo 1, Ban Don Sub-district, U-thong District, Suphan Buri and 2) a target group of about 30 people interested in Thai Song Dam woven fabric products, who participated in product testing. The research instruments included interview forms, product evaluation forms, and product testing. Data were analyzed using frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, and user satisfaction level analysis. The findings revealed the following: 1) The study of the identity of woven fabric patterns of the Thai Song Dam ethnic group at the Traditional Thai Dam Cultural Center showed that the technique of creating patterns involved folding fabrics of various colors and stitching them together, as well as the use of “eua saew” embroidery with different motifs on black fabric. Black is particularly significant, as it represents the original name of the ethnic group. 2) The results of designing and developing the small-scale Jacquard weaving machine to preserve the traditional patterns of the Thai Song Dam ethnic group demonstrated that the machine could be installed on existing looms and operated according to traditional weaving plans. 3) The evaluation revealed that all five dimensions were rated at high to very high levels, with “structural strength” receiving the highest score (Xˉ = 4.70, SD = 0.44). This indicates that durability, safety, and functionality are the most valued attributes of the product. Overall, the small-scale Jacquard loom was assessed as efficient, reliable, and well-suited for user needs. Although the punch-card technique allowed for the creation of patterns, there were limitations, as the studied motifs were embroidered. Consequently, the patterns could not be fully replicated through weaving alone. To achieve completeness, it is necessary to combine Jacquard weaving with the coiling process.