three-tie unit weaves

supplementary-weft unit weaves with three tie-down ends. As in two-tie weaves, the tie-down ends alternate with other ends. The other ends (the 'pattern' ends) determine whether the float appears on the top surface or the back of the cloth. All of the ends in the unit weave the ground cloth (which can be plain weave, twill, or satin). Three-tie unit weaves differ in: a) the ratio of tie-down ends to pattern ends, b) the number of ends in the unit, c) the number of pattern shafts required for each block, d) the position of the tie-down ends in the unit, and e) the order in which the tie-down ends tie the supplementary weft float.