This tutorial encourages readers to view the field of editing in a fresh, inviting way.
The tutorial explores the etymology of words related to both textile and textuality. Also discussed are metaphors related to electronic communication and editing. A relationship between computers, the Jacquard loom, and the Industrial Revolution is presented.
Source: Wordle doc
This YouTube video shows a Jacquard loom in action.
Here is a picture of the traditional wooden sabot worn by the earliest factory workers.
AS Byatt wrote a very thoughtful essay exploring the "tangled threads between text and textiles" (The Guardian, 2008). Most of the essay's examples are drawn from the Western European canon, with some examples from the Greek and Roman. Well worth a read.
This tutorial does not provide instruction on how to edit. Rather, it invites you to see the language arts, including the invisible art of editing, in a broader context.