The 'Sett' from Benbecula - a weavers song

The black go by the white thread
the white go by the black led
the green go in between red
the red between the black thread.

The black go in between red
the red between the white thread
the white between the green led
the green between the white thread.

The white between the blue thread
the blue between the bright red
the blue, the scarlet-hue wed
the scarlet true the due thread.

The scarlet to the blue thread
the blue to scarlet-hue wed
the scarlet to the black led
the black onto the bright red.

A thread one to the threads two
of colours two, good and true
the two threads of black due
the one the thread or white through.

seven threads to five be
and five be unto three
three to two, two to one
in every border done.

(Poems of the Western Highlands, GRD McLean)

The words of the weavers songs were often improvised or without much meaning, merely to pace the rhythm as the weavers worked. This one illustrates the process...