Harris Tweed® Weaving Terms | Day 3
19th June
The phrase “on tenterhooks” describes someone in a state of tension or suspense.
During the production of Harris Tweed®, the tenter is a frame used to secure the cloth as it is being dried, to maintain its shape and prevent it from shrinking. The tenter frame is equipped with tenterhooks, which are curved pins along the edges of the frame.
The wet cloth is attached to these hooks, keeping it taut. Just as the cloth is stretched tight on the hooks, a person “on tenterhooks” feels stretched and anxious, waiting for something to happen!
