Refers to fabric woven by small self-sufficient communities, where the material is grown, shorn, spun, woven and made up within a few miles of home. This could be any type of fabric with a loose weave that looks ‘home spun’, like the loosely woven, hand-made fabrics that country-folk might have made with less skills and equipment.
Craftsmanship varies with the craftsperson, so within the overall banner of folk weaving will be exquisite works and rustic ones; it’s just that the general expectation of folk weave is towards the rustic side.
Volk is a German word meaning ‘folk’, i.e. the common people (the Volkswagen–the people’s car). Folk music is a countryside tradition, where country dwellers gather to make their own music and entertainment.
See Folk Art