Each ATW tapestry is unique, hand-woven by a team of specialist weavers using the traditional Gobelin technique, in which an image is formed by tightly packing layers of weft (horizontal threads) over warps (vertical thread). The weft is discontinuous, meaning that shapes and forms are built up gradually and weft threads seldom pass completely from one side of the work to the other.  

ATW wefts consist of multiple threads of wool and/or cotton of varying colour, this allows the weavers to deftly control and manipulate hue and tone. The ATW’s dyer is responsible for dyeing a base palette of 365 colours in small, highly controlled batches. Only the best lightfast and colourfast dyes are used and additional custom colours can be developed to meet project requirements. All ATW tapestries are woven using the finest Australian wool, which is grown using environmentally sustainable and humane animal practices.  

In order to guide the interpretation of a large tapestry, the weaving team creates a range of samples that experiment with different warp settings, colour relationships, scale and ways of translating the design into the medium of tapestry. The weavers can also draw inspiration and knowledge from the ATW's expansive sample archive. Once the samples have been woven the designing artist will meet with the weavers to discuss the samples, resulting in a dynamic creative exchange ultimately setting the creative direction for each tapestry. The tapestry weavers will continue to collaborate with the artist as well as amongst themselves on the loom until the tapestry is completed and cut from the loom in a special ceremony.