Tablet Weaving
On my e-mail lists, I kept seeing the term "tablet woven trim" and I started to wonder what it was. While perusing the library looking for embroidery books, I came across a book about card weaving. I passed it over and later found out that this was in fact the same thing as tablet weaving, so I went back and got the book. From that moment I was hooked. I read to book from cover to cover and then set out to weave. I made my tablets, constructed a simple back-strap loom, and got to it. The method of weaving is a little hard to describe, especially if you've never woven before. But once you see pictures on how it's done, or better yet see someone doing it, it's really a piece of cake.
Technique
The warp threads are held by "tablets", four-sided cards with a hole punched in each corner. The tablets are turned 1/4 turn forward or backward to create the shed for the weft. By alternating the colors of the warp threads and changing the number of times you turn a card forwards or backwards, you can create an almost endless number or patterns.
Above, is a sample of the first band I made (click on image to magnify). I used crochet cotton and ten tablets. My first mistake was that I didn't keep track of how I was threading my tablets, so the design isn't centered. Then I realized how narrow and thick it was. When I decided I had had enough (about 30") for my first practice, I removed it from the loom and noticed how stiff it was. I found myself thinking, how is this supposed to be used for trim if it's so heavy? After a short time though, the band became much more flexible, and for my first try, it's not too bad.
To the side is the second band I made (click on image to magnify). I decided to try a "double-faced" technique so I could weave patterns. I used about 25 tablets and decided that I would use 4-ply yarn to make this one, so it would be wider without having to use lots of tablets. I found some information about making a border of 1-2 tablets on each side that are always turned in the same direction to eliminate some of the width variation. I also decided to alternate the threading from tablet to tablet (S and Z threading). When I started weaving, the first thing I noticed was that my shed was very small. For the first band I made, I used 3" tablets, for this one I used 2" tablets - not taking into account that the yarn I was using was twice the size of the cotton I used for the first band. The first dozen or so turns worked well. Then I started to try the double-faced weave. I couldn't get the turns right, and ended up with long "floats" - warp threads floating over several weft threads. Also, I was keeping the weft tension too tight and the threads from the oppositely threaded tablets were collapsing on each other - in effect every two warps were becoming one warp. I plodded on, trying to get the warp to separate again to no avail. Finally, I did get the hang of turning to achieve a double face, and even started to incorporate a pattern. To see this part of the band, click here.
There are some really great resources available to learn how to tablet weave. Check out my links page to see where I have found out most of my information. As with any new skill, tablet weaving takes time to master, but it's really worth the effort for the beautiful things you can make with it, and the knowledge that you made it yourself.
Now I am looking forward to making an inkle loom to use for both card and inkle weaving. I'm using an online plan that someone on one of my e-mail lists recommended. Look back later to see how it turned out.
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