My interests are in costuming and arts and crafts from the past. I also have a personal interest in breast cancer. As time will permit I will be adding more subjects to this web page. I am starting with tablet weaving as it is where most of my spare time goes.
Tablet weaving is one of the oldest forms of weaving. It goes back thousands of years. Evidence of tablet weaving has been found in grave sites dating back to the bronze age. In the past tablet weaving was done in Egypt, Europe, Scandinavia, and the Orient. It is also very versatile. In China it was used to make reins, bridles, and saddle girths. In Iceland bands with inscriptions were used as love tokens. Tablet weaving was not found in Australia, South Africa, or the Americas.
The pattern in tablet weaving comes from a combination of factors. The warp, the twist, and the direction the cards are turned. Tablet weaving is a warp faced form or weaving. The threads twist as the cards are turned, making it similar to braiding and cordmaking. The weft and shed likin it to loom weaving.
Today cards are usually made of cardboard. In the past cards have been made of stone, wood, bone, horn, tortoiseshell, ivory, fish skin, parchment, leather and playing cards. Many types of yarn were used, including coarse handspun wool, linen, silk, fine wool, cotton, spun gold, and human hair. Cotton is a good choice today as it is cheep and available in many colors. It also is easy to unweave when (not if) you need to correct a mistake. Any yarn can be used with interesting results. I will add instructions on getting started with card weaving in the future. Thank you for visiting my site. Please come back and visit again!Below you will find a link to my Tablet Weaving Message Board
