Entry tags:
Completed Tablet Weaving
We have a couple of completed projects now.
See la avispa for a really lovely zig zag. (She's got some good suggestions which are well worth reading on attaching the ends and I love her idea of attaching warp threads directly to a belt buckle)
and a diamond weave from Patsy Rose. Patsy was the one with the idea of using plastic bag clips, and she's also improvised a clothes peg as a shuttle.
The joy of this particular loom set up is that you can get a lot of variations on the pattern with very little effort. It's a great way of getting a good feeling for tablet weaving and the possibilities it offers.
I'll be doing a space invaders pattern soon. That one's a lot more difficult. It uses a similar card set up, but a different technique on the card turns. I'm happy to post instructions and a video if people want to see it. If you try it, expect to make some mistakes in the early part of the weave and allow extra length so you can keep going. (Trying to undo more than one or two rows will drive you insane)
I can also post some set ups for other simple patterns if requested.
I can also explain what a warp-twined border is and why you might want to use one. They're fairly straight-forward - and you'd need to learn that if you want to attempt the space invaders design.
See la avispa for a really lovely zig zag. (She's got some good suggestions which are well worth reading on attaching the ends and I love her idea of attaching warp threads directly to a belt buckle)
and a diamond weave from Patsy Rose. Patsy was the one with the idea of using plastic bag clips, and she's also improvised a clothes peg as a shuttle.
The joy of this particular loom set up is that you can get a lot of variations on the pattern with very little effort. It's a great way of getting a good feeling for tablet weaving and the possibilities it offers.
I'll be doing a space invaders pattern soon. That one's a lot more difficult. It uses a similar card set up, but a different technique on the card turns. I'm happy to post instructions and a video if people want to see it. If you try it, expect to make some mistakes in the early part of the weave and allow extra length so you can keep going. (Trying to undo more than one or two rows will drive you insane)
I can also post some set ups for other simple patterns if requested.
I can also explain what a warp-twined border is and why you might want to use one. They're fairly straight-forward - and you'd need to learn that if you want to attempt the space invaders design.

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Left was the starting end and has the worst tension. Also it has straight stripes
totally intentionallybecause I forgot to turn the cards before starting. There's a bit just right of middle where I got a couple of cards a quarter-turn out of sync.I have a big list of things to change if I try again, including using less chunky and less fluffy yarn, less knackered playing cards, less knackered bag clips, and looking for a posture that's better for my back...
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One option for posture is to have a starting point a bit further from your waist - use string or something to tie the bag clip to your belt.
Also, make sure the far end of the loom is higher than your waist - if you can find a good attachment point, you can easily work with an angle of 45 degrees and that definitely helps the back.
You can get set ups that work on the top of a table, but they do require some inital outlay which is why I started with the backstrap method. If you look here - http://www.craftster.org/pictures/data/500/medium/HPIM1146.JPG - you'll see one loom option that will definitely reduce back strain. All the loom options would probably be simple to make yourself. They come in two main types and I may even do a post on them at some point.
You'll find that you need to keep the cards fairly loose when turning them. If you hold them too tightly as a pack, that can make the wool fluff very quickly.