Tablet weaving

[watervole]

 I'm just about to make my first attempt at weaving a 3/1 twill.   This is supposed to be horribly difficult, but some of the designs are so beautiful!

If, like me, you had no idea what a twill is, then I shall explain:

Most weaving goes under and over alternating warp threads.  Twills go over 3 and under 1.  Hence 3/1 twill. (You can also have 2/1 twill and other variations)

Denim is  a twill. The twill weave is what makes it very flexible fabric.

 

I've got an excellent book on tablet woven twill by a German woman called Claudia Wollny.

I learnt about her through one of those 'small world' moments.

Back in those dim and distant pre-lockdown days, we were having a meal at the cafe at an RSPB reserve near us.  All the outside tables were full and we could see people looking for somewhere to eat - so we invited two of them to use the free seats at our table.

We got chatting and I discovered that one of the couple shared my passion for table-weaving.  Within minutes we were deep  a conversation that was probably completely incomprehensible to everyone else and looking up photos on the internet to show each other what we'd made.

It was her that introduced me to twill and Claudia Wollny.

Having just finished two inkle hairbands for my granddaughter (she's starting a new school, so in school colours), I decided I wanted to go for the twill (the hairbands barely took a day each, from first thought to wearing them)

 

I've had the book for far too long, just drooling over it.  I've warped the loom, so cross your fingers for me!

You can't block turn the cards for twill, every pair has to be done independently....

 

 

If anyone is interested in basic tablet weaving (which can be done very cheaply indeed as long as you have a pack of playing cards, a hole punch, a ruler, and some spare yarn), then the video below is a very clear explanation of how to warp the cards for a simple pattern.

Watch on YouTube

 

Comments

[kotturinn]

The headbands are lovely. I hope Oswin enjoys her new school.

I didn't know about twill & fabric flexibility - thanks.

[watervole]

Thanks! It was hard to get her to sit still long enough for a photo!

I'm gradually getting there with the twill weave. I allowed a lot of extra warp for learning mistakes, and I made plenty!

[ex_peasant441]

Why am I not surprised that you weave?! I am at least aware what a twill is, but haven't done any weaving since I was a child (excluding a few minutes playing when on a visit to the Whitchurch silk mill). I would enjoy seeing pictures of your loom.

I am also now intrigued as to which RSPB reserve it was. I can't think of one down your way with a decent cafe.

[igenlode]

Inkle weaving always makes me think of Georgette Heyer ("as thick as inkle-weavers" used to describe the faux-intimacy of girls constantly chattering and swapping 'secrets')

[watervole]

Ooh! I haven't read whichever book that is in yet.

Never heard the phrase before, but the web is god.

No one knows the term's origin, but an old idiomatic expression, thick as inkle-weavers meant “extremely close or intimate.” The idea was that inkle looms are so small and narrow that the weavers who used them could sit much closer together than weavers using much larger looms.

Which makes very good sense.