Tablet weaving for beginners

Class - 2D4

Inge Dam

The workshop will introduce the participants to the versatility of tablet weaving and how it can be applied into finished projects or as embellishments on woven items. They will become familiar with the tools and the best yarn to use for specific projects. The students will learn the difference between threading defined patterns and turning defined patterns. They will learn two different warping techniques, and will be introduced to three different tablet weaving techniques such as threading-in designs, regular double-faced tablet weaving, and pebble weave. How to design original patterns for these techniques will be explored.

Each student brings:  2 C-clamps (3 inches), 2 small stick shuttles (each shuttle should have one sharp edge), 80 weaving cards, warp and weft yarn: 10/2 mercerized cotton in four different colors (dark, medium and light) approximately 1/4 lb of each color. Each color should be wound into two balls. If you would rather work with a heavier yarn you can use 5/2 instead. but you will need to bring more than 1/4 lb of each color.

Other materials: books with ideas for patterns, i.e., books with cross stitch patterns, knitting patterns etc. graph paper (8-10 per inch or the size you can find); one small reed (i.e. for table loom), any dent size will do. The reed should be long enough so it can be placed across the bucket and not fall into it. Tape measure, scissors, strong elastics (long, not small and thick), notebook, pencil, eraser, ruler, colored pencils, black marker (fine point), darning needle

Materials fee: students will be sent the handout in advance, to print from home.

Tablet-woven Iron Age and Viking bands

Class - 2D8

Rasmus Jørgensen

A beginners workshop in tablet weaving, no previous skills or experience is required.

We will learn each step from warping our tablets to make narrow, patterned bands with Viking or Iron Age patterns, and hopefully gain a basic insight into what happens in the process that will enable us to play a bit with our own patterns.

Each student brings: Graph paper, a few colored pencils, and a bit of patience.  

Materials fee: 75-100 Dkr., depending on how much yarn you use. This fee includes yarn for the project, a description on how to get started, and several historical patterns to try out at home.

Toraja-Mamasa tablet weaving from Sulawesi, Indonesia

Class - 1D14

Keiko Kusakabe

Workshop in three-color tablet-weaving in the Toraja-Mamasa method from Sulawesi Island, Indonesia. The pattern system is a double-faced weave with a warp consisting alternately of 2S- and 2Z-threaded tablets. The tablets are rectangular, and we’ll use 12-16. We will make a circular warp. The weaving technique consists of a tablet being twisted in horizontal directions and turned forward. The designs include small diamonds and linear patterns, and stripes run weftwise between the patterns. We will weave in a set up like a back-strap loom.

This is an advanced course for weavers who have mastered the double-faced weave technique. Hopefully participants will attend a lecture on “Tablet Weaving from Sulawesi” in advance. Remarkably the Mamasa method is still practiced in the mountain villages in Indonesia today. It is a rare opportunity to introduce Southeast Asian tablet weaving at this conference in Denmark.