TABLET WEAVING INTRODUCTION
When i started i was going off of diagrams from old websites, and struggled a good bit. I hope this post will help you get started! Feel free to ask questions!
This video shows the very basics (not in english, but quite clear). This video explains how to read patterns before you start doing it backwards, mirrored and upside down (which is what i did!).
Basic tools; the beauty of tablet weaving is that you need minimal supplies to get started.
Cards (thin cardboard and a hole punch will do)
A chair or door handle, to tie the threads to
A belt, to tie the threads to yourself
A shuttle (you can start with a pencil, old credit card, ruler, your fingers,... i use a bone folder)
Variables to understand before trying to use a pattern
S/Z card slant or threading
The direction the cards face
Forward or backward turns
This video (mentioned above as well) explains these variables and how to read different patterns you will find. There is no universal way to write a tablet weaving pattern, resulting in different patterns directly opposing one another (& lots of frustration on my end </3).
General tips from me, a novice
Start with a simple pattern, where the cards all turn forward for the whole band, like this one
Then move to a pattern that alternates forward and backward turns, this one is simple but very pretty
After that, try a pattern that has you divide the cards into groups, like a ramshorn or dublin dragons
Be sure to use contrasting colours (in hue and/or tone). A black and white filter can help you here
Get some bag clips to prevent tangles (ikea!)
Always turn the edge cards in the same direction. This gives a neater end result. The edges can be the outer two cards, or a group that forms a decorative trim
Personally, i like looping the thread around a door handle instead of tying it, which makes untwisting threads very easy
You can eventually omit the written ABCD on the cards, but it is a good crutch to lean on when learning
I use some scrap wood with bolts that i tie to my belt, making it a little easier to manage tension and move the woven band along as i go
I use pinterest for the most part. Twisted threads has many patterns, with a built-in program, but the search function is not great.
I made you four pinterest boards; for the sake of simplicity, the patterns are all GTT which means tablets face RIGHT, S/Z refers to the THREADING direction, use ABCD, forward turns the tablets AWAY from yourself (forwards = D over A)
Level one: all forward turns
Level two: alternating forward and backward
Level three: groups of tablets that turn differently
Level four: a fuckton of tablets with complex patterns
This video made me understand double-face weaving, this one is shorter and easier to follow. Double-face is a fun technique but i would reccommend getting good at following a regular pattern first.
My main mistake when i was starting out:
Whether the slant is S or Z, the cards should all face the same way. For some reason, I made the S-cards all face right and the Z-cards left. Simple, repetitive patterns will turn out fine but anything slightly more complex will be distorted, and you will be frustrated:
Your first few projects will likely be messy! Don't be too discouraged. Here's a couple of my firsts:
gummygunk
germansingergirl
origamiaround
prguitarman
dededos
janainaart
