tabletweaving

Tablet weaving, also known as card weaving, is a textile technique for producing narrow, decorative fabrics. It uses tablets or cards to control the warp threads while a weft is carried back and forth with a shuttle. By turning the tablets in specified sequences, the warp is twisted to create patterns, yielding bands that are both strong and flexible. These bands are commonly used as belts, straps, or decorative edgings.

Materials and setup: The warp is threaded through holes in small tablets, typically square or rectangular, with one thread per hole. The cards are mounted so the warp runs through all cards, and the warp is wound on a loom or frame. The weft, often a finer thread, is passed through the shed formed by turning the cards. Common fiber choices include linen, wool, cotton, and silk.

Technique and pattern: Card order and direction of turning determine how the warp threads cross and twist, producing surfaces with diagonals, chevrons, and other geometric motifs. Simple patterns arise from two-color warps; more complex designs use multiple colors and varied turning sequences. Some practitioners also employ supplementary wefts to add motifs on the surface.

History and use: Tablet weaving has ancient roots and appears in many cultures, notably in Europe, the Near East, and parts of Asia. It is valued for producing narrow, durable bands for garments, belts, harnesses, and trim. In contemporary craft, it is enjoyed both as a practical technique and as a vehicle for color study and pattern exploration.