A blog about tablet weaving and how to design your own belts.
I have to admit that the weaving with 6-hole cards required a lot of concentration, so after weaving a bit, I decided to change to regular 4 hole cards, cutting out 2 threads. The results is below. The 4 hole is nothing spectacular, but more relaxing to weave. I took the opportunity to weave some designs I drew 3-4 years ago but didn’t really test, mainly various dragons and keltic knots.
After 2 tests with hexagonal cards in Sulawesi style, I can conclude that it works, but it’s a pain to weave. Is it worth it to get that extra colour? I will show you and let you decide wether to try it for yourselves.
My first attempt, where I used the rest of an old warp. 12 motif cards (3×4). More explanations below.
I also tried to cut out 3 threads (blue and red) out of the 6, to try 3 thread weaving (1 white and 2 brown). Result below:
I decided to set up a larger weave with 24 cards (3×8). I actually made some cardboard paper cards, since the wood cards were quite bulky. This is the result of Sulawesi weaving with more background colours.
So how is it done??
With hexagonal weaving, 3 cards make a “pair”, instead of 2 cards (in regular Sulawesi). If you see the setup below, you have 3 cards with the same orientation (S or Z), they need to be turned together always for 3 picks. So, when you weave, you do 3 picks instead of 2, before you change your cards between front/back pack. You need to test weave 6 picks to see where your starting position is. For me it was when 3 or 6 was towards me. (note the 6 dots around the hole towards me in the photo above).
To make the background repeat I started with hole 6 towards me, 3 picks forward -> hole 5 -> hole 4 -> hole 3 -> 3 picks backward -> hole 4 -> hole 5 -> hole 6.
Now with 24 motif cards, I have 8 pairs (3×8=24), which means I can use the designs for 16 cards (8 pairs x2 =16). I used a truncated version of the below to make my weave above. Each square in my weaving diagram then represents 3 cards and 3 picks (white forward and dark backwards).
To use the designs for “24 cards” (12 pairs), you actually need 36 hexagonal cards (12×3=36).
Good luck!
The belt I talked about in my last blog post is finally finished. I am happy with how the gradient turned out and I had quite some comments on the “fire” aspect. I like how the fire is flanked by “water” from the blue border.
I have also been drawing quite a few alternative designs lately. I could not weave them all, but at least some of them. I will add the weaving diagrams asap here on my page for 24 card designs.
Now to the pictures:
I met up with some friends this weekend to do some weaving. It was nice, but I realised that I need to add more instructions to my page. I thought I had shared how to thread the loom for Sulawesi, but we encountered several problems. The threading seemed correct, but in some cases the motif was on the back side, and sometimes the starting position had to be changed for it to work.
Here are some pictures.
I just finished a new belt, woven in Sulawesi (as usual), but in 100% silk. The photos doesn’t give justice to the subtile shiny surface and the very soft feeling, but the feel of it is nice. I am a big fan of wool, but occasionally, silk is great too.
I have used 32 motif cards +6 border cards. Some of the designs are uploaded in my designs page and I plan to add some more, since I have tested some new variants and also how doubling up on some 16-card motivs can look like.
Kalle the Cat agreed to do some modeling…
I cannot stop weaving my beloved “creatures in squares” whenever I have a 32 card weave on the loom. To the left, octopus and swan and to the right a collection of dogs.
Various pictures of the belt. The light makes a big difference on the colors though.
I will upload some new designs on my designs page, or you can download them directly below.
I like to use my “belts” for other things (except belts), so I made again a bag for a viking friend. I am happy with the bag, except the bag handels which I bought (and dont like all that much). I am thinking about how to make my own handels in the future.
The woven part is done with 24 motif cards + 6 border cards in wool. In the end I did 3 variations for the decorative part, but I chose the birds. Below are the other 2 variants.
A few more photos:
I have finished yet another jacket (the 5th in 4 months) and a new Sulawesi weave, which I aim to make another bag out of.
I will start with the Sulawesi belt. It is in wool, 24+6 tablets. My own designs , as usual.
I modified my elk design and I belive they look better now. Turning diagram below and on the design page. I also included the horses.
So, saving it for for last, here is the jacket. It is in 100% linnen, both inside and outside. I am quite happy with how it turned out.
Finished for today. I will be back soon, maybe with the bag I plan to make with the wowen strap.
I have advanced slowly on the weaving lately since I have been doing some sewing. I have added a page dedicated to sewing on the blog. Please feel free to check it out here.
Here is a preview of my current weaving project though, which is a mix of various animals.
I have been working on this belt on and off for the last month or so, in paralell with sewing my coat. I do like the color combination, but I need to draw some new patterns for 16 cards. I seem to weave the same designs over and over. I do like weaving the edges in the classical diamonds pattern though. I find it adds alot to the overall impression.
Well, here it is. a bit more that 2 meters long, wool, 16 motif cards + 10 border cards.
Some of the design elements:
I finished this belt quite fast. I really like to weave in silk, since it is very smooth. However, on the down side, the threads are brittle and wear easily during weaving. Well, here it is.
I thought of this “horses” pattern (to the left) while weaving, and I really like how it turned out. I also tried some new “creatures in squares” for 24 cards.
The silk yarn and some details.
The other design elements are mostly my own. Some I have tried before and some not, but I have lost track. I have hundreds of designs and sketches in my folders and I never took note of what I tried or not. If you would like the turning pattern of anything not on the design page, please contact me (the contact page is not always working though, please use the e-mail adress).
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