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.
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 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 a belt today, but I feel a bit disappointed, as it is not as I expected it to be. It is still ok, but the colors didn’t turn out as I wanted and I tried to fit in too many new designs in one piece. The results is cluttered and not as I had hoped.
But I am quite happy about some of the new designs thought, and especially the “Gruyere birds”. I looked at the Gruyere bird while eating some (Gruyere) cheese, and I decided that I wanted to try a woven version. It is not an exact match, but not too far off either.
![[Flag of Gruyères]](https://i0.wp.com/www.crwflags.com/fotw/images/c/ch-fr108.gif?resize=250%2C250&ssl=1)
I am also quite fond of my “Elks” or “Deers”. Not sure yet which one it is.
I also did some new versions of my Baby dragons. I think they are quite cute.
The threading was done like this:
That’s all for now. Please let me know if you have some comments, or if you are interested in some of the other turning patterns.
Have a great week-end!
I have finished my Sulawesi belt with 16 motif tablets that I wrote about a few weeks ago. I am quite happy with the result. The automn colors go well with the trees outside my window and I like feeling of the wool. I even got a chance to try it on during a medieval market yesterday.
I tried some new designs for 16 cards and I will add them to the library of motifs. I have also made a short video posted on the same page, to show how to weave using my pensil designs.
I am really happy with the baby dragons. I will weave more of these.
Some classical dragons and leaves to finish off.
Please let me know if you are interested in some of the other motifs.
I have started a new weave with 16 design tablets (+6 border tablets).
It feels really easy going to handle 16 tablets after the 32 on my last weave. I also really enjoy the yarn (Holst Garn, 100% wool), which I haven’t tried before. It has a rustic feeling and is quite strong. Above all, the strands does not glue together!!
I plan to add a page here with my favorite yarn suppliers (when I have time), and Holst will definitely be on it.
I have tried out some new motifs for 16 cards. I am quite happy with the pair below. Baby dragons?
I will add the turning sequence to the design page, once the belt is completed.
I also tried some new “flower bud” string motifs. For the below motif, I used the same on my 32 card weave, but using it as a double string. Even though I find the motif nicer in the 16 card version, I do like the idea of how the 16 card motifs can be combined together. I plan to explore this more on my next 32 card weave.
The turning sequence is added to the design page.
I completed my new Sulawesi belt in 32 motif cards (16 pairs), where I combine motifs from my “Creatures in Squares” series with motifs based on plants (grapewines, fruits, flowers on branches, etc). The red and the green are wool (regular knitting yarn, 100% wool) and the yellow is a mix of wool and silk.
I really enjoyed putting together my different designs in a new way. I find that I often make photocopies of my designs, where I cut and glue pieces together from different designs or I simply combine the elements with magnets on a cardboard board.
Taking one photo of the whole belt does not show it off very well, so I will show it in parts and if you are interested in some of the turning patterns, please let me know and I will add it to the Design page.
I tried out some new variants of dogs (in squares). Either single dogs, or 2 dogs (or cats?) together (mother and puppy?). I uploaded 3 of the dogs-patterns on the design page.
I also made some new “wines” and “branches with fruits” motifs to go between the “squares”. The green/red/yellow in this band make them look like strawberries.
Here the squirrel and the rabbit are joined by a simpler wine with a leaf.
The full band is below but the light is rather bad. it meassures a bit more than 2 meters.
The turning pattern for one of the wines and the octopus.
I dont have the answer, but I started a new weave, despite all the belts in my stash. I am addicted and I need more space for belts and yarns. Maybe a trip to IKEA is required after all.
I set up a weave in wool for 32 motif cards (+4 border cards), to try a new idea to combine my “flowers, fruits and wines” motifs with my “Creatures in squares” dito. I kind of like how the colors come together, even if the motifs are possibly too intricate. Sometimes less is more, and I am quite fond of my designs for 24 cards. There you have great possibilities for variation, but you still see straigt away what the motif is. When working with more cards, I tend to want to add (too) many elements.
I will keep you posted on the progress, but below is a sneak preview. I plan to add some turning schemes as well later on when I know what is working good (and less good).
Edit: I just uploaded the turning sequence for this design in my new page with my designs. Please feel free to check it out.
© 2024 Saga Wool Craft
Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑
