Crafting During Peace

I am writing from Pennsic LIII, which I’m tempted to call ‘Wind-sic’ just because of the strong breezes here on the Serengeti. We’ve doubly batten the hatches on our shade tarp, anchoring the legs and the roof too.  I really don't want it sailing into our neighbors, or even out to the highway.

The merchants have been open three days and I have already overspent my budget. That’s mostly because I went into the clothing store I swore I was going to stay away from this year… Sigh.   I do wear their clothes year round, not just at events. The other budget-breaker is a box loom patterned after historic images. It’s gorgeous. And I already have a use for it.

  

I am representing my barony at the Runningmede A&S Challenge this year. As our Excellencies’ Champion, the honor fell first to me. I’m quite excited about this. I will be entering the tablet weaving project from my last post. The box loom will be warped with the same pattern as the first loom, but this time I will use the tubular edging the original pattern had.

There will be more later, after I warp the loom and start on the pattern.

Posting from Pennsic LIII,

~ Marjorie

I'm a Tablet Weaving newbie

 Greetings!

I have finally succeeded at tablet weaving after failing at it multiple times.  This pleases me because I will be able to make a new apprentice belt.  I need one that better matches my apron dresses than does my 12th-century Norman belt.

My first project is a test of pattern type and material.  I saw a pattern that was all texture, modernly recreated with only one color. (See this blog post)  It is created using cards with only two holes threaded instead of the usual four.  It was my plan to make the actual belt using modern wool, so I'm working this project in a similar yarn.

 

Things I am learning with this project:

 1) My hands work better with the larger cards.  I find it much easier to turn the cards when there is a greater distance from the hole to the edge of the card.  These cards have about 3/4 of an inch from the center of the hole to the edge.

2) Modern yarn really s-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-s.  The tension doesn't seem to be even from one section of the loom to the other.  It is tightest by the shed, though, so the weave is looking even at that point.  We shall see.

3) I am using a pattern from Tablet-Woven Treasures: Archaeological Bands from the Finnish Iron Age by Maikki Karisto & Mervi Pasanen, found on page 121.  In this book they talk about flipping the cards to alleviate the twist that results from only turning the cards forward (page 56).  I have done this twice so far and I find it much easier than using fishing swivels and pushing the twist along the threads to the swivel to unwind them.  Flipping the cards does create a slight variance in the pattern at that point, but if you are consistent with when you flip the cards, it looks like it is all part of the pattern.

I shall continue the band and keep you updated with my progress.

I will be less of a Newbie when next we meet.

~Marjorie