sourcing linen thread for tablet weave

[Totality]

Hi all, I'm attempting to figure out how to tablet weave (now a days known as card turning) for those that don't know it involves threading cards and turning them to create a braid on a pattern as seen in this link (hope its okay to post link)

http://blog.lib.uiowa.edu/drp/2008/04/03/59/" target="_blank


Anyway i'm currently working in wool and its looking like it should but i've seen it done in linen thread which looks a bit more cleaner and smoother. The other i want to use linen is so i can use if for re-enactment. Can anyone help, i've been searching for ages and all i can find is 3ply linen waxed thread, only waxed thread is used in leather work and i dont think it would work in tablet weaving. Any help is greatly appreciated thank guys

[Rose]

I have never before seen anything like this and have no idea about what you could use or where to buy the materials you would need. Sorry for being unhelpful.

[Totality]

Thank you Rose i've been pulling my hair out trying to find the stuff but your blatant honesty has put a real smile on my face and made me snort tea out of my nostril lol bless ur heart =0)

[Mystonique]

Appleton wool is finer and smoother so it might be perfect.

Otherwise I'd use Flower Thread (Ginnie Thompson is my favourite). It's cotton but as thick as a thinner wool without being split into strands so much as regular cotton.

What a fascinating thing I want to see it in real life. I want to try it lol. (oh-oh).

Please post about your progress.

[wendywombat]

Don't DMC make a linen thread...although they are a bit pale in comparison with the example. Not much help either, then!!

Nice project though!

Thank you Rose i've been pulling my hair out trying to find the stuff but your blatant honesty has put a real smile on my face and made me snort tea out of my nostril lol bless ur heart =0)

My coffee nearly did the same as your tea!!

'Our' Rose always has a way of saying it like it is....we love her for it!

[Serinde]

Tablet weaving is remarkable, and one of the things on my list to do. (Being a medievalist, it figures largely in 'useful crafts'. )

Pearl cotton #5, #8; 60/2 silk, kreinik Japan #7... these sorts of weights for your fibres. Complexity comes in the number of tablets.

The internet has some excellent resources. Weavers Hand is a good place to start: http://www.weavershand.com" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank especially their Resources for Table Weavers link.

I came away from this site feeling as if I'd had a 5-course meal the first time I found it.

Have you come across Nancy Spies at Arelate Studio? She literally wrote the book on ecclesiastical tablet weaving. http://www.weavershand.com/ArelateStudio1.html" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank

Have fun. And do stay in touch and let us know how you are progressing.

[Totality]

thank you for all the replies guys =0) The only annoying part of this is that its keeping me away from my cross stitch. There are many process which make tablet weaving fiddly such as finding the right tablets for turning, so far i've purchased tablet weaving wooden cards (which are authentic), however to learn with i find this to small and it takes time separating all the wool. I've since tried some playing cards which is a great size for the length but not for the width, so i need to find something as rigid as the playing card only wider. Then theirs the process of threading the cards as there's two ways in which it can be done, and then you think your finally getting somewhere but tension becomes then next issue. I'll post a picture later of my tiny amount although I've made a few mistakes. I think its a matter of finding the right tools that work for me.

[helbel]

Try weaving sites and shops. Not sure where you are but Handweavers in London sell linen in two weights, plus cotlin (cotton/linen mix)

http://www.handweavers.co.uk/" target="_blank" target="_blank

There's a weavers sub group on Ravelry, also try the Interweave weaving forum: http://www.interweave.com/weaving/" target="_blank" target="_blank

There's also the Weavers Spinners and Dyers guild which if you search may have a group near you that can suggest a source of yarn.

[Serinde]

thank you for all the replies guys =0) The only annoying part of this is that its keeping me away from my cross stitch. There are many process which make tablet weaving fiddly such as finding the right tablets for turning, so far i've purchased tablet weaving wooden cards (which are authentic), however to learn with i find this to small and it takes time separating all the wool. I've since tried some playing cards which is a great size for the length but not for the width, so i need to find something as rigid as the playing card only wider. Then theirs the process of threading the cards as there's two ways in which it can be done, and then you think your finally getting somewhere but tension becomes then next issue. I'll post a picture later of my tiny amount although I've made a few mistakes. I think its a matter of finding the right tools that work for me.

Beer mats. I'm told these are excellent for starting off. Added advantage of getting the neighbours talking...

[Totality]

As soon as i'd finished writing my previous message i also had the same idea about beer mats, and got right onto the phone to the OH who's a carpenter and just so happens to be working in a pub. Poor guy i was so annoyed about the weaving last night i moaned at him and he slept on the sofa lol, but as soon as i mentioned the beer mats turns out he'd already ask the landlord, what a git lol makes me fee awful that i took my mood out on him now =0/ ah well what are men for! Again cant thank you all enough for the advice

[Lessa54]

I so should not have looked at that link Serinde! Two hours later and I'm wondering whether anyone has discovered the secret to long life as I'd love to try and fit this in to everything else I'm trying to do

[Serinde]

I know! I know!