Dear Everyone,
I have just finished teaching a new class for the first time which I call
"Running Dog and Ram's Horn", which includes making a variation of the
continuous warp for patterns determined by the threading.
For over ten years, I have exclusively taught the continuous warping method
for patterns determined by the turning (where all tablets are threaded
identically), and have consciously avoided threaded-in patterns, partly
because I did not like the idea of having to thread tablets one hole at a
time.
When I was asked to review Otfried Staudigel's book "Tablet Weaving Magic",
I tried the method he describes. It involves analyzing the pattern
diagram, warping tablets in groups which share the same colors, and cutting
and tying on new colors as needed. After this, you put the tablets into
their proper order in the pack (if this is necessary), flip to put
threading in the correct direction, and then rotate tablets to put colors
in the right place. This is really pretty easy to do using the threading
diagram as a guide.
I have discovered that I can integrate this method very well with my own
way of thinking about things, and want to recommend it. I am really
excited about the fact that this opens up a whole new range of patterns for
my own weaving and teaching.
I have always used the terms left-threaded and right-threaded, which I
learned from Candace Crockett's book "Card Weaving". I like it because it
is so visual -- if all 4 threads are visible on the left, it's a
left-threaded tablet. If they're all visible on the right, it's a
right-threaded tablet.
Otfried refers to *tablet direction* -- the angle of the *tablet* as it
hangs on the parallel warps. So:
Left-threaded tablet = Z-direction tablet
Right-threaded tablet = S-direction tablet
This is especially obvious when you work with flipping a tablet (about its
vertical axis) to change threading direction. If you start with a left
threaded tablet, and flip it to change threading direction, it will only
turn one way, which is to emphasize the Z-direction of the tablet
(left-threaded) at the beginning of the flip, ending up with S-direction of
the tablet (right-threaded) when you are finished flipping. Do try this at
home!
Additionally, A Z-direction tablet produces Z-twist in the weaving when the
tablet is turned forward, and an S-direction tablet produces S-twist when
the tablet is turned forward.
Happy flipping!
Linda
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Linda Hendrickson, Portland, Oregon USA
Tablet Weaving & Ply-Splitting Workshops, Books, & Supplies
E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Web site: www.lindahendrickson.com
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