It has been awhile since I pulled out my inkle loom and did some tablet weaving. I wanted to try a double-sided design and use some size 3 pearlized cotton from my stash.
Photo description: inkle loom warped with tan and green pearlized cotton with 19 4-hole tablet cards
I used the online pattern maker Tablet Weaver Designer App and made several designs as I went. The band ended up being more of a sampler piece as I experimented with letters and music notes.
Photo description: “HARMONY” woven on an inkle loom with 4-hole tablet cards using size 3 pearlized cotton
The designer app now also shows if the pattern is balanced— that each card has the same number of forward and backward turns across the pattern. As weaving progresses for tablet weaving, twist builds up in the warp.
Photo description: twist in the warp across the top posts of an inkle loom
There are a number of ways to deal with warp twist, I find making a balanced pattern the easiest. Using the design app I discovered that adding an extra row between two of the same motifs reverses all the forward and backward turns, balancing the pattern in double sided weaving.
Photo description: music notes tablet woven on an inkle loom
To keep track of rows, I cut two slits in a piece of cardstock and slid it over my printed pattern.
Photo description: paper row tracker
I did keep track of time for this project. It took me 1.5 hours to warp the loom, and I wove for 6 hours and 10 minutes. I used a timer in a knitting app to track the time.
Photo description: band removed from the loom, showing the reverse side of the music notes
My Mom requested a stretchy woven watch band. I took one of the plain purchased bands she had so I had the hardware, and I purchased colored shirring elastic thread. I set up a 22 card tablet weave on my Inkle Loom using a pattern I found on Pinterest. An interesting thing about tablet weaving patterns is that the result changes depending on how the cards are turned. It took me a little time to figure out how the pattern worked, so I decided to make four different patterns on the same band, then cut them later. I also had quite a shock when I removed the band from the loom and the elastic contracted, creating different issues.
Photo description: shades of purple, gray, and black elastic thread woven into a band and laid out to show the different patterns next to the black purchased band
When I warped the loom, I didn’t pull the thread completely tight, it is quite elastic, but on hindsight could have loosened it up a little more. I did pull the weft thread taught. If someone is reading this to get hints on the how, I recommend trying a non elastic weft. On the final band three of the designs puckered strangely, one in the middle and the other two on the edges. I think this is due to the tension or uneven tension on the warp and the pattern. It was difficult to get an even pull on all 88 threads when it was so elastic.
I had at least one decent section, so the next quandary was how to cut it. Ideally, it needed to be cut and sealed to prevent the elastic from unraveling. I happen to have a laser cutter. I couple experiments with settings, and I was able to cut and, in the same process, seal the band.
Photo description: picture of the computer screen focused on the woven band with a cut line positioned between patterns
I put the band on a sheet of steel, and used high power and a slow speed to cut the band. It look a couple of experiments with settings to get a cut with minimal burn.
Photo description: cut band with minimal unraveling
To protect the end while threading it through the hardware, I wrapped it in washi tape.
Photo description: washi tape wrapped end threaded through the slide
Sewing was a little challenging because of the thickness, but this little three-in-one sewing tool was a life saver.
Photo description: using a sewing tool to pull the needle through the bandPhoto description: finished band on a calico cat
The most unfortunate part of the whole project is that I didn’t realize the slides on the ends have an up and down. I installed them both upside down. Nuts.
I follow an Inkle band weaving group on Facebook that is under new administration, who are trying to clean up the site and get it back to Inkle weaving (and not a repository for spam). They asked for submissions for a new banner image, and my rainbow tablet weave won by popular vote!
Photo description: Private Inkle Band Weaving group on FB with my rainbow band as the banner image.
They said they would change the image frequently, which is also good. I’m excited that mine was the first picked!
This band went on to become the strap for my ukulele.
I decided my ukulele needed a strap. Maybe it was mostly an excuse to design a new card woven pattern, maybe it was to use up cotton crochet thread, most likely I decided to make it myself because I don’t have enough works in progress.
I used this tablet weaving designer, and came up with this pattern.
Photo description: Tablet weaving pattern diagram generated in Tablet Weaving Draft Designer v1.5.0. Diagram shows how to setup the cards in the tablet, and which way to turn each card for each pass of the weft thread.
I warped my loom with #10 cotton crochet thread in black and rainbow. The rainbow warps I aligned by color. It was quite serendipitous that a color repeat in the thread was just a little longer than my warp length, so I could have all the colors, and very little waste.
Photo description: Handmade Inkle loom warped with black and rainbow thread with weaving cards made from an Uno deck.
I used the black thread as the weft, and started with a few passes held straight with lengths of 18 gauge wire, then doubled the weft back on itself for several rows. To end, I used a loop method to draw the weft back on itself to help lock the weaving in place.
Photo description: Weaving in progress showing a wavy green and black pattern with solid black edges and rainbow colored loops along the weft pass to use to draw the weft backwards.
I love this pattern. It is balanced so the twist does not build up in the warp, except when I make a mistake. Even when I miss a turn or double a turn, it still looks cool, and it is double sided! Win! I love the middle, but the edges vex me because they are not even (an artifact of the balanced weave). I may try a plain woven edge next time around (my youngest has requested one for her uke.)
Photo description: Finished woven band with color changes along the spectrum in the same wavy pattern.
For my Dad, I took an end section of my Inkle woven band (post from yesterday) and made it into an adjustable hat band.
Woven hat band
I sewed where I wanted to put the end before cutting it, then sewed it over again to catch all the ends inside the seam. For the pin, I used a shanked button from my button stash. I believe this one is vintage, but sometimes my buttons get mixed. To make a button into a pin, I use a spiral wire with the end sharpened.
Back of button and handmade pin converterButton installed on pin converter
I brushed out the fringe on the woven band and shaped it to mimic a feather. The weaving is doubled back so won’t unravel, and I think the spray of yarn adds a bit of flare to the band (although it will probably have to be combed out straight occasionally). To set the band size, the pin holds the ends of the band together.
