Scott & Deb's Place

A Survey of Tablet-Weaving Looms

There are a variety of looms used when doing tablet weaving. Below is an overview of three modern and two period looms used for this purpose. Since actual plans would make this article rather long I will include plans in future articles. I have likewise left out drawings to conserve space.

Modern Looms

Open Faced Inkle

This is the most common form of inkle loom used today. Inkle weaving is a form of narrow-band weaving similar to fabric or tapestry weaving. The inkle loom originated in England though the weaving method used on it is common to many cultures.

The open-faced inkle consists of a frame with rods attached to it perpendicularly. In many ways it is similar to warping board. Since one side is open the warp can be threaded quickly. A table loom can handle 2-4 yards of warp while floor sized inkles can hold 10 -12 yards of warp. Most have one rod that is adjustable to allow for tension control. If an inkle loom is going to be used for tablet weaving it must have some sort of tensioning control. Making this loom requires some skill at woodworking since special consideration must be made for the high tension that the rods are under when the loom is warped.

Weaving on this loom is done with the warp heading away from you. As the tension builds you will need to periodically move the adjustable rod to keep the tension consistent. Patterns that require frequent card flipping may get tiresome on this loom, as you will frequently need to stop and adjust the tension rod when you flip a card.

Closed Face Inkle

The closed-faced inkle is a variation of the above loom with a solid frame supporting both ends of the rods. It typically can handle 2-3 yards of warp. This loom is designed to be quick and easy to make and rarely includes a tensioning device. The rods bending relieve minor tension. Unfortunately, by having both sides closed this loom is a bit harder to thread. This loom works with tablet weaving for only short lengths. Trying to make it larger without adding a tensioning device would likely result in many broken rods.

Flat Board Tablet Weaving Loom

This loom is a board with posts at each end to stretch the warp on. For warps longer than the board you wrap the excess warp on a rod at the end. Tension is maintained by unwinding the warp and adjusting the take-up as you go. How long you make the warp is only limited by how much you can warp before having a tangled mess (Which is 3 1/2 yards for me.) This loom is quick and easy to make and requires little woodworking experience.

The warp runs from side to side as you work (or perpendicular to the inkle looms.) Some people find it easier to work to the side of the warp than from behind the warp. Card flipping is a little easier with this loom than the inkle but still not as easy as with the back-strap.

Period Looms

Back-strap

The back-strap loom is loom that ties uses ties around the back as one end supporting the warp. The other end is attached to a post or other non-movable object. Many cultures today use the back-strap for tablet weaving and other forms of band weaving. Several archaeological finds look very similar to modern back-strap looms. All that is needed to make a back-strap is four sticks or rods and some form of strapping, cording, or even strips of cloth.

Each end of the warp is attached to stick or rod. Each rod is then wrapped around a second rod, which is either attached to a post or to the weaver. The tension is controlled by how the weaver moving closer to or further from the post. This can make tension control difficult as any movement of the weavers body can potentially alter the tension. The back-strap can be very hard on the back. Using a wider strap to attach the weaving to the weaver can alleviate some of the strain.

Like the inkle loom, the warp runs way from the weaver and the weaver works behind the cards. While there are several disadvantages to using a back-strap over the rigid looms above there is one distinct advantage. When doing advanced techniques that require card-flipping tension can be adjusted easily by the weaver moving forward, flipping cards, then moving back again.

Post Loom

There are several period drawings of this loom from the book of hours books. The Oseberg loom is believed to be of this type. This loom is similar to the board loom above. The weaving is stretched between two posts that go from the floor to about mid-chest (sitting) level. The warp is held at a comfortable level to work at while sitting. The weaving is done from the side as in the board loom and tension would require adjusting the feeder and take up rods. This loom should have the same advantages and disadvantages as the board loom.