The Techniques of Tablet Weaving

by Peter Collingwood

When Techniques of Tablet Weaving was first published in 1982 it sold out almost immediately. Weavers, fiber artists, and collectors, hungry for the vast and carefully organized repository of information it contained, have spent years excitedly sharing dog-eared paperback editions and roughly photocopied excerpts of this one-of-a-kind volume. No commercially published book, before or since, has captured the amount and quality of information and research on the art of tablet weaving (also known as card weaving). Finally, long-deprived cardweaving enthusiasts can own their very own copy of Peter Collingwood's landmark book thanks to this high-quality 2015 reprint, complete with dozens of detailed photographs, pattern examples, and step-by-step instructions for each of the techniques presented. In addition to instructional information, Techniques of Tablet Weaving contains pages of historical context for a variety of weaving techniques with clear and helpful tips on reproducing them precisely, as well as modern variations on the classics.

Genres: Nonfiction, Crafts, Reference

821 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1950

About the author

Peter Collingwood was the pre-eminent British artist weaver of the past 50 years. His technical and aesthetic innovations have been appreciated around the world, most notably in his Macrogauze wall-hangings, in which his traditional skill and visual abstraction work in perfect harmony. A master craftsman and the author of several works on weaving, his work as a teacher and his generous spirit had a profound and lasting impact on generations of students.

Collingwood wrote five highly influential books of which the first, Techniques of Rug Weaving (1968), is probably the best known. His personal favourite - and the one that gives the most insight into his inquiring mind - is The Maker's Hand (1988), in which he analyses, with diagrams and photo-graphs, 100 woven structures from around the world.

He was awarded the OBE in 1974.

Adapted from TheGuardian.co.uk

Reviews

[Dymphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Peter Collingwood's "The techniques of tablet weaving" is considered by the tablet weaving community as the reference book about tablet weaving. This is no surprise since this book deals with different patterns and features how to for quite a lot of band which were found in graves and such.

The book starts with a short history of tablet weaving finds and cards. After that, almost every technique that is possible by means of turning the tablets is explained, plus some additional techniques who are similar. The technical part can be a bit dry, but for the persistent reader there is a ton of knowledge hidden in the 320 pages of this book. I have tried to weave the Egyptian diagonals and was able to after some careful reading. Also, the book has given my some great inspiration to design my own patterns.

This book may not be for the beginning tablet weaver – for that there are many other books and youtube video’s, but for any tablet weaver, with or without any interest in historical bands, is this the reference guide to pick over and over again.

[Jindra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is definitely not the book with which to embark on the adventure of tablet weaving. However, once you're hooked and need help with a specific weaving problem, all you need is here.