Source: Candace Crockett, Card Weaving. Revised edition. Interweave Press, 1991.
Overview
This may be the best introductory paper text in print today. It is easy to read, providing a gentle introduction to several techniques. Starting with threaded-in pattern, the book carefully explains warping, weaving, and design, with lots of pictures and illustrations. The second half of the book covers many woven-in techniques, although the coverage may be too brief for beginners, but still accessible.
The author’s notation is non-standard, but self-consistent. At the end of this page I explain how to translate Crockett’s pattern chart into standard notation.
Notation and terminology
| Notation or Terminology | Standard | Crockett |
|---|---|---|
| Hole labels | A-D | A-D |
| Label sequence | clockwise | clockwise |
| Direction card faces | right |
left
|
| Card order | left to right | left to right |
| Home position | A-D | A-D |
| turn forward | forward |
away
|
| turn backward | backward |
toward
|
| “S” threading direction notation | S |
←
|
| “Z” threading direction notation | Z |
→
|
| Initial turns | forward |
backward(“toward”)
|
Tablet-weaving diagram
The author’s diagrams are displayed in a standard way using her notation for threading direction. Here’s her first diagram from chapter four:
Translate diagrams and weaving instructions
To reproduce patterns based on the author’s diagrams, you must begin by weaving backwards.
But if you prefer to convert her diagrams and weaving instructions to the standard way (tablets facing to right, starting with four forward turns), simply reverse the threading direction: “←” becomes Z-threading, “→” becomes S-threading. To follow the author’s weaving instructions, reverse the turning direction. For example, to weave the pattern on page 53 from this diagram, turn the tablets 4F, 4B, 8F.
I would like to weave the band on the cover of Candace’s book. I have read and reread the directions several times but still I could use some help. The draft on page 79 doesn’t tell me which color is which. Having the draft squares pictured only in shades of black, gray and white doesn’t help. Also, is the cover picture of 2 bands? Or one band? Thoughts?
Hi Dee. Thanks for reaching out to me. The cover picture shows just one band but with the pattern woven twice, side-by-side, with different sets of colors. To weave the left half, use these colors: very dark gray = bright blue, dark gray = orange, light gray = bright blue, very light gray = purple, white = navy. To weave the right half: very dark gray = fuchsia, dark gray = red, light gray = bright blue, very light gray = orange, white = navy (or black? hard to tell). Note that these colors are correct for the outer two cards; the inner two border cards are different, but I think you can figure out the colors with this help. Let me know if you need more assistance.
Keith