Search the Blog
Latest Comments
Tablet-Weaving Presentation Video
Over the past years, I've done so many presentations in all kinds of different venues and for all kinds of different events, but the virtual version is quite new for me, and I was extra-nervous (Will all the tech work as intended? Will my internet connection hold up for the discussion part?). Having everything pre-recorded also means that there is no way to adapt things on the fly, in case the audience seems extra-interested in a certain topic, or in case everyone's eyes glaze over. You also can't tell from the room if people like the thing already during the presentation, you need to wait until it's all over and there is feedback, which makes it very different too, and it does take some getting used to. Another thing I missed is the immediate feedback for the questions, or the possibility to quickly ask something back to clarify. The questions were typed out on the text channel in discord, then read out by one of the EXARC volunteers for everyone to hear, then I got to answer them. This format does work well in general, and it does reduce the problem of multi-person audio on conference calls, where only one can speak at any one time, and background noises from somewhere else might kill the intended sound for everyone - but it lacks the easy interactivity of real-life Q&A sessions.
It did all work well, though, and there were a lot of interesting questions, some of which were totally unexpected for me (like the one whether I have worked with material that I'd prefer never to touch again). Though I did miss the immediate audience feedback, it was also really nice to just sit at home in a comfy chair, with the cat in the comfy chair next to me (I'm afraid she didn't really count as moral support, she was sleeping), and interact with people interested in tablet-weaving from all over the world, and see a lot of familiar names on the channel. With the easy access for a lot of people to digital presentations such as that, I can very easily live with the downsides of the format!
The videos are available on the Lauresham YouTube channel, both in English (title text is German too, but there will be English spoken text) and in German - so you can still watch them, in case you missed the event yesterday.
Let me know if you have any questions!
Comments 3
I finally found the time to watch it and I wanted to tell you that I thoroughly enjoyed it!
I just started out with tablet weaving (I'm on my second band at the moment) and I'm in awe at your capabilities and the ones of our ancestors.
I really liked the structuring of the presentation along the different techniques.
You mentioned at the beginning that a lot of bands have the cards turn in the same direction all the time. How does one deal with the twist building up in the warp behind the tablets? Do you just reverse everything every, let's say, 20 cm?
About your weaving knife: I had seen it in your shop before, it's larger than I thought
Do you have more information about the original find? Context, dating, etc.?
Thank you so much for this presentation, I learned lot!
Thank you so much for your feedback!
I'm delighted to hear you enjoyed the video, and that the structuring worked for you.
Regarding the twist, there's several possibilities. First of all, you can push the buildup further along the warp; the longer your "free" warp, the further that's possible. So on a modern-style tablet-weaving loom, you won't have so much free warp; if you string your weave up all across your living room, you will have some more leeway. A warp spreader also helps with pushing back the buildup. Then you reverse as necessary.
If you dislike reversal, or you get near the end, you can also open up the twisted-up warp and comb out the twists, then weave on in the same direction. Some modern weavers install fishing swivels at the end of each tablet's warp threads so they all untwist individually.
About the weaving knife: There's not too much info in the publication, unfortunately. I'll see if there's more than listed in the shop, and post about it.