Lacing cord for the effigy stays

[frualeydis]

Because I have decided to be totally and absolutely crazy with this project I've decided to make the lacing cord with tablets. You can make round cords from tablet weaving if you always put the weft in from the same side, thus wrapping the cord while weaving. This is an old technique and there are several examples found in the excavations from medieval London. I will use the thickest of my vegetable dyed silk for warp and a thinner silk for weft. The colours are muted, so it won't be a stunningly beautiful cord, but at least a both functional and period correct one.
I'm using just 3 tablets (4 holes in each) and I'm still afraid it may be to thick for the lacing holes, but one never knows before trying.

Comments

[mmcnealy.livejournal.com]

One trick I've heard for estimating the width of tablet weaving is to twist the 4 strands together and then wrap this around a ruler one time per number of tablets that one will be using. Perhaps since this is a round cord, you should try twisting 12 strands of the warp silk together and see if it is too thick for your purposes?

Will you be turning all in one direction or back and forth (ie 4 forward and 4 back)?

[frualeydis.livejournal.com]

Back and forth. I haven't decided if I'm going to make quarter or half turns yet, both are found in preserved cords.
As for the width, I've found with "normal", flat, tablet weaving that they are fairly compact and tightly woven, so the cord should be narrow enough. If not I can always use it for something else.

/Eva

[liadethornegge.livejournal.com]

Very cool. I'd love to see some close-up pictures of that finished.

[therru.livejournal.com]

Can't you thread only two holes in each tablet, as well, if you need to make it thinner?