I designed and wove this band to play around with diagonal lines of different widths way back in 2016, when I first started trying to write about tablet weaving in earnest. The draft for it has been requested over on Instagram (you can find me there as @tabletweaving), so I'm taking the time to give it a proper write up. As it's one of my experimental samples, there are 4 different turning sequences to try, all of which are twist neutral for the pattern tablets. Bonus points if you can identify the book that the name refers to!
The definite star of this draft is the tubular spectrum by Lunatic Fringe Yarns. I used their black 10/2 mercerised cotton alongside (in the same order as in the draft, from left to right) #10 yellow, #10 green yellow, #10 green, #10 blue green, #10 blue, #10 purple blue, #10 purple, #10 red purple, #10 red and #10 yellow red, all also in 10/2 mercerised cotton. Mercerised cotton is really smooth and strong and a dream to tablet weave with, so I would recommend this yarn to both beginners and more experienced weavers alike. I've done my best to recreate the colours in the drafts, but I haven't quite been able to do justice to the vibrancy of the original.
The threading diagram for this band is as follows:
You can download the text version of the threading diagram by clicking here.
The text version of the first variation is a follows:
turn all tablets forwards for 4 picks, then turn tablets 1 and 40 forwards and the remaining tablets backwards for 4 picks.
You can download the TDD file here.
The text version of the second variation is a follows:
turn all tablets forwards for 20 picks, then turn tablets 1 and 40 forwards and the remaining tablets backwards for 20 picks.
You can download the TDD file here.
The text version of the third variation is a follows:
turn all tablets forwards for 4 picks, then turn tablets 1 and 40 forwards and the remaining tablets backwards for 2 picks, then turn all tablets forwards for 2 picks, then turn tablets 1 and 40 forwards and the remaining tablets backwards for 4 picks.
You can download the TDD file here.
The text version of the fourth variation is a follows:
turn all tablets forwards for 8 picks, then turn tablets 1 and 40 forwards and the remaining tablets backwards for 8 picks.
You can download the TDD file here.
As with all of the free drafts/patterns on this site, you are welcome to weave them, sell bands woven using them, and use them to teach other weavers, just as long as you state where you found them.
.jpeg "The Minions sample band")
