How to Make a Tablet Loom

Commercially made table legs add a decorative touch to your loom.

Tablet weaving is an ancient art that dates from the 6th Century BC. In its early form, weavers fixed one end of the warp threads to a fixed point and the other to their belts, eliminating the need for a loom. This method was eventually replaced by two uprights attached to a plank. You can make this type of loom from dowels and wood, sawing, drilling and sanding if you have the correct skills and tools, but since not all weavers are also woodworkers, here is an inexpensive alternative that only requires the use of a screwdriver.

Things You'll Need

• 2 8-inch prefabricated table legs
• 2 3 x 5-inch steel table leg connectors
• 1 8 x 24-inch prefabricated shelf (or longer, if you prefer)
• Phillips screwdriver

Instructions

1. Position the table leg connectors on each end of the shelf. Center them directly across from each other.

2. Screw the leg connectors to the shelf using the screws that came with them.

3. Screw the table legs onto the leg connectors. The hanging bolt is already installed in the leg.

Tips & Warnings

• All the parts listed are available at home improvement stores.

• If you opt to use a more complex loom in the future, this simple version doubles as a warping board.

• As you weave, the tension on the warp threads grows tighter. Loop one end of the warp threads onto a shoe lace and tie the lace to the loom to attach it. As the tension increases, loosen the lace to reduce it.

References

• Card Weaving; Candace Crockett; 1973