I'm looking for recommendations on what it would take to make a band 3" wide by 38" long.

What type of thread do you think would be used? The source that I came across indicated 'brown twyne'. That was as specific as it got.

How many cards do you think I would need? I would only be dealing with one color of thread.

What is the best visual "how to" book?

Thanks,

Jenn

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A good beginners guide to tablet weaving is Candice Crockett, Card Weaving (Interweave Press I think). I'm sorry I don't have the full reference, I learnt from a borrowed copy quite a few years ago now!

Perhaps twyne refers to linen? Its certainly strong, but I'm assuming you'd have to shop carefully as a rough linen probably wouldn't be too comfortable for the horse...

Calculating your thread/tablet usage can be difficult, and I'd always recommend doing a test before you start the project. For length, a good starting formula is the finished length x 1.5 + 12-14 inches. That will then give you the length required for your warp. (This will vary with different types of threads and different techniques).

Calculating how many tablets you'll need can be done by wraping the thread around a card as closely as possible until you get the width you want. count the threads, that will give you a start for how many tablets. Again, its worth testing, as different threads, patterns and individual weaving can effect this.

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Sorry if I'm way off base here, I have learned a great deal from this list and am always glad to learn more.

Angelique

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Hi Angelique, the 38" girth is to fit my draft x mare. It isn't an over girth design. The saddle that I am going to make doesn't give any visual indications of wear from an over girth. The tablet woven girth will be a speculative reconstruction.

Though I think you are right that my initial guestimate of 3" is probably too narrow. It will most likely be 5" in width. I think I had the nylon webbing of my modern girth in mind when I thought 3 inches.

Jenn

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I checked this morning at the barn, out of curiosity, and found my padded and shaped dressage girth is 5 inches wide while one of the other boarder's western girth is 4 inches wide with 2.5 inch latigo. Amazing the things you go looking for when you start learning new things.

Angelique

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The medieval saddle I will be constructing will be based off of one of the horn and bone saddles in the Wallace collection. The girth that I am thinking about making will go with that saddle. It will no doubt be longer than 38".

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quote:

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The medieval saddle I will be constructing will be based off of one of the horn and bone saddles in the Wallace collection.

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Oh wow, please share the progress of that!!

Angelque

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I am working on the preliminaries (things I need to know as they relate to this paticular saddle form: materials, construction of the tree, etc...) and am waiting for a package from the UK to decide which one I want to take on. After that, the measurements, the x-rays, acquistions of proper materials, and the fitting of the horse.

If all goes according to schedule, I hope to begin late summer or early fall with the actual construction. The first will probably be a leather and wood construct to get the form and fit right. Then the more elaborate one will follow.

I will let you know how it is going as the project progresses.

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Angelique

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I was just wondering what your progress is on your project!

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the project is currently stalled (no pun intended). I am currently being held up waiting for some research material which should be arriving shortly.

I will keep a diary once the project "offically" starts.

Jenn

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