Hochdorf

Warp: White and blue wool
Weft: White wool
Pattern: Hochdorf find no. 39
Cards: 32 pattern + 4x2 border
Width:1.8cm
Length: Approx. 1m

This is my first go at the technique sometimes referred to as "pebble weave" due to the sort of dimples or "pebbles" of the contrasting colour that appear in the ground areas.  "Pebble weave" can also refer to an Andean technique which is not the same thing.

Excluding the border tablets, tablets are threaded in two holes, alternating in pairs of SS and ZZ. Each pair is turned as a unit.  To get the background area (white with blue dimples in my version), all rows do a quarter turn twice in one direction and then twice in the other.  To bring the other colour to the front, do not reverse the turning direction of a pair.

In the pattern above right, each B or F represents 2 tablets turning backward or forward for 2 quarter turns.  Originally I just had a "pattern" showing what the finished band looks like but I found it necessary to construct a pattern in this format because it  was breaking my brain a bit having a warp where not all tablets were threaded the same way.  Once I had worked out my own pattern, the weaving was easy going.

This pattern is "find no. 39" from the burial chamber of the Celtic Chieftain from Hochdorf.  It was a decorative edge on a wall hanging, woven of hemp and badger hair (!)  Find no. 44 is in the same technique.  The band is covered in Lise Raeder Knudsen's article in NESAT V and in Johanna Banck-Burgess's Hochdorf IV. This grave site dates to the 6th century BC and contains several tablet woven bands including a variety of sophisticated techniques.

This is my 3rd band for my camping mattress but since Canterbury Faire is next week I guess I won't be making a 4th.

Check out Micky Schoelzke's version of this band, which I think is much prettier than mine!

Comments

  1. Cathy RaymondJanuary 21, 2012 at 6:58 PM

    Looks great! I'll need to try this one sometime--I find two-hole weaves beautiful and fascinating.

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousJanuary 26, 2012 at 8:39 AM

    Hello Amalie!
    your version looks really pretty too! And by the way, thanks for this very interesting blog!
    All the best from France!
    Micky

    ReplyDelete
  3. LaverneJanuary 26, 2012 at 2:57 PM

    Hi. I wonder if you could email me as I would like to talk to you about your Hochdorf band. I am looking for a picture of that pattern woven with cards for a book I am writing.

    Thanks,
    Laverne

    ReplyDelete
  4. amalieJanuary 26, 2012 at 3:01 PM

    Sure, what's your email address?

    ReplyDelete

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