Tablet Weaving from Around the World
With John Mullarkey
This program is part of Handwork 2026, presented by Craft in America
Tablet weaving, also known as card weaving, is truly an international art. Around the world, cultures use this weaving method to turn woven bands into sashes, straps, and more.
This three-day workshop is open to all students, from beginner to advanced, who are interested in pattern play and diverse techniques. We’ll study three different techniques from three areas of the world (Turkey, Egypt, and Indonesia) and three different time periods.
At the end of the workshop, you will know how to read a draft, warp the loom using cards, weave the patterns, and apply these skills to your own designs.
Three-Day Workshop
Day 1 – Thursday, July 23
On Thursday, we will learn about the beginner-friendly Ram’s Horn design. This relatively contemporary design originates from Turkey.
Day 2 – Friday, July 24
Friday brings us back in time to Egypt over 1,000 years ago with the Coptic Diamond pattern.
Day 3 – Saturday, July 25
We’ll finalize our weaving around the world with Sulawesi from Indonesia. This technique is similar in structure to a double-faced weave, but similar in pattern to diagonal weaves.
Buy, Bring, or Rent A Loom for This Workshop
We offer a good selection of top-quality looms for purchase. Begin your weaving journey with a loom of your own! Contact us for more information
If you already have the appropriate loom, please bring that to the workshop.
We also offer a limited number of looms you can rent on-site during this workshop.
Click here to see the looms you can rent for this workshop
Please select the loom you’d like to rent and add it to your cart before clicking the “Register” button.
Tablet Weaving from Around the World
Loom rental: Schacht Inkle Loom
With Texsolv heddles. On-site rental during workshop.
Out of stock
- Skill level All
- Age appropriate 12+ (minors must have a parent on site)
- Students should bring:
-Inkle style loom (Note: Ashford Inklet is too small for tablet weaving)
-24 4-hole cards
-Belt shuttle
-Scissors
-Five balls or cones of 5/2 to 10/2 mercerized or unmercerized cotton or #10 crochet thread. Each ball should be at least 1/2 ounce. Three balls of one light color, and one medium colored ball, and one dark colored ball.
Instructor
John MullarkeyJohn Mullarkey is passionate about teaching tablet weaving and exploring new ways to make the art form more contemporary. Tablet weaving is a primitive weaving style that creates simple weave structures, but offers great variation in possible patterns. John
loves to push tablet weaving outside the normal and historical limits to create his own interpretation of traditional patterns. He is a nationally recognized teacher and is valued for the patience, clarity and organization he brings to his classes. After beginning to teach in 2009, John left a part-time software development career to focus on weaving and
teach full time.John has won many awards, is a frequent contributor to national weaving publications and has authored books and videos about the craft. His creations have appeared in international fashion shows and been displayed at museums. The Schacht Zoom Loom is
based on John’s design.
