Tablet weaving is a method of producing narrow textile bands that can be used for things such as straps, belts or as a trim. It is one of the oldest European textile techniques, traceable at least to the early Iron Age. It is fun and useful and also a great way to keep your hands occupied while giving up an addiction such as smoking or chocolate and you can produce something other than bitten fingernails.

To begin with, you will need a loom. The ones we use look like this:

This loom is made from wood, with wooden or metal spikes (big nails are good). If you can manage it, the spikes should be angled out from the centre of the loom. When you thread it up, this will cancel the tension of th thread. On the whole, the loom is pretty easy to construct, it's the threading that will slow you down.

You'll also need some cards, or tablets. The number of cards you'll need depends on the pattern you're using, but 16 is a good number to start with. The cards need to be thin, and look like this:

Next: Threading the Loom