Tablet Weaving: Designing Bands Decoding the Enigmatic Patterns of the Tablets 2026

IN PERSON REGISTRATION ONLY. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS CLASS, PLEASE STOP BY THE REGISTRATION DESK AT LEAST 30 MINUTES PRIOR TO THE CLASS START TIME.

Class Time: Friday, April 24, 2026 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Location: St. Louis Community College - Meramec Campus, 11333 Big Bend Road, Kirkwood, MO 63122. Check in at Registration 15 minutes prior to class starting at PE Building for location.

Room: Student Center, Room 125

CONTACT NOTE: Failure to provide your email address and/or opt out of marketing updates will result in no communication from the Festival about updates or from your  instructor. Our system does not permit us to reach you through other means. If you choose to decline and do not provide an email address, please ensure that all necessary details have been noted down.

The class fee includes admission to the Vendor Marketplace every day of the festival; April 24 - 26, 2026.

Instructor: John Mullarkey (Instagram @malarky.crafts)

Venture into the analytical world of tablet weaving, where twists and turns of threaded cards reveal patterns as intricate and mysterious as any cipher Sherlock Holmes ever encountered. In this workshop, we shall set aside looms and shuttles and instead don the mantle of designers and codebreakers, exploring the very charts and drafts that give structure to this ancient craft.

This is a paper-and-pencil investigation, ideal for those who wish to understand not merely how to weave, but why the cards behave as they do. Together, we will examine:
- How to design threaded-in patterns, building motifs directly into your threading
- The construction of double-faced charts, those bold, reversible designs admired throughout history
- The elegant geometry behind Coptic diamond patterns and similar historic motifs

By the end of our inquiry, you will possess the knowledge to design your own tablet-woven bands with intention and confidence, patterns born not of guesswork, but of clear reasoning and creative insight.

Skill Prerequisite: Must have basic tablet weaving experience; warping, weaving, and finishing. 

Ages: 18+

Supplies: Included in Class Cost: Handouts

Additional Supplies Needed: 

• Notebook
• Pen or pencil

Supplies can be purchased at Yarncom. Inkle Looms can be special ordered if out of stock.

Homework: None.

Class Policies

• The class minimum is 4 students. If we are unable to fill these spots, we will cancel the class and provide a full refund.
• By signing up for this class, you have admission to Friday Night Vendor Marketplace Preview.
• If a class is sold out, click here to be placed on the Wait List.
• No refunds will be issued after April 1, 2026.
  
• For any cancellations prior to April 1, 2026, a $25 administrative fee will be assessed.

Photo Credit: John Mullarkey