Tablet Weaving and Ply-Splitting Supplies

Laurelhurst Fiber Art Studio & Urban Farm
Tablet Weaving * Ply-Splitting * Mindfulness * Permaculture

Kits for Ply-Split Braids, Ornaments, and Baskets

Please see my Cords page for details about individual cords.

"Braid on a Keyring" Kits
Ornament Kits
Basket Kits

"Braid on a Keyring" Kits

Kit for a Ply-Split Braid on a Keyring: SCOT Wave Design
Cotton cords, available in 4-ply or 2-ply, with diameters of 1/8" or 1/4"
$ 3.70 including shipping

Kit includes four 27" cotton cords and a keyring. Choose any colors from the color chart for cotton cords.

This is a great project for beginners, and is the first thing I teach in my beginning ply-splitting workshops. The structure of this braid is SCOT -- single-course oblique twining. Instructions are in my booklet Great SCOT! A colorful braid makes it easier to find your keys! I also attach ply-split braids to my luggage.

When ordering, please write "SCOT Wave Kit", number of plies (4-ply or 2-ply), diameter (1/8" or 1/4"), and color names.

Kit for a Ply-Split Braid on a Keyring: SCOT Arrowhead Design
Cotton cords, available in 4-ply or 2-ply, with diameters of 1/8" or 1/4"
$ 5.30 including shipping

Kit includes six 27" cotton cords (three dark and three light) and a keyring. If you need the instructions, please note this on your order form, and I will include them. Choose any colors from the color chart for cotton cords.

A photo of a camel with a girth in this traditional design is shown below Plate 14 in The Techniques of Ply-Split Braiding by Peter Collingwood. The structure of this braid is SCOT -- single-course oblique twining -- with twined linkings. I use this braid in my workshops to introduce the concept of twined linkings, which makes two cords "swap courses".

When ordering, please write "SCOT Arrowhead Kit", number of plies (4-ply or 2-ply), diameter (1/8" or 1/4"), and color names.

Kit for a Ply-Split Braid on a Keyring: POT Braided Twill Design
Cotton cords, available in 4-ply or 2-ply, with diameters of 1/8" or 1/4"
$ 6.10 including shipping

Kit includes seven 27" cotton cords and a keyring. If you need the instructions, please note this on your order form, and I will include them. Choose any colors from the color chart for cotton cords. I recommend that you use two colors with good value contrast.

A camel girth with this traditional design is shown on Plate 11 in The Techniques of Ply-Split Braiding by Peter Collingwood. The structure of this braid is POT -- plain oblique twining.

When ordering, please write "POT Braided Twill Kit", number of plies (4-ply or 2-ply), diameter (1/8" or 1/4"), and color names.

Ornament Kits

Cords to make a Ply-Split Star Ornament
Cotton cords, 4-ply, 1/8" diameter
$ 5.30 including shipping

Kit includes four 27" cotton cords and two 27" gold metallic/cotton cords. Choose two colors of cotton from the color chart for cotton cords. Also choose the yarn color to be plied with the metallic -- your choice of Gold, California Gold, or Beige as shown in the photo.

Instructions for this ornament are in my booklet Great SCOT! and also in the September/October 2001 issue of Handwoven magazine, pages 30-32.

When ordering, please write "Star Ornament Kit" and color names.

Cords to make a Spiral Ornament
Cotton cords, 4-ply, 1/8" diameter
$ 5.90 including shipping

Kit includes three 55" cotton cords (two of the dominant color and one of a second color) and one 55" gold metallic/cotton cord. Choose two colors of cotton from the color chart for cotton cords, and be sure to indicate which color should be dominant. Also choose the yarn color to be plied with the metallic -- your choice of Gold, California Gold, or Beige.

This is an easy project that I teach in my beginning ply-splitting workshops. Instructions are in the September/October 2001 issue of Handwoven magazine, pages 30-32. The spiral results from repeating just two rows of SCOT -- a normal row, and a short row (where the penultimate cord is pulled through). This causes one selvedge of the braid to be shorter than the other, and the result is a spiral. For this design, it is especially important to pull the cords tight.

When ordering, please write "Spiral Ornament Kit" and color names.

Basket Kits

Garlic Basket Kit with Danish cord

Prices include shipping:
Small (3-1/2" rim diameter), $10.00
Medium (5" rim diameter), $12.00
Large (7-1/2" rim diameter), $14.00

I grew four kinds of garlic this summer, so I designed a garlic basket! The large size would also be good for onions. It is a good introduction to ply-split basketry. Make one for your kitchen and make gifts for your friends!

The Medium size Garlic Basket can be completed in a one-day workshop. We now have a DVD on how to make the Ply-Split Garlic Basket.

The kit contains step-by-step instructions and commercially-made 3-ply paper Danish cord cut into lengths to make one basket in the size you choose.

This basket has four structures: plain twining and single-course twining in the base, with POT on the sides, and SCOT for the handles. Extra twist left between the POT splittings provides an open structure -- you can leave less twist between splittings to change the size and shape of the basket. Instructions provide three alternatives for finishing the basket, depending on whether you like a wild-looking finish or something more tamed and tailored. A decorative knot finishes each end of the finishing cord. .

When ordering, please write "Garlic Basket Kit with Danish cords", and the size.

Asilomar Basket Kit
with paper cords

4-ply paper cords, 1/4" diameter
$35.00 including shipping

This basket is a nice example of how one basket design leads to another. One of my students at the 2007 Conference of Northern California Handweavers at Asilomar made the Garlic Basket without the handle, and shaped the rim so it turned inward. I love the effect, and thought it would be fun to see how it looked in two colors, with an octagonal design in the base.

The kit contains step-by-step instructions; 32 paper cords, 30" long for the body of the basket; and one paper cord, 120" long for the rim. I make the cords from a paper ribbon by Berwick called Wraphia II. The shrinkage during IOT is 15%.

Choose two colors with good value contrast from the color chart for paper cords.

Asilomar Basket -- Instructions Only
$5.00 including shipping

The same step-by-step instructions for the Asilomar Basket shown above, for those of you who want to make your own cords.

Brighton Basket Kit with paper cords
4-ply paper cords made from Wraphia II ribbon, 1/4" diameter
$20.00 including shipping

This basket can be completed in a one-day workshop.

The kit contains step-by-step instructions and 24 paper cords, 20" long, and one paper cord, 40" long. I make the cords from a paper ribbon by Berwick called Wraphia II. The shrinkage during IOT is 15%.

Choose colors from the color chart for paper cords. If you are making this basket for the first time, I suggest you choose two colors with good value contrast. Once you have more experience, you can disregard the instructions regarding color and value, and experiment for some interesting effects.

This basket has three structures: single-course twining in the base, with POT and SCOT on the sides. The rim is finished with a long cord that circles the basket twice, and a decorative knot finishes each end of this encircling cord. All of the cords in the basket are unplied and trimmed to the desired length.

When ordering, please write "Brighton Basket Kit with paper cords", and the color names.

Brighton Basket with paper cords -- Instructions Only
$4.00 including shipping

The same step-by-step instructions for the Brighton Basket shown above, for those of you who want to make your own 4-ply cords.

Brighton Basket Kit with Danish Cord
3-ply Danish Cord, 1/4" diameter
$10.00 including shipping

This basket can be completed in a one-day workshop.

The kit contains step-by-step instructions and cut lengths of Danish cord, a kraft brown 3-ply paper cord used for weaving chair seats. There are 24 cords 20" long, and one cord 40" long.

This basket has three structures: single-course twining in the base, with POT and SCOT on the sides. The rim is finished with a long cord that circles the basket twice, and a decorative knot finishes each end of this encircling cord. All of the cords in the basket are unplied and trimmed to the desired length.

When ordering, please write "Brighton Basket Kit with Danish Cord".

Brighton Basket with Danish Cords -- Instructions Only
$4.00 including shipping

The same step-by-step instructions for the Brighton Basket shown above, for those of you who want to use your own Danish Cord.

Indy Basket Kit with cotton cords
4-ply cotton cords, 1/8" diameter
$24.00 including shipping

The kit contains step-by-step instructions and 40 cotton cords, 18" long. The shrinkage during IOT for my standard cords is 15%. A basket made with these cords will be rather soft. I can make the cords with more twist, which will make them firmer. You may specify a higher percentage (up to 25%).

Choose 20 dark and 20 light cords from the cotton color chart. The simplest thing is to choose just two colors. You can also have more colors for dark or light; in this case, be sure there is good value contrast . The basket shown has 20 cords of Yale Blue as the dark color, and three colors for light -- 8 Turquoise, 6 California Gold, and 6 Light Rust.

This basket has three structures: plain twining in the base, with POT and SCOT on the sides. The rim is finished in a traditional basketry technique. I call this the Indy Basket because the first students to make it were members of the Indy Weavers Guild in Indianapolis.

When ordering, please write "Indy Basket Kit with cotton cords", 4-ply, 1/8" diameter, color names, and number of cords for each color.

Indy Basket Instructions Only
$4.75 including shipping

The same step-by-step instructions for the Indy Basket shown above, for those of you who want to make your own cords.

Lotus Basket Kit with 10/2 perle cotton cords
4-ply cotton cords, 1/8" diameter
$26.75 including shipping

Kit includes step-by-step instructions and 45 cotton cords, 18" long. I use 4 strands of 10/2 perle cotton per ply, with 15% shrinkage during initial overtwist. I can make the cords with more twist, which will make them firmer. You may specify a higher percentage (up to 25%).

Choose five colors from the color chart for cotton cords. There are 10 cords each of four colors, and five cords of the last color. Please be sure to indicate which color should have only five cords -- these are the black cords in the photo.

When ordering, please write "Lotus Basket Kit with cotton cords", 4-ply, 1/8" diameter, and color names.

Lotus Basket Kit with 5/2 perle cotton cords
4-ply cotton cords, 1/4" diameter
$36.00 including shipping

Kit includes step-by-step instructions and 45 cotton cords, 27" long. For the basket in the photo, I used 4 strands of 5/2 perle cotton per ply, with 15% shrinkage during initial overtwist. This makes a soft basket. I can make the cords with more twist, which will make them firmer. You may specify a higher percentage (up to 25%).

Choose five colors from the color chart for cotton cords. There are 10 cords each of four colors, and five cords of the last color. Please be sure to indicate which color should have only five cords -- these are the black cords in the photo.

When ordering, please write "Lotus Basket Kit with 5/2 perle cotton cords", 4-ply, 1/4" diameter, and color names.

Lotus Basket Kit with paper cords
4-ply paper cords, 1/4" diameter
$45.00 including shipping

Kit includes step-by-step instructions and 45 paper cords, 30" long. I make the cords from a paper ribbon by Berwick called Wraphia II. The shrinkage during IOT is 15%.
Choose five colors from the color chart for cotton cords. There are 10 cords each of four colors, and five cords of the last color. Please be sure to indicate which color should have only five cords -- these are the black cords in the photo.

When ordering, please write "Lotus Basket Kit with cords made from Wraphia II paper ribbon", 4-ply, 1/4" diameter, and color names.

Lotus Basket -- Instructions Only
$5.00 including shipping

The same step-by-step instructions for the Lotus Basket shown above, for those of you who want to make your own cords.

Color Chart for Cotton Cords