I’ve been exploring borders in my tapestries lately. I think it comes from my days as a photographer and seeing those tiny thumbnail images on the proof sheet surrounded by little frames. 

My borders on tapestries - so far - have been anything but complex. They’re a little more than a frame, but nothing terribly involved. Now I’m ready to explore more options and in thinking towards that, I started looking specifically for and at borders in tapestries. This week I will share “my” thoughts on borders in tapestry. In the coming weeks, I will be featuring other artists’ interpretations of borders in their work.

(Most ) Borders require some planning ahead

I am tempted to say I “always” plan some type of border in my tapestries - and that’s both true- and not. Looking back at past weavings, those that have no borders were actually begun as “Woodles” - my term for Weaving Doodles. The type weaving that begins with no clear conception of the end. Others started out as samples.

Types of Borders in Tapestry

Borders that Create a Frame

Solid colors for borders - whether a pure hue or blended - can serve as an unconventional frame - or substitute for the physical frame - in which most 2-D art work is displayed. It separates the surface the piece hangs on from the tapestry and allows for the focus to remain on the tapestry within.

I have used this method in my Prairie Songs series. I feel it works in this series because the focus needs to stay on the color blending and not much is necessary beyond that.

But I once did a solid border that was a different color from the rest of the tapestry. It was a blend of 5 colors, but only one of which was in the main body of the tapestry. I did countless color samples before beginning and felt 100% sure it would work. It pains me to share this with you.

I was so excited about this piece the entire time it was on the loom. It felt like a break through.

It felt like: Success!

But excitement and surety dissipated over the following days after removing it from the loom as I looked at it again and again. 

That border totally destroyed the effect I was after. Without the border, I felt Life - with it …well, let’s just say an added dullness crept in. Like a toothache.

The impact was gone - poof - all because of that carefully mis-planned border.

(As an aside, I believe it was that weaving that marked my deep dive into color relationships, a subject I’ll continue to explore like a Swan’s Song! May I never crack the code. ‘Nough said.)- 

Borders that require slits or joins

If a border is separate from the main focus of the weaving, joins have to be dealt with. A solid frame type border requires either a long slit on two of the sides, or some kind of a join. The join - such as dovetail or interlock - could even become an element of the design.

The above weaving was woven with slits and this brings up another issue. It was also woven sideways, which put the slits hanging along the top and the bottom. A horizontal slit across the top of a tapestry is kind of a No-No… there is too much stress on it in that position. To counter this, I re-enforced it as I wove by weaving in a pass with sewing thread at regular intervals. However, I’ve never put it to the test of time. I’ve never prepared it for hanging.

Interlocks are stronger joins and often a better choice for those situations where a long area needs extra reenforcement.

Borders that avoid slits or joins

One of my first borders was a diagonal pattern as you can see in Tree Companions and Conversations (photo above). This remains one of my favorite type borders, both because it avoids those pesky slits or joins and depends instead on a consistent stair-stepping that runs through the entire tapestry. 

I’ve also played around with a kind of toothy looking border. Again, just a little beyond the simple frame, to avoid the slits. The effect can be varied by altering the ratio of the passes between the teeth or kept consistent. It’s also somewhat easier to get the horizontally woven and the vertically woven to match.

Now I’m ready to “step up my game” - who knows what will come of this.  I’ve been inspired by looking at and searching for borders in tapestry over the past few weeks. Stay tuned for Part Two!