tapestry fork

Testing out the Duet tapestry beater from Schacht

Testing out the Duet tapestry beater from Schacht

It is no secret that I love my tapestry forks/beaters with metal tines. Many people make them with dog combs. The metal tines slide through the warp easily and if the handles are shaped well, they provide a nice snap for work on tapestries large or small.

Over the years I’ve purchased many tapestry forks from Magpie Woodworks, Thomas Creations (Threads Thru Time), and Timber and Twine. These are beautiful hand-crafted tools and every tapestry weaver should have at least one of these in their toolbox.

But I have had so many students who were unable to get one of these forks or had to wait many months just because when a tool is hand-made one at a time, it takes a long time to produce them and more people want them than can get them.

Magpie Woodworks' Maggie forks

Magpie Woodworks' Maggie forks

I love special weaving tools. Weaving is centered around use of the hands and having tools that are highly functional and also beautiful is such a joy.

I have used a lot of different tapestry forks over the years, but one of my very favorites is made by John Jenkins of Magpie Woodworks. I've been using his forks since my friend and tapestry colleague Lyn Hart told me about them perhaps a decade ago. I pulled out my collection just to see how many I have now. I believe the answer is six which seems rather a treasure trove of these tapestry forks considering you will probably have to wait to get yours. John can only make so many of them at a time!