Tarot cloth

[ashtoreth]

I have always used a simple sort of altar cloth or scarf to lay my cards and read them, but lately have been itching to get something larger and with more weight, and possibly with some card related imagery on them. Would also be great for instagram I admit!  Do you have a special cloth/s on which you lay/spread your cards? Where did you get it from/How did you make it? I'd love to see pics of your spread cloths for inspiration! 

[le_charior]

I am always on the hunt for beautiful second hand Hermes silk scarves. Usually they go for much to expensive, but it's fun looking and bidding. I like to wrap a deck in silk and it makes a nice reading surface too. 

[zedekiel]

I would love to see this thread get more attention! I am in your boat @ashtoreth in that I am looking for a change to my setup at the moment, and could really use some inspiration. I have a friend who does absolutely beautiful art and has made a couple of reading cloths, unfortunately the visual energy is just not the type that I prefer to evoke when reading so I haven't purchased from her yet, but I still think they're lovely and worth the view:

https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/725209327/wheel-of-the-year-reading-cloth?ref=shop_home_feat_2

[Pretzel]

Ooh looking forward to some beautiful photos in this thread.
I was on the hunt for a nice cloth for my cards and looked at the Ciro Marchetti ones and others. Then I realised the silk scarf I had for them (which had the tarot elements on it) was already a little busy and maybe I should look at something plainer. One day I was organizing some drawers and found this doily that had sentimental value and I tried that and love it. Not hip or the usual type of cloth but I wouldn't use anything else now
The photo doesn't really do it justice and the oracle card is a large one - but I love using this for my readings.

 

[katrinka]

Improvising them from scarves, doilies, mats, etc. is much better than what gets sold as Tarot cloths - for some reason, sellers have decided that we're all Wiccan and we want everything purple.
Sometimes you get a nice one with a deck, though. I'm thinking Tarot of Prague, some of Ciro's indie decks, etc.

[Pretzel]

@katrinka you made me laugh! I kept thinking the same thing with my purple silk Wiccan looking silk cloths. I love the look of them, but I think I like them better for wrapping one of my decks which doesn't have a box anymore.

For reading, I'm totally with you on improvising with something you find that you love. Though I love the Ciro Grand Luxe Castle cloth - so dreamy, I'm not sure I'd pay $65 for a satin cloth.

https://www.ciromarchetti.com/product-page/grand-luxe-castle-cloth

[katrinka]

How about $65 dollars for a mini deck, a cloth and a bag? I can personally attest to the awesomeness of this.

https://www.ciromarchetti.com/product-page/mini-tarot-of-dreams

It's a little cloth, though. Not best for a full sized deck, obviously.

Edited June 15, 2021 by katrinka

[katrinka]

And I really want to support @cirom. I gave him a lot of flack over the years but he's a Good Egg. He does good work and he seems like a good guy, too.
That's getting to be more and more uncommon as time goes on, unfortunately.

[stephanelli]

I make my own.  I'm known for crafting/creating round here so that probably isn't a surprise 😆

 

The projects don't actually usually start out as intended for reading or altar cloths.  They are often projects to learn something new.

 

 

 

 

 

There are more, these were easily accessible pictures on my phone.

I'd like to make more woven ones in the future .

 

Here's an example of some of them in use.  Sacred area on the top section with the white one as the central altar area, the pointy edged white one in the back corner, the rainbow one in the front.  Reading area on the pull out shelf with the stripey woven cloth as the current reading cloth.

[katrinka]

Those are very pretty. But I wish you'd kept those stripey ones going - they'd make incredible throws or blankets!
It must be incredibly tedious work, though. I doubt I'd finish a spread cloth, much less a blanket!

[gregory]

1 hour ago, katrinka said:

And I really want to support @cirom. I gave him a lot of flack over the years but he's a Good Egg. He does good work and he seems like a good guy, too.

 

He is a good guy. He really REALLY is.

 

I don't like cloths with any kind of imagery on; I find they detract from concentrating on the cards. I have to say I like purple - but mostly I just use a table - or my enormous  black desk mat.

[katrinka]

1 minute ago, gregory said:

 

He is a good guy. He really REALLY is.

 

100% THIS.
 

1 minute ago, gregory said:

I don't like cloths with any kind of imagery on; I find they detract from concentrating on the cards. I have to say I like purple - but mostly I just use a table - or my enormous  black desk mat.

 

Yes.
I have some perfectly gorgeous cloths that look fine with a deck or two, but beyond that they clash.
I tend to favor my bare table, too. (As is probably evidenced by most of the card images I've posted here!)
Cloths are really for protecting your cards when you're away from home and aren't sure that the table is spotless, AFAIC.
 

[stephanelli]

2 hours ago, katrinka said:

Those are very pretty. But I wish you'd kept those stripey ones going - they'd make incredible throws or blankets!
It must be incredibly tedious work, though. I doubt I'd finish a spread cloth, much less a blanket!

It was intended as baby blanket.

But it was one of my first weavings and so I didn't anticipate how much it would shrink 🤦🏻‍♀️

[ashtoreth]

Lovely work @stephanelli I have an inclination for crochet, just no time (yet). I take on too many things...

 

 

10 hours ago, katrinka said:

- for some reason, sellers have decided that we're all Wiccan and we want everything purple.

LOL! This is so true--after I made this post I went and bought myself a--you guessed it--Wiccaesque purple tarot cloth! Luckily it's pretty. I went and got another one that's all black and has some zodiac symbols printed on. Both are doing pretty good right now. I have some gorgeous scarves that I use I love them too. I'm going to take a look at some of the decks you mentioned--I think  I'm due a new deck anyway 🙂

 

Let me try and share pictures after I'm done chasing after these deadlines..

[Pretzel]

13 hours ago, katrinka said:

And I really want to support @cirom. I gave him a lot of flack over the years but he's a Good Egg. He does good work and he seems like a good guy, too.
That's getting to be more and more uncommon as time goes on, unfortunately.

Is he? That's good to hear. I only have 5 decks (not counting the 2nd Rider Waite) and 3 of those are Ciro. His cards just speak to me. I have the Tarot of Dreams deck and it does read like a dream. I was sorry to hear he's not making any more decks due to piracy issues, but then don't I blame him either. 

I'm not sure with my eyes that a mini deck would work for me. I guess the hesitancy for paying $65 for a cloth is that I could buy another deck instead. But if you attest to the awesomeness I might take another look. I do love that castle image!

 

Edited June 15, 2021 by Pretzel
clarification

[ilweran]

I mainly use a velvet cushion cover - I nearly always use a cloth of some kind because I live in a house with a cat and a child, so even if something was clean, if I've looked away for even a second it might not be anymore. Also I just like the cloths.

 

I also have some scarves that were my grandmothers and some other scarves I picked up in charity shops.

 

Edited June 16, 2021 by ilweran

[zedekiel]

I know so many of your are very handy and crafty so I am pleased but not entirely surprised at the ingenious methods used here ^-^

 

@Pretzel, @ilweran, and @stephanelli I really love the repurposed use of all these fabrics and materials. It's fantastic to see your alter and reading space covered in your own creations @stephanelli, the pastel rainbow and the striped one are my favourites I think. I've never had a knack for the weaved craft so it's near magic to see pieces like this.

 

On 6/14/2021 at 8:16 PM, katrinka said:

Improvising them from scarves, doilies, mats, etc. is much better than what gets sold as Tarot cloths - for some reason, sellers have decided that we're all Wiccan and we want everything purple.
Sometimes you get a nice one with a deck, though. I'm thinking Tarot of Prague, some of Ciro's indie decks, etc.

You saying this hits me as exactly how I wish I could do it actually, and it gives me an idea of what to look for on my adventures to the outside world. If it was 2019 I could find something in my house like this, but unfortunately, for almost all of 2020 my home was dealing with a bad case of bed bugs. I threw out so many things that I don't even have scraps to repurpose into potpourri bags, let alone a whole reading cloth yet. But I would so much prefer an all-purpose cloth that I get to choose what it's meant for than what feels a bit more rigid in the Wiccan-style made-for-reading cloths.

 

On 6/15/2021 at 4:39 AM, katrinka said:

Cloths are really for protecting your cards when you're away from home and aren't sure that the table is spotless, AFAIC.

 

Yes, ever since the bed bugs concern about cleanliness and protection has been heavy in my mind when it comes to my cards. I would like to be able to wrap them in something opaque before I put them away, just for my own peace of mind aha..

 

On 6/15/2021 at 4:31 AM, gregory said:

I don't like cloths with any kind of imagery on; I find they detract from concentrating on the cards. I have to say I like purple - but mostly I just use a table - or my enormous  black desk m

I agree very much actually! I think I'd prefer to have something with a simple pattern, or plain colour with possibly an accent of some kind. I want my focus to be on the cards, not on how pretty their bed looks!

[ilweran]

22 minutes ago, zedekiel said:

but unfortunately, for almost all of 2020 my home was dealing with a bad case of bed bugs.

So sorry to hear this. We spent last year battling clothes moths (a battle that is still ongoing as I need to spray again soon, unfortunately all our carpets but one are wool) and that was horribly stressful.

[katrinka]

Bedbugs are the absolute worst. We had an infestation from a secondhand mattress years ago. They got in everything. ALL the upholstered furniture had to go, as well as other items.

You can get rid of them, but that involves an intense, sustained effort. We ended up moving instead.

Never again. I'll either buy new or do without.

[bastetly]

When we had a decent fabric store in town, I used to buy upholstery scraps for card cloths for tables.  The patterns are often more geometric and or blended and not so distracting.  Plus the thicker weave keeps the cards fm sliding around, which was the main point for me.  Or raw Dupioni silk is also nice for the same reasons and has that dual color reflection but no design.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/813255448/100-percent-raw-silk-fabric-dupioni-silk?gpla=1&gao=1&&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=shopping_us_all&utm_custom1=_k_f8785b44c06f1cd3447e3b8e554695b3_k_&utm_content=bing_319339186_1310617986645934_81913644654434_pla-4585513245482005:pla-4585513245482005_c__813255448&utm_custom2=319339186&msclkid=f8785b44c06f1cd3447e3b8e554695b3

Edited June 17, 2021 by bastetly

[zedekiel]

9 hours ago, ilweran said:

So sorry to hear this. We spent last year battling clothes moths (a battle that is still ongoing as I need to spray again soon, unfortunately all our carpets but one are wool) and that was horribly stressful.

Oh gosh, that sounds like an absolute doozy, I'm sorry you're still dealing with it! These kinds of pests are the worst because the battle can be ongoing for so long. One egg in one nest missed and you have to restart the whole extermination over again..

 

9 hours ago, katrinka said:

Bedbugs are the absolute worst. We had an infestation from a secondhand mattress years ago. They got in everything. ALL the upholstered furniture had to go, as well as other items.

You can get rid of them, but that involves an intense, sustained effort. We ended up moving instead.

Never again. I'll either buy new or do without.

And how, I used to be an avid furniture recycler, especially in my city there are so many great finds just left out on the curb. But since last year I don't trust it anymore, even for stuff like the cat's toys, I'd rather spend the extra money and be safer than sorry. I almost considered going your route and moving, and if we get hit with them again I just might have to, but we ended up sticking it out and were able to finally do away with them (literally a full year later though, we had to fight with our landlord to actually do a proper job of it over and over, it was quite the year in quarantine, ack)

Honestly, the worst part of all of it was I had to put all my belongings, except for a few daily necessities, in secure boxes and wasn't able to open them for a year. I especially wanted to keep my precious and sacred items safe so this meant all my ritual tools, most of my art supplies, and my decks. I was extremely lucky not to have lost any of them in the Great Exodus of Furniture and Junk that comes along with any bed bug scenario, but it still meant I haven't been able to practice in almost a year. I was also completely emotionally and spiritually drained and so haven't been around on this forum or other communities. Been trying to get back into the swing of things, and am feeling a lot better with my decks finally in view in my room, and my body free of bites haha

 

@bastetly There's a few family run stores by my house that sell this kind of cloth, I think it's incredibly beautiful. I hadn't thought of it for readings, but you say it keeps the cards in decent place rather than sliding around?

Edited June 17, 2021 by zedekiel

[stephanelli]

11 hours ago, zedekiel said:

It's fantastic to see your alter and reading space covered in your own creations @stephanelli, the pastel rainbow and the striped one are my favourites I think. I've never had a knack for the weaved craft so it's near magic to see pieces like this.

Thank you ❤️

Only the stripey cloth is woven here.

The circular ones are all crochet!

The pastel rainbow is probably the most challenging crochet pattern I've ever attempted.  But I'm so pleased with it.

 

I want to make more convertible cloths - a nice cloth to protect a deck that conveniently unwraps to form a reading space.  I made one for one of my oracle decks and it's amazing!  So much better than a tuck box!

[ilweran]

3 hours ago, zedekiel said:

Oh gosh, that sounds like an absolute doozy, I'm sorry you're still dealing with it! These kinds of pests are the worst because the battle can be ongoing for so long. One egg in one nest missed and you have to restart the whole extermination over again..

 

I don't know about bedbugs, but clothes moths are like fleas, apart from mechanical removal by regular vacuuming, you can only kill them in their larval or adult stages. The pupa are resistant, so you have to treat repeatedly. Realistically, our best option is probably to start replacing the carpets as they're pretty much an all you can eat buffet for the little 🤬. (Had a flea infestation once, after buying the wrong kind of flea drops for the cats. That was not pleasant either. Always treat on time, with the proper stuff now.)

 

They're all apparently becoming increasingly problematic due to climate change.

[Seren]

I recently decorated my bedroom (on a very small budget!!) and purchased some fabric remnants on eBay for the soft furnishings.   I had a scrap left over.

 

I always do a monthly 10 card reading for myself and post the pic up as my computer wallpaper for the duration.   I just use to lay the cards out on my boring old table top, but now I use the left over fabric remnant as the background and it's really brightened up my computer screen! 

 

Here's the pic of my June reading .... 

[bastetly]

12 hours ago, zedekiel said:

 

 

@bastetly There's a few family run stores by my house that sell this kind of cloth, I think it's incredibly beautiful. I hadn't thought of it for readings, but you say it keeps the cards in decent place rather than sliding around?

Yes I think so.  You are speaking of the raw silk?  Much better than those silky scarves, and you can still wrap it around your deck if you wish.  I bought several colors fm a specialty fabric shop in town.  It runs 60" wide...