The scene
Tapestry Workshop · Testing tableA tapestry’s edge has been sewn with thread reserved for another commission. Three people had spools with different patterns. A clipping of the used thread remained beside the machine.
The clipping preserves four sections and a mark identifying the starting end. Reading it from the wrong side would point to another spool.
What we know for certain
One of these people used only their own spool to sew the edge, without help or exchanges. The patterns always repeat in the stated order as the thread leaves the spool. The thread was not reversed, cut or spliced before sewing.
The three accounts
Eloi Prat
Weaver«My spool repeated three colours.»
Fina Sol
Restorer«Not every sequence begins with the same section.»
Guillem Costa
Apprentice«Mine also had red and blue.»
Examine the evidence
0 of 5 openedOpening these five clues does not cost points.
01Eloi’s spool
Its repeating order as the thread came off was red, blue, green, red, blue, green, and so on. Sewing could begin at any section of the cycle.
02Fina’s spool
Its repeating order was red, green, blue, red, green, blue. Sewing could also begin at any section.
03Guillem’s spool
Its repeating order was red, blue, yellow, red, blue, yellow. It never contained a green section.
04The recovered clipping
On the table, from left to right, the clipping shows blue, green, red, blue. These are four complete consecutive sections, without splices.
05The starting end
A machine mark confirms that the end on the right of the clipping passed through the needle first. That mark cannot be confused with the finishing mark.