+----------------------------+ | | | Meet me in the loom~ | | | | Experimental Handweaving | | | | [October] | | | +----------------------------+
hello friends,
this note comes to you from the grounds of a weaving school standing on Abenaki land. read on for an update on what i'm making and thinking about, and to peruse an offering of hand towels.
Overshot Fantasies
i recently completed a table runner and am currently weaving a tallis, both of which play with overshot designs. overshot is a very classic north american colonial technique (specifically, a threading system) often used for coverlets— and possibly invented in Persia(?). it's eye-catching and admittedly ingenious, as it squeezes a whopping four pattern combinations out of a four shaft loom while maintaining structural integrity. that doesn't sound like a lot, but it blows open countless possibilities compared to simpler structures. i had a huge eureka moment last year when, after six months of intimidation, i suddenly noticed how it works: it has the plain weave inside of it, i thought! anyway, here are two applications of overshot, one edge-to-edge and one as a small inlay accent.
above: table runner, wool on linen, 17" x 54"
below: tallis, merino, in process
Towel Run
hearing that these hand and dish towels "absorb and dry nicely and are gorgeous” was the compliment of the year. absorbent first, gorgeous second is a dream of mine, although neither is an afterthought. i love the effect of interleaving and overlaying fields of color in these textiles— very dimensional thanks to their small warp bouts. the last batch was all about primary and secondary colors. this time around, expect secondary and tertiary colors, as well as a refresh of the lauded (absorbent) M's & O's plaid.
if you would like to order from this batch, please reply with how many towels and your mailing address by this friday, october 9th, and i will make them for you!
Food for Thought
i've turned to the athleticism of weaving in the past weeks. slightly fine-tuning my form makes a big difference, especially in: throwing and catching the shuttle, rocking forward and back with the beat, and straightening out my knees to the treadles. weaving is definitely a marathon, and it begs the question...
How Is A Loom Like A Treadmill?
i'm wishing you a cushioned, dizzying, revelatory autumn.
as always, my inbox is open for questions, commissions, skill swaps, &c.
and welcome to the loom,