Experience of a Learning Grant Recipient
Since I’ve started to weave a number of years ago, I have had a fascination with the structure called Doubleweave. Around 2006 I had the opportunity to sign up for an HGA sponsored program with Jennifer Moore to learn about this structure Jennifer quite overwhelmed me with opportunities to learn about various aspects of Doubleweave and she was a superb teacher, even though we communicated via email. When I saw her name on the list of instructors for the 2019 MLH workshop conference I was very excited about signing up, not only for her workshop but for 2 additional seminars on weaving designing that she was teaching as well. The Learning Grant gave me the opportunity to sign up for all 3.
I have been weaving various forms of Doubleweave for the last 10 years but Jennifer’s workshop gave me the opportunity to design using colors with various Doubleweave designs. She is a super instructor and I really loved every minute I spent in her classes.
I am sharing several photos of work I finished after the May workshop. One uses the work I wove in the workshop itself. I used a systematic number of ways to combine various weft colors and all of those pieces I sewed together and made a piece which hangs in on the wall in my home. Another piece uses color combinations in designing both warp and weft in a16 harness piece.
I really had a great time! Thanks so much for giving me the financial resources so I could sign up for her classes.
Sincerely,
Bonnie Kay
MAGIC DOUBLE RAINBOWS
MLH Learning Grant Report
Rosemary Anzicek
I participated in Jennifer Moore’s Double Rainbow Workshop during this year’s MLH conference. With the MLH Learning Grant Award, it became less stress-free on my budget and I was able to enjoy it much more.
I have always thought weaving was magic. One threads 400+ colorful threads, and then by pulling or pushing various loom shafts, yardage appears. It could become towels, scarves, shawls or whatever one wants. Jennifer’s workshop took my magic to a new level. Her workshop instructions had participants using 6 colors: 3 primaries, 3 secondaries, for warp, and through a set rotation, thread our looms in a straight draw. I was using an 8 shaft loom so I had a choice of two Block Arrangement threadings.
On Sunday, Jennifer lectured about how doubleweave works, and then works some more when you add more than the traditional two colors (one on top and one on the bottom) in doubleweave. Remember, we had 6 colors in our warp, and the same six colors for our weft. Jennifer led us through the theory of calculating all the possible treadling possibilities, and how to work the two shuttles so we knew where we were in our weaving if we were interrupted. For 8 shaft owners, our looms worked as if we had two four shaft looms. This was to help all participants start out on the same footing. With just the 4 shaft threadings & treadlings, there would be over 90+ color combinations! If we used additional weft colors beyond our chosen six, or even played with white, grays and black threads, the color combinations would increase by who knows how many. It was magic and just think of how many towels, placemats etc could be created without any of them being identical! And remember, doubleweave means the backside or the underside is another different view! Amazing!
On Monday, Jennifer addressed the 8 and more shaft loom participants with the possible color combinations and looks because now we had blocks to use in threadings. As I stated above, participants with multi-shaft looms had a choice of two different block arrangements when threading. What can I say - there was more magic in the threads!! I have to admit that both Sunday & Monday lectures did leave me a little glassy-eyed with its maths, but Jennifer provided us with prepared cheat sheets to help us on our way.
This was a color study super max! The colors I selected were from the Lunatic Fringe Double Rainbow Lights Collection, 10/2 yarn. This is a segment of what I have woven. This photo shows Block Arrangement II, only one fragment of the possible treadlings, but using all six colors.
I am thankful MLH Board invited Jennifer Moore back to Michigan for another round of Doubleweave magic. This time called Double Rainbows!
I also am grateful to MLH Learning Grant Fund which assisted me in really being able to enjoy this workshop.
I look forward to exploring more of these rainbow weavings!
Rosemary Anzicek
Greater Lansing Weavers Guild.
I was so pleased to have the opportunity to take Robbin Firth’s “Celtic
Ruana Shawl” workshop at this year’s MLH conference, thanks to the generosity of the Michigan League of Handweavers and their Learning Grant.
Despite obstacles with the assigned room, all participants were able to complete the shawl in the allotted time. Robbin is a phenomenal instructor and creatively addressed all problems and
individual issues that arose.
It was incredibly interesting to watch as the other class participants’ shawls emerged from their piles of wool and silk. Some had dyed their own and matched their merino & embellishments to
their chosen colorway. Many of us had Robbin’s beautiful hand-dyed habotai with black or navy merino and matching surface decorations. Although our materials were all similar, everyone had their
individual vision of color, texture and design placement.
This was a very well thought out class, with a project that would fit all body types and sizes. Robbin was an excellent instructor, and despite the challenges of having students in two rooms on two
floors, she managed to assist all class participants so that they had a successful experience and a beautiful finished (or almost finished) garment at the end of the three day workshop.
My thanks to the Michigan League of Handweavers for awarding me a Learning Grant so that I was able to participate in this wonderful workshop.
Submitted by Sue Hale.
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