Shuttle Spindle & Dyepot, Summer

Another inspiration is "Donna Martin: The Power of Lightning," by Micala Sidore. Native American women not only taught her how to dye and spin, one had also made a comment about the "Power of lightning in her weaving." The breakthrough occurred later and Donna was ready for it.

For a mind boggling idea, read "SubHarnessing: Color Substitution Made Easy," by Don Karsky, with Buz Swerkstrom. Karsky cuts his reed into sections, makes another color section using a spool rack and--read this for details.

Roxanne Brown has written an excellent summary of "Non-Profit Incorporation," including bylaws and tax exempt status, Everyone on the Board should read this.

The regular departments all offer interesting news and ideas. News & Information is loaded with just that--and includes information on Icelandic Sheep fleece. Books & Videos lists wonderful books on Complex Cloth, Silk Painting (and video), Rag Rugs, Fabric Dyeing and Printing, Kids Knitting, and a biography of Else Regensteiner.

In "Right From the Start," Betty Hancock Smith offers ideas to make weaving easier. Floating selvedges are explained as well as problems with warp threads, a simple tool to make for wing nuts that are difficult to turn, and a suggestion to learn the weaver's knot.

Guildview is good to read to find out what is going on in other guilds. There is also mention of Guild Treasure Elizabeth TerLouw's 94th birthday and Terry DeHetre's winning of the Longest Thread Contest.

The Teaching Circuit in on Part V. Patsy Sue Zawistoski writes on "Taking Care of Business." Teachers' alert: Read this.

The Handweavers Guild of America, Inc., Update is always interesting. You can learn what your national guild can do for you--and what you can do for it.

For the spinners there are two terrific articles, both Learning Exchange 23. Cheryl Huffman Tells all about "Spinning Angora," except for the Agouti I'm currently spinning (although the dictionary doesn't describe the Agouti as an Angora rabbit.) Then Sue Marcy gives an equally fine account of the history, preparation and care of llama fleece in "Spinning Llama."

Having trouble creating pattern and color ideas? Read Ann Kreckel's "Profiles--A Creative Tool." After defining "profile," Ann suggests many ways to make your own: name drafts, random number generation, shape outlines of familiar things, music notation, and even bar codes. She then explains how to convert the profile to a threading draft and color patterns.

The fourth Learning Exchange is Maureen McNulty's "Looking at Lace." Following an excellent explanation of Lace Weaves, Maureen gives a fairly complete bibliography.

The Children's section must not be overlooked. The Kid's Fiber Fun Camp begins with "Yarn Spinning with Words," by Vicki Gadberry, and contains a selection of titles for all ages. There is quite a bit on Friendship Bracelets. Melanie Falick presents a well illustrated depiction of "Kids Knitting,"

Doramay Kesbey begins with "Get Sett for Satin Simulation." Offering a 4-shaft and an 8-shaft Summer & Winter pattern for damask napkins, she includes a 16-shaft Satin weave for those with multi-harness looms. For "Damask: with or without a Drawloom," Alison Philips explains how to get multiple blocks of twill or satin on a 4- or 5-shaft loom, and goes on to tell about drawlooms.

Don't be put off by equations. Just read Eileen Hallman's "The Whole Truth About Sett." Eileen takes in the weft thread as well as interlacements per treadling repeat.

In "Lucky Eight," Alice Schlein celebrates 8-end satin in 8- and 16-shaft straight draw threadings. No leftovers.

Now for Weaver's Whimsey. Mary Berent, in "Picnic Settings," weaves cheerful picnic settings from rags, showing how to cut continuous bias strips.

Gemma Montgomery gives us "A New Look at Name Drafting." This would be a good companion article to Ann Kreckel's (above). She adds transition ends and designs overshot drafts.

Thinking of weaving curtains? Virginia West wove 85 yards of linen for her large expanse of glass, and explains it in "Huck Lace Drapery."

Ah! Finally, a 12-shaft project! Barbara Walker gives us "'Double, Double Tiol and Trouble' Runner" using double weave and making alternating blocks.

In loom-controlled shibori, the threads that tie the fabric for the resist are part of the warp. Kay Faulkner tells how in "Loom-Controlled Shibori." Weave first, dye later. Four- and 6-shaft ideas are given. Madelyn van der Hoogt gives us a startling fusion of color and structure on 4 shafts with "4-Block, 4-Shaft Double Weave."

What a concept! Clothilde Barrett introduced it and Madelyn enhanced it.

Another complicated looking 4-shaft weave is written up by Bobbie Irwin in "Shamrock Runners." This double weave overshot pattern requires a lot of heddles.

Judie Eatough uses an overshot draft on a narrow warp to make "Mug Rugs." Varying the weft and treadling, many different ones can be produced.

Michele Belson had a great time at the annual dye day on the Florida Coast. Writing of her experiences in "Florida Friend-ship," she suggests friendship placemats as a guild project. The dyeing can be done at one time and each weaver will then share the woven product.

Weave a family placemat and table-runner set by drafting each smiling face and rendering it in Summer & Winter. Kim Bunke has designed "A Family Table" enchantingly.

Linda Hendrickson now adds a reed to her tablet weaving to make a soft, drapable fabric. A greater variety of fibers can be used and the weft can be effective. Study "Spaced Out Tablet Warps!"

Lestra Hazel has written "Lilac Runner," a fun project that's quick and easy to weave. You can use ends of cones bundled together in the weft. Using simple plain weave, one plans the colors in the warp and lets some of the weft peek through.

Vicki Tardy makes a "Bounteous Warp" by adding two different supplementary warps. You can create intricate lattice designs on 6 shafts and do interesting things on four as well.

Starting with wonderful articles on charted cross-stitch and quilting, this issue then portrays Therese De Dillmont, the woman who published The Complete Encyclopedia of Needlework.

Next is an article of interest to our fine spinners and knitters. Three lovely patterns from Mary Schiffmann's Collection are given in "Lacy Knitting."

A fascinating article on Easy, Elegant "Filet Crochet" gives many kinds of information on that skill, both historical and instructional. Several patterns are given.

The following article on "A Traditional American Teddy Bear," by Kathy Williams, even gives instructions for a crocheted collar.

The final article is on "Milkweed Embellishment." Sue Lenthe writes on this unusual kind of collar--which is not spun, but tied in clumps. She does go on to tell about Old Sturbridge Village, where all kinds of textiles arts are practiced and taught.

The magazine closes with a page of Favorite Things, by Linda Ligon, called "Glorious Stuff." Most of us have a drawer or sewing box with veritable treasures such as these.