Beadwrangler Special Feature
June 21, 1997

	Ileana Somerson's Weave World
	July 1997

WEAVER’S
HANDWOVEN

WEAVER’S

The Spring 1997 issue of WEAVER’S magazine proclaims on its cover: Designing with Blocks, Designing with Color, Design First!, Designing with Twill, Samplemania, and Friendship Treadlings. How could one not want to read this one from cover to cover? And, for extras, Madelyn writes a fine editorial.

Doramay Keasbey begins with "Block Design the Easy Way." Here is a common sense approach which should be read carefully. Her Weaver’s Project follows with a Checkerboard Mat given in three weave techniques.

Christine Spangler offers "Forty-Five Easy Pieces," which could be a guide for a study group. The project which follows is a Pieced Peru Vest, and requires 16 shafts. The next project, a Northern Lights Scarf, can be done, according to Gaye Hansen, in 3-block damask on 15 shafts or on 5 shafts in Summer & Winter.

In "The Crackle Connection" Jo-Anne Tabachek makes an astounding connection between Crackle and Summer & Winter. She then suggests that one use different treadling orders to get even more interesting motifs. Spangler then gives another project, a Shadow Box Scarf, both in 4- and 8-shaft doublet two-tie threading. This is followed by the Microweave Cookbook article "Color Bars’ Rug." Debra Sharpee suggests a way to use these special fabrics in simple arrangements to provide rich color juxtapositions.

"Cathedral at Sunset" by Els Dieperink is awe-inspiring. Using advancing point twills on 8 shafts (with a 4-shaft method given also), she produces magnificent effects.

Hate to do samples? So did Flavian Geis. But, in "Samplemania" she tells how to make the samples into usable projects. A great way to discover how the treadling sequence can become a design tool can be found in Kim Marie Bunke’s "A Designer’s Heart’s Desire." Bunke’s ensuing project is a Hearthrob Scarf. Advancing twill was never to so exciting. This scarf is done in sewing thread with bead fringe.

Linda Hendrickson has written a book with the same title as her article, "Double-Faced Tablet Weaving." Here is a terrific way to do all sorts of images-with ample directions. Next, Tracy Kaestner tells how to use a "Fabric Store as Design Source" to develop motif and covers. The project here is Simple Samitum Vests.

Eric De Ruiter shows how to make many different blocks in "Friendship Treadlings." Simply thread an overshot draft and vary the treadling. This, as many of the other articles, shows how to get variety on one warp.

This magazine has so many useful ideas and well written articles. Projects are given for nearly all of them. Sheila O’Hara even tells how to use "The End of the Warp," but doesn’t explain her technique.

HANDWOVEN

The May/June 1997 HANDWOVEN features Take-Alone Weaving, Weaving with Rags and Summer Weaving. Sharon Alderman, in "Weaving Souvenirs," explains how she records colors and textures in a small sketchbook. Carol K. Russell does "Thumbnail Prints" in a novel way. Elizabeth Jensen says, "This Loom Is Portable," and shows how it fits into an eyeglass case. Jane Fournier shows how to make and use "Slentre Braids." Manuela Kaulitz teaches "The Maltese Cross: A Weaver’s Stitch," using needleweaving. All of these are small projects for summer traveling.

Included in this section is a delightful delineation of Navajo weaving by Noel Bennett, "Navajo Weaving Way: An Excerpt." This is a must read article by a special person.

The two articles on rags offer some innovations Five artists combined forces to produce "Sponge, Dab, and Squiggle," for new ways to enhance rag weaving. Then Anja Hoykinpuro describes "Weaving with Poppana," a Finnish method that produces a chenille like cloth. Directions are given for both these projects.

Fresh Ideas for Summer Weaving" follows with lovely photos of crib sheets, washcloths and bath mitts, a bed skirt and a roller towel. Instructions are also given for a beautiful overshot runner shown first in 1991.

This is really a "How-to" magazine, since it gives complete instructions for many of the articles shown. It is hoped that the weaver understands the idea and makes it his/her own with appropriate changes.

Prompted by the death of Everett Gilmore at the age of almost 98, Linda Ligon came up with an interesting idea. She’d like to start "Weaving Honor roll," which would list any weaver or spinner who "deserves a place in our collective memory for having taught, encouraged, helped created, or otherwise exemplified good craftsmanship and good sharing. Read page 95 and send in your suggestions.