Beadwrangler Special Feature
June 1, 1997

	Ileana Somerson's Weave World
	June 1997

Shuttle Scuttle (Rocky Mountain Weavers' Guild)
Shuttle Spindle & Dyepot
Piecework

Rocky Mountain Weavers' Guild Shuttle Scuttle

An 8-shaft undulating twill made of wool tweed is the sample made by Lynn Cotton. It is a lovely fabric, and may inspire someone to do it in a lighter fiber for Florida. The beautiful spinning sample by Alison Graber is a Navajo plied blend of silk noil and corriedale, dyed before carding.

Shuttle Spindle & Dyepot, Spring 1996/1997

In the Spring 1996/1997 issue of Shuttle Spindle & Dyepot there are, as always, articles of interest such as Warping Methods, Navajo Textiles, Getting Ssarted in Teaching, Kashmir Shawls, Spinning Milkweed, Dyeing with Verdigris, and others, plus the usual helpful columns.

One article which may interest many members is "Beads as Warp and Weft," by Kathy Dannerbeck and Donna Kaplan. These authors offer a new method quite unlike using a beadloom for making beaded fabrics and objects or putting beaded sections in one's weaving. There seems to be an upsurge in using different media together, and here is one way to do it.

Did you know that milkweed can be felted as well as spun? Zohar Amar and Toni Friedman take the reader through the "Fibers to Fabric" process, even combining milkweed with flax to produce a silky linen.

Ninety-two-year-old Mary Frances Davidson still dyes yarns, writes, experiments and fills book orders, despite having undergone several serious health setbacks. She became a dye expert after seeing the colors produced at the John C. Campbell School, and published her famed book, The Dye Pot, in 1950. Arrowmont has paid tribute to her and she is an honored member of the Southern Highland Craft Guild.

For those interested in the history of Guilds, Verna Suit has written an exceptional article. Even the Pinellas Guild is mentioned. The good part is that we weave because we want to, not because we have to. Handwoven fabric is hitting the fashion circuit again, according to the television networks.

Don't forget that SS&D always has an article on "Fiber Fun for Kids." This time Sandra Bowles tells about weaving with fresh lavender, making "Bottles" to be used for scenting clothes or linens. By the way, the beautiful cover, which features the natural dyed yarns of Mary Frances Davidson, says "Winter" instead of "Spring," but it is listed correctly inside.

Piecework, May/June 1997

The May/June 1997 Piecework is subtitled "Craft & History Hand in Hand." The theme is "Samplers!" Featured are cross-stitched, quilted, crocheted, knitted, and embroidered samplers, some found in obscure places, all fantastic.

Starting with "Mexican Embroidrery Samplers," Kathy Epstein tells of four centuries of the art with many illustrations. This is followed by "A Mexican Sampler to Stitch," which is charted from a nineteenth century sampler.

In "Knitting Lace: Three Patterns from Nineteenth-Century Sampler," Susanna E. Lewis provides three patterns from her book on the subject. Old patterns were rarely written down because "illiteracy was widespread and paper was scarce and expensive." This is undoubtedly true of most of the samplers in this issue.

Other samplers, each with an article containing specific instructions in some of those shown, include "The Samplers of Portsmouth, New Hampshire," complete with "Bookmarks to Cross-stitch"; "A Sampling of Sampler Quilts," with "A Block-Style Crib Quilt to Make"; "Prized Practice Pieces: Dutch and English Darning Samplers," which is self-explanatory.

"Very Special Editions: Crochet Sample Books" shows two very old linen books, one with 134 samples, the other containing 140. Directions are given for "A Crocheted Medallion." "Stealing

with Her Eyes" contains memories of Anna Rasmus Holsten, and gives insight into the early lives of newly arrived immigrants. Mrs. Holsten left a silk ribbon roll 5" X 91" containing 69 crochet samples. A "Curtain Edging to Crochet" is delineated on the following pages.

Another fascinating account is given in "Schoolgirls' Samplers from Linden Hall." Only 9 samplers survive from this Moravian school in Lititz, PA, from the 18th century. "Moravian Sampler Motifs to Stitch" offers five motifs.

In "Patterns Between Pages: Miss Pruden's Lace Diary," a sample book is shown from 1846 which has sections for sewing, lace, mending and knitting techniques. Included are a tiny knitted sock, a tasseled cap, and several lace edgings, one of which is given in "A Page from the Past." Then, under "Trimmings: A Sampling of Old Patterns," a complete alphabet is graphed. It is one of twelve that appear in an 1883 sampler.

I got chills reading the final page, "Sleuthing for Samplers," which you must read.