Fringeless--an upcoming online class produced by Rebecca Mezoff

Rebecca Mezoff is soon launching an online class about four selvedge weaving, called Fringeless: Four Selvedge Warping, featuring Sarah Swett.  I know it will be quite informative and also inspirational.  I don't have an investment in this venture--just excitement to see it happen!

For those who don't know, four selvedge warping allows for a piece to be woven without ends of warp at top and bottom.  Four selvedge warping is an ancient technique but the method has been revived in the past couple of decades to make it accessible to contemporary tapestry weavers.

I first learned of this way of warping from Susan Martin Maffei and I've used her method several times for small tapestries.  Susan has provided a pdf with diagrams of her set up online.   I wrote about my adventure with this in a 2011 blog post here at Tapestry Share. And here are a few of the eighteen or so small landscapes I did then.  These are between about 2" wide x 8" high to 3" x 4":

Since then I've woven a few more with the method that Sarah shows at her blog and that she'll be describing in the online class. 

Michael Rohde and Sarah Swett have made a few modifications to Susan's method; here's a link to Sarah's blog post describing the way she does it.  The way of warping and weaving with the set up is not exactly like that used by Navajo weavers although with the same end result--no tails of warps to deal with.

I'm sure with this new information about the method that Sarah and Rebecca will be sharing there will be many more fringeless tapestries in the world!  I know I'll be setting up my loom for a few soon.

Mary Hambidge documentary

Mary Crovatt Hambidge is a name known by some and, I think, should be by others who are interested in art, weaving, and a life dedicated to the pursuit of creativity.  Mary Hambidge was quite a force to be reckoned with in her day and her influence is still felt through her legacy of the Hambidge Center in Rabun County, Georgia.

Photo from Hal Jacobs' documentary

 Hal Jacobs, a documentary filmmaker, produced a video about Mary Hambidge that was released last year, showing first at film festivals and in several private viewings.  Our Penland Concentration class was fortunate to have one of the early private viewings last year and Jessica Green, a weaver who was one of those featured in the film, visited the class at the time.

Hal has now made the video available online.  Here's the link to that.  I hope seeing this will give you insight into how one small woman could have such an impact on the lives of many, even after all of these years.

Books about Weaving, Spinning, Knitting and other Fiber Things for Children

The new year is well on its way now.  I'm busy in my studio, weaving and preparing for an exhibit coming up soon in an arts and learning center. The center has a family day where books that relate to the art works being shown are part of the activities for children.  I had a few titles of children's books about weaving in mind but not many so I turned to a couple of Facebook groups for suggestions.  I posted my question around 7 a.m. this morning and by noon I had twenty seven titles to put on my list (and the list keeps growing as others chime in with new suggestions!)  When social media works in good ways it's amazing.  Many thanks to those folks from the Weaving and the Tapestry groups on Facebook for their generosity in helping to compile this list!

Here's what I've assembled, in no particular order.  I didn't link these to any particular site because I don't want to promote one source rather than another, but if you do a search for the title and the author you'll find what you're looking for.  One person also mentioned she thought most of the titles were in her weaving guild's library--so that's always somewhere to check!

If you have other suggestions, please comment to add those! One of the Facebook friends mentioned you might see which of these books are available from nearby libraries by checking the large network of library content and services at WorldCat.
 

Books for Children about Weaving, Spinning, Knitting and Other Fiber Arts

The Goat in the Rug, Charles L. Blood, Martin Link, Nancy Winslow Parker

Weaving the Rainbow, George Ella Lyon

Annie and the Old One, Miska Miles

Kids Weaving-Projects for All Ages, Sarah Swett

Weaving with Children, Ute Fischer

The Spider Weaver: A Legend of Kente Cloth, Margaret Musgrove, Julia Cairns

Abuela’s Weave, Omar S. Castañeda, Enrique O. Sanchez

A New Coat for Anna, Harriet Ziefert

Songs from the Loom: A Navajo Girl Learns to Weave, Monty Roessel

Charlie Needs a Cloak, Tomie dePaola

Aneesa Lee and the Weaver’s Gift, Nikki Grimes

The Eyes of the Weaver: Los Ojos del Tejedor, Cristina Ortega

Angela Weaves a Dream: The Story of a Young Maya Artist, Michele Sola

Wild Rose’s Weaving, Ginger Churchill

You Can Weave! Projects for Young Weavers, Kathleen Monaghan, Hermon Joyner

Agatha’s Feather Bed: Not Just Another Wild Goose Story, Carmen Agra Deedy

How a Shirt Grew in the Field, Marguerita Rudolph

Wollbur, Leslie Helakoski

The Mitten String, Jennifer Rosner

Extra Yarn, Mac Barnett

Cloth Lullaby: The Woven Life of Louise Bourgeois, Amy Novesky

Cat Knit, Jacob Grant

Therese Makes a Tapestry, Alexandra S.D. Hinrichs

Farmer Brown Shears His Sheep: A Yarn About Wool, Teri Sloat

The Magic Shuttle, Deborah Lerrme Goodman

Amasa Walker’s Splendid Garment, Emily Chetkowski

Something from Nothing, Phoebe Gilman

Börja Väv! (Begin to Weave!), Nina Bäckman, Annika Elmqist, Tina Ingell, Bengt Arne Ingell

A Symphony for the Sheep, C.M. Millen, Mary Azarian

Unraveling Fibers, Patricia A. Keeler and Francis X. McCall, Jr.

Master Weaver from Ghana, Gilbert "Bobbo" Ahiagble and Louise Meyer

Kids Knit! Simple Steps to Nifty Projects, Sarah Bradberry

Finger Knitting Fun: 28 Cute, Clever, and Creative Projects for Kids, Vickie Howell

more suggestions:
Pelle's New Suit, Else Beskow
A Tale of the Navajo: the Magic Weaver of Rugs, Jerrie Oughton, illustrated by Lisa Deimimi