Weaverly: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to…

Classes

Network Drafting
An intermediate level workshop covering an introduction to network drafting for 8-shafts (principles may be applied to more shafts). The class is open to weavers who know how to read and interpret a weaving draft, can thread and operate a loom by themselves, and are familiar with the basics of their weaving software. May 9-11, 2019. For more information, www.loftyfiber.com
Explore Color and Texture on Your Rigid Heddle Loom
Wednesday afternoons, 1-4 p.m., taught at OLLI, Furman University, January 16 through March 6. Participants to supply their own rigid heddle looms. Supply list given. Contact me at aschlein[at]att[dot]net for more information.

Books

The Woven Pixel: Designing for Jacquard and Dobby Looms Using Photoshop®
Co-authored by Alice Schlein and Bhakti Ziek. 362 pages, many illustrations. Now available for free download on handweaving.net. The accompanying CD with 1400 pattern presets is not included with the free download, but may be purchased separately. Email me at aschlein[at]att[dot]net for more information.
The Liftplan Connection: Designing for Dobby Looms With Photoshop® and Photoshop Elements®
By Alice Schlein. Build your own weave library. Design liftplans for your dobby loom. 157 pages, spiral bound, many illustrations. Now available as print-on-demand from www.lulu.com.
Network Drafting: An Introduction
By Alice Schlein. Break away from the block. Curves for your dobby loom. Originally published in 1994, now available as print-on-demand from www.lulu.com.

Monographs

Lampas for Shaft Looms
Class notes from Complex Weavers Seminars 2016, newly revised and formatted, in pdf form for download. A review of methods for designing your own lampas fabrics for treadle looms, table looms, and dobbies, eight shafts and above. Over 90 color photos of actual fabrics with drafts. Includes info on pickup lampas and a lampas bibliography. View on a computer, or print out one copy for your own use. USD$21. via PayPal. Email aschlein[at]att[dot]net for ordering info.
A Crepe Is Not Just a Pancake
52 pages of text, b&w and color diagrams, and drafts for multishaft tradle & dobby looms. Many color photos of actual cloth. Methods for drafting your own crepe weaves. Annotated bibliography. Pdf available for immediate download. $21. USD. Payment by PayPal. Email me at aschlein[at]att[dot]net for payment instructions.
Echo Weave
Based on the 1996 article in Weaver's, Issue 32. With brand new diagrams and high resolution scans of original fabrics. Pdf available for immediate download. $7. USD. Payment by PayPal. Email me at aschlein[at]att[dot]net for payment instructions.

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to…

Early morning is the best time to walk in my neighborhood, especially in July. It's relatively cool, shady, and you always meet interesting people.

Well, enough excitement for one day. Back in the studio I'm attending to the mundane tasks of mounting weavings. Some exhibitions and competitions require that all work be mounted with hanging wires. Not my favorite style, but sometimes I just have to comply. I prefer the look of a textile flowing naturally in space, but if the folks in charge don't know how to deal with textiles, some bad things can happen on the way to a show. I'll tell you about it some day. Meanwhile, here is today's production:

I wrap prestretched canvases (purchased on sale at Hobby Lobby—I don't have my own woodworking tools, so this works well for me) with quilt batting, then staple the woven fabric around that. I finish the backs with black cotton fabric handstitched around the edges, to hide all the rough stuff. The labels are fused to the backing before stitching.

And I just love programming my old (25 yrs) Bernina 1230 to stitch the labels. One simple alphabet on this solid & trusty machine, nothing sexy, no memory, have to reprogram it every time I turn it on, but it's so dependable.