Weaverly: An Increase in Elevation

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.

An Increase in Elevation

At the beginning of the week I managed to snag some time between feeding the turtles and keeping up with the laundry and warped a rigid heddle loom for a pickup sampler. But the outdoors called.

We drove up to Mt. Pisgah for a brief vacation of hiking (strolling, in my case) and enjoying the early spring vegetation. It's such a pleasure to see the bare trees and sky without the power lines! My companion insists that Photoshop takes care of power lines, but I am not convinced.

This is the beginning of the trail from the Pisgah Inn to Mt. Pisgah. The wonderful thing about spring hiking is that you can see the contours of the land and the shapes of the trees. When the leaves come in the experience is totally different.

Here's the view from our porch at the Inn. Now can you see why they call this area the Smokies? This was taken on a totally sunny afternoon!

Looking from our porch in the other direction:

Then on a whim we stopped at the Biltmore Estate on the way home. Only the totally deranged would choose to drop in at the Biltmore during spring break. The size of the crowds was enormous, but the Biltmore staff is very good at keeping things rational, and it was worth the minor inconvenience in order to see the incredible tulip display at its peak. Here's a distance view of the tulip beds from the mansion with the conservatory in the background: