A Long Wait for a Large Loom Part 3

A Long Wait for a Large Loom Part 3

In part 1 we saw the history of the guilds’ old 90 and 100 inch loom. In part 2 we chatted about the arrival and unpacking of the new 100 inch loom. Now lets take a peek at the reference binders related to the old looms and consider continuing that tradion.

My hope is that today’s guild members, as they chose a topic, whether it’s a coverlet or blanket or something else to try out the new loom, they look back to the weavers from earlier in the guild’s history. Like these earlier weavers they record their projects and designs, take photos of their weaving so we can get a glimpse of them as well as what they are creating.

In the past the guild weavers have sporadically documented their projects both with the 90 inch and 100-inch loom. I (in my capacity as one of the guild librarians) would like to see a new binder documenting the projects which our modern weaving teams will make with this new loom.

94  The 90” loom Samples 1 May 1973 to 1 May 1974

95 – 101 sample pages from the 90” loom sample binder

  102 OVWSG 100” Loom Samples Aug 1982 to Oct 1983

103- 110 sample pages from the 100” loom sample binder

111 OVWSG 100” loom Samples  1987 to 1992 (while the loom was in Donna G’s Basement. Donna also taught the beginner and intermediate weaving at that time with table looms)

112-121 sample pages from the 100” loom sample binder

We have some sample binders in the reference section of the library, including guild projects, workshops and individual members weaving careers.  It would be nice to have sample binders from Spinners, Basket makers, Dyers and Felters too. Keeping records in a sample binder is a way to keep track of your work and experimentation. Your collected projects will give inspiration to yourself or others.  Try to make your sample binder in a way that will keep your samples safe from damage. (Use acid-free materials if you can get your hands on them, sew in your samples if possible rather than tape or staples) and always take lots of photos as you work to include to show the process you went through to make it!

Weavers have the advantage of pre-made sheets (available from guilds or online) that save the draft or pattern of the weaving as well as noting yarns, yardage calculations and notes. i would like to see a similar collection of information for the other fiber arts. Spinners can keeps notes of what fibers were used, where they were obtained, what spinning techniques were used and what the end use for the yarn will be. For Felters, what fibers and their sources, weight of the fibers used,  techniques used, amount of shrinkage when fiber was sampled, note on how the project was made. Photos would be useful to document your project (felt sculptures don’t fit in binders).

Figure out the information that would be useful to have for each project you create. You may want to include not only the date started and finished, but keep track of the hours worked on each project. Or you may be more interested in what fibers are used or what mix of fibers were used and in what amounts. If you have demo-ed you may recall getting asked common questions, how long did that take, where did you get the idea, where did you get the fibers, how heavy is it, how did you make it do that? theses questions mite help direct you in what to include in your binder.

If you make a binder documenting your work it will both keep a record of your artistic career, showing your progress, and looking back through it may inspire new work.   I hope you will consider sharing it with other fiber artists too. If you show them yours, they may show you theirs!

122 Part of the Reference Section of the Guild Library

I hope the saga of the large loom has inspired you even if you do not go out and get one yourself!  If you are suddenly yearning to weave a coverlet or a lovely warm blanket check with your local guild and see if they have a 100” loom you could use.

 

 

12 thoughts on “A Long Wait for a Large Loom Part 3

  1. The records are fascinating! Thank you for sharing. I liked seeing the photo of the completed bed cover against the sample pages.
    These folders are priceless.

    1. I agree Annilynrosie!! these are irreplaceable records of the loom, the projects and the weavers who made them. only one of my looms, the oldest one came with a sample binder, handwritten with tiny bits of woven cloth pinned in and in french. it was amazing to look at as a new weaver and now even as an old weaver. i too was excited to see the coverlet on the bed. it felt completed seeing it where it would be used.

  2. Thanks Jan, these binders are such a great resource. I have a felt binder with samples of different breeds, shrinkage, how it felts with the samples included. Sadly, I have not kept it very current. But I document all my projects by blogging about them. That has been a great way to measure my progress.

    1. l would love to see pictures of your refernence binders some time! the blog is a grate way to keep track of what were up to aswell sort of a binder with out the end bits of the binder parts.

  3. What treasures! Everyone who wrote detailed notes should be commended for their efforts. I wish I had the habit of recording my experiments. Maybe a cute binder would inspire me?…

    1. Leonor, maybe a stuningly spectacular extravaganza felt binder cover would inspier you? it could be your first entery in the binder. hummmmmm…. maybe after i finnish with all the fish peaple and xmass pressents i can think about binder covers!

  4. What a fabulous, unique set of documents. It’s very heartwarming that you’re not just treasuring them but trying to continue recording your guild members’ work. I suppose it helps encourage contributions if you have a place and a format for people to add their information. I hope your other groups are inspired to start their own folders. Keep up the good work!

  5. This is wonderful! I’m a bit obsessive about documenting my own projects but it helps me learn and improve. I love the idea of your binders being a shared resource to help other weavers and celebrate each other’s work

  6. Thank You Jan for reminding me about the value of recording everything.

    In the past I have documented everything related to creating a project from start to finish. Unlike your open resource binders mine are tucked away & ‘stored’ – they were part of a previous life!

    Maybe, just maybe, I could start being more disciplined again with documenting any samples & projects – not just the odd photos digitally stored somewhere on the computer!

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