Cutting off a New Tapestry!

 

I've started 2026 with a big sigh of relief: I was able to begin and complete a tapestry within two months! Although I was nervous about the way the design was progressing as I wove (because once again I hadn't planned the image completely and so had to make modifications along the way), I'm pleased with the result.

 

 

The tapestry is 36" x 24.5" and woven at 8 epi with two-fold of wool. The warp is 12/9 cotton seine twine. 

 

I began weaving in late November after the Ruthie loom went to live in Minnesota with Emily. This is the first tapestry I've woven on the loom I purchased from a friend a few years ago. I liked using the loom quite a lot although the image can be seen less as I weave because of it being wound onto the cloth beam.

 

Completing the weaving of a tapestry isn't the final step. Next, I need to clip weft ends at the back and do a warp finishing and determine the hanging method. All of that usually takes awhile and I usually do it in stages over several days. I put the tapestry on a table and turn on podcasts or music and get to work. Somewhat boring task but it's part of the whole process. 

 

 

Here's the 2025 tapestry diary laid out on the table for finishing currently:

 

 I have a class coming in early March at the Folk School to which I now need to turn my attention. But I want to put a new warp on this loom before long. Maybe the next new tapestry will be a few months away!

 

A New Year—A New Warp

 Well, here's 2026 and the start of a new calendar. I like the first of the year because, to me, it is a way to mentally start again. Reboot and renew, I guess. Yesterday I completed my tapestry diary for 2025 and cut it off. It was a celebration of different oak species that are around Dahlonega for most of the images, plus one leaf I collected when teaching at Arrowmont. 

Fresh off the loom. It's 56" long x 11" wide and woven with natural dyed wool on linen warp, 8 epi.

 I have several more hours of finishing work to go on this so the year-long weaving turns into a year + of time. And that's OK with me.

After cutting off the 2025 weaving I tied onto the remaining warp ends with the new warp and got the loom ready for starting anew today, January 1. 

I tie on to the existing warp by holding the new one my left hand while I use my right hand and my left fingers to tie overhand knots with each thread, one by one in order. 

 

Looks like a mess once all the knots are tied but it's easy to straighten out with a little tugging.

 

 

I tension the warp by using orange juice jugs filled with water. I ease the knots through both the reed and the heddles before beginning to beam the warp.

 

 

And then hold up the tie-on rod that's attached to the cloth beam with bungee cords until I can get the warp tied to it evenly.

 

 

After tying on and spreading out the warp I'm ready to start! And I did so this morning although I didn't photograph the first day's weaving. For the month sections I'm thinking about following a year of transition for dogwoods for 2026. I'll decide about that soon and start the January image.

 

After preparing my tapestry diary warp for the new year here at home, I went to the studio to work on the current tapestry, the one of ginkgo leaves. I've woven consistently on it since November 29 when the Ruthie loom left. And now I'm about 9" from the top of the image. I'll need to weave beyond that for a few more inches of top border and the hem. I'm hoping to finish it in time for an exhibit of my work at the UNG Gainesville campus, Roy C. Moore Gallery, in the early part of 2026.

 

 

New year plans and hoping for the best. Happy year to come for everyone!

 

Moving along and Lightening the Load!

 I mentioned in the last post that my largest loom was heading to a new home. And indeed it is now installed with a young tapestry weaver at her studio a thousand miles or so from Georgia! She and her boyfriend came on Thanksgiving weekend to pick it up. She's sent pictures of it with a warp already on it ready to go! I am so happy that this transition has happened to give a new life to the loom. And especially for it to become a well-used tool for the next generation.

Emily and Wesley* with Ruthie at my studio

And Ruthie happy in her new home with her new friend, Aurora! Photo by Emily Wick.

It didn't take long for me put another loom in Ruthie's spot, though! My husband helped me move the Glimakra loom into the place. I'd gotten the loom from a friend in Dahlonega a few years ago and hadn't yet had an opportunity to warp it up.  

I love all of my previously owned looms (that's almost all of them, by the way) but this one is special because I knew the original owner. He was a colleague of mine at North Georgia College (as it was known then) about forty years ago. Although psychology was his field he was interested in crafts of all kinds, from woodworking and jewelry-making to weaving. He'd purchased the loom and he and his wife both explored tapestry weaving a little. After his death the loom went to his daughter, herself an experienced weaver. Although she sampled a bit on the tapestry loom, floor loom weaving is her first love and she decided to sell the loom. Now it's becoming a workhorse in my studio.

Progress so far on this new tapestry.

In addition to selling the large loom, I recently gave one of the frame looms to a graduating UNG student who I'd met in the weaving class. I also passed along a bin of yarn to her. And I gave almost all of the books about color and color theory I've collected over the years to the art department for students use. I have another stack of assorted weaving books to give to a friend at the Folk School next time I'm there. Bit by bit, I'm lightening my load! And it feels good. 

Yesterday I completed the end finishing of the coded weaving I did earlier this fall. 

My tapestry diary for 2025 is nearing its end and I've started thinking about what next year will hold. That will begin my 17th year of doing this daily practice with tapestry!

 *By the way, Wesley will be teaching birch bark boxes at John C. Campbell Folk School next year.

 

 

 

The time has come

 

“It’s time to begin to let go.”   

 

I thought I’d never have this conversation with myself about finding new homes for beloved and much used tapestry looms. I’ve had many through the last almost 30 years that I’ve been weaving tapestries, and I’ve been the second (or third) owner for most of them. Each has served me well in its own way and eventually almost all went to new homes because I added another loom to replace it. 

 

Eighteen years ago, a 60” loom came into my life, one that I’ve loved and on which I’ve woven eleven larger tapestries. I remember driving to Virginia to pick up the loom, bringing it home in pieces in the station wagon we had at the time. A friend and I set it up in my studio. Once assembled, I realize there were a few critical hardward parts missing and luckily I was able to get those from another loom company. 

 

I modified the loom one more time a few years ago to add a worm gear to the cloth beam and that made it even easier to use. Since 2008 I've woven large-for-me tapestries on it, the largest being about 60" square. 

 

However, in the past five years I’ve had several health issues, including two surgeries, a broken arm, a minor heart attack, and a few other hospital stays for various reasons. Those challenges have made it difficult to weave on my large loom and it took three years to complete the last tapestry, finished just this summer and mentioned in the previous post. 

 

The large loom has sat empty since then. I've worked daily on my tapestry diary on another loom and also have woven a few things on small pipe looms. But the other day I finally accepted the reality that I should find a new home for the big loom. Sometimes it takes me a while to make decisions but once I do, I act fast. That very day I posted announcements on social media, sent a few emails, and, fortunately, a young tapestry weaver saw it mentioned at Instagram. 

She got in touch and, even though it's a great distance from her home, she’s willing to come dismantle and pick it up. I know she’ll take the loom into its next decades of service and I’m grateful. I’m happy for her and for the loom. And, in a way, for myself because I’ll know the fate of the loom (at least for a few years). Yes, it’s just a piece of furniture; a bit of equipment. But, as weavers know, whether it’s a simple frame or one that has treadles and shafts, the conversation between the weaver and the loom is intimate. By deciding to send this one on its way I’ve taken the first step in letting go of things and not leaving it all to others to do in the (I hope, distant) future when I’m gone!

 

Next week I'll be giving books away and I've already passed on beading supplies to the new textiles instructor at the university. I have lots more supplies and equipment at my studio that I know I won't ever use again in my life. Options for my art making aren't getting more narrow but rather are becoming focused on what I have time and energy to be doing.