I imagine that, from the outside, most weavers seem pretty similar. We search out and buy large pieces of equipment and then shove the dining table aside to fit it all in the house (I promise, this is the very last loom I’ ll buy . . .). We get worked up about sticky sheds, fragile warps, and wobbly selvedges. Any money left over from loom-buying gets spent on yarn or weaving books or workshops. We seem passionate about “structure,” of all things. Sometimes we even touch strangers’ hand-wovens while they’re wearing them!
But if nonweavers want to learn just how varied we are, they can simply eavesdrop as we talk about color. They might hear:
• Neutrals are best. Color is nothing but a distraction from my one true love—texture.
• Neutrals are boring. They’re a distraction from my one true love—color.
• Color, yes! But not that color, which everyone agrees is terrible and should never be used!
• I’m only happy weaving with colors I’ve dyed myself.
• Naturally colored fiber is the only kind I weave with. I simply adore natural, brown, gray, greenish, and that other brown.
• Natural colors are fine, as long as I can perk them up with a touch of red or lime green.
Because color is a broad topic and we all have strong opinions, the Winter 2024 issue includes projects woven in naturally colored fibers and others using neutral palettes. Some of the projects use commercially dyed yarn. Some designers dyed the colors themselves using conventional dyes, while others used historical methods. One project uses colors from a line created by the designer’s small company. And if you look closely, you’ll find a touch of red in one neutral project and a broader swath of lime green in another.
We know that many weavers feel uncomfortable with color. They might like a project but not the colors it’s shown in—and they feel uncertain about choosing a different palette. We’re going to work on that. In fact, one project in this issue includes tips for finding and trying out colors that appeal to you. And we’ll be digging more deeply into color in articles online and in upcoming print issues.
Inside the Winter 2024 issue
From left, Diane G. Crowder's Cascading Silk Blouse; Regina McInnes‘s Interlocking Block Towels; Jeff Smith‘s Alpaca in Your Lap Blanket; and Joe Wixted‘s Hargrove‘s Dinner Party table linens.
Natural tones? Hand-dyed colors? Brilliant hues? You’ll find all of them, in projects that range from warm and cozy, to silky and drapey, to colorful and engaging. This issue features nine irresistible projects in twill, doubleweave, M’s and O’s, overshot, summer and winter, and more, to inspire and enchant you. You'll find a lap blanket to keep you warm, a silky blouse, and linens that will spruce up your home.
Beyond the projects, the articles and features in this issue will give you new ideas about your weaving. In Notes from the Fell, Tom Knisely writes about the ways written weaving drafts have changed over the centuries, and encourages us to use those old drafts—you can start with a project in this issue that’s based on a draft from 1792.
Want to step your dyeing up a notch? Learn how to combine ikat and ice dyeing, with a bit of shibori thrown in for fun. A sheep-farming weaver fills us in on how (and why) to find and buy yarn directly from a farm. Vintage Weavers covers vision challenges for aging eyes, and offers smart ways to keep weaving in spite of them. Yarn Lab tests a soft, strong alpaca that weaves into warm wearables and household décor.
From left, Malynda Allen's Celebration Romper; Tegan Frisino‘s Inspired by Indigo Pillows; and Melanie Smith‘s Natural Charm Dish Towels.
Online, you‘ll find three bonus subscriber projects as part of this issue: a sweet baby romper that‘s just right for celebrations, a pair of pillows that were inspired by indigo dyeing, and dish towels with surprisingly complex twill patterning.
Take a fresh look at ways to use colors in your weaving, with the Winter 2024 issue of Handwoven, available here.
One final note
Do you have weaving questions or comments? Please email me at [email protected].
And I‘m curious about what’s on your loom right! Please send me pictures, or show us on Instagram or Facebook by using #handwovenmagazine.
Happy weaving!
Lynn
Lynn Rognsvoog is the editor of Handwoven.