Robyn Spady was introduced to handweaving at a young age and has been weaving for over 50 years. She completed HGA’s Certificate of Excellence in Handweaving (COE-W) in 2004 with the specialized study Loom-controlled Stitched Double Cloth. Robyn is fascinated by the infinite possibilities of crossing threads and loves coming up with new ideas to create fabric and transform it into something new and exciting. Robyn is also the founder and editor of Heddlecraft® magazine.
Chaos & Control: Design & Discovery in Crepe Weaves
Unlock the dynamic tension between randomness and structure in this seminar focused on designing with crepe weaves. Often associated with texture and subtle surface interest, crepe weaves hold vast, under-explored potential for expressive design that goes far beyond tradition. In this seminar, we will delve into the mechanics of crepe weave design and generation, from controlled floats and randomized threading to complex interlacements, including the development of accidental and granite weaves. The objective is to push crepe from a background texture to foreground feature by creating designs rich with movement, depth, and intention. An understanding of basic weave structures and drafting techniques is necessary. Experience with crepe, texture-focused weaves, and weave design software is helpful but not required.
The Magic of Double Diagonal Twills
In a 1956 issue of ‘Master Weaver’, S.A. Zielinski wrote about a weave he chose to call a ‘double diagonal twill’. Even though its pre-1956 history is undisclosed, this fascinating weave uses a single-color parallel threading and allows for detailed twill patterns on as few as four shafts. One threading can be extremely versatile while weaving with only a single shuttle. What is even more exciting is how this weave may be related to turned double two-tie, which opens up for more opportunities on looms with a modest number of shafts.