A Damask Venetian Carpet for Hyde Hall
Working on a Damask Venetian carpet for Hyde Hall. Trial carpet is striped but in very different colors than it will, be but we had to trial the pattern. Images to follow. This is a very unusual carpet construction that is mentioned in George Clarke’s receipts and mentioned in a few obscure places. Not being reproduced by anyone else that we know of but very interesting construction. Here is an image of a surviving piece. I have a fragment to work from but that’s all. Article coming out in Early Homes mag on unusual carpets of the 19th century written by Jill Maney and me.
Warping a very complicated but beautiful Venetian Carpet
20 creel changes across. Lots of weavers knots to start each section. This is an adaptation of a surviving carpet done in worsted wool carpet yarn spun for us by Jagger Bros in Springvale, Maine and dyed by ChromoTek in Georgia.
An Oneida Indian Blanket for “Turn: Washington’s Spies”
Working with the best! Donna Zakowska, costume designer for “Turn” (also known as “Washington’s Spies”) HBO filming in Richmond VA. Second season. This is an Oneida Indian Blanket in mixed red wools and a black and white band at each end. We made extra this time! The design is from the portrait. Pretty cool to be able to do good reproductions without compromise!. Thanks Donna for your support!
Cireed fabric and matching trim for Granger Homestead
Cireed fabric (glazed) worsted in plain weave and matching cording and tassels for some chairs at Granger Homestead.
The Wing chair at Granger Homestead
The wing chair at Granger Homestead finishes the room nicely but still a few other touches to come. Gwen Spicer did the upholstery. The fabric is our worsted and mohair baize embossed and the trim is a handwoven diamond trim copied from a fragment.
Anna Coit passed away this morning
Anna Coit passed away this morning. She was a great supporter of all things historical. She was well over 104 and I knew her when I worked at Mystic Seaport in CT and when I went back to do research on the weaving trade in Stonnington she was a great supporter of all the efforts. There are few left who make the connection between centuries so poignant. She will be missed and so will her past knowledge and the world she grew up in. Her stories were wonderful touchstones. Rest in peace and thank you for all you have shared with us.
Ester Lippitt Blanket
Yesterday Vicky and I went to the storage facility at the Farmers’ Museum to document an interesting blanket. This simple blanket with the initials of Ester Lippitt is dated 1829. From my perspective, I think the blanket is at least a decade or 2 earlier and is very similar in style to “Compass Rose” blankets, a style that appears early in the 18th century. We will be reproducing this blanket both for use in Lippitt House and also for sale.
Pattern Drafting for Handloom Weavers at Thistle Hill Weavers
Saturday, March 29, 2014 – Sunday, March 30, 2014 Taught by Rabbit Goody, this two day class is a theory and practical workshop for understanding how weave structures and pattern drafting work to create woven design. Once you are able to draft and thread patterns, you can create your own designs in structures that will work for their intended purpose. The goal of the class is to help weavers feel comfortable designing woven patterns of their own. The class is primarily a theory class but we will be weaving some patterns and structures on a variety of hand looms. Beginners through practiced weavers are welcome. This should be a fun and energizing class to get you excited about all the wonderful aspects of textile design. As always, lunch is included both days and the studio will be open Saturday evening and early Sunday morning for extra time. The class fee is $185.00, with all materials included. Class begins at 9 am on Saturday and ends on Sunday at 4:30. Click here to register or or call us at 518.284.2729.
Reproduction Blanket
This blanket is a reproduction of one in the collection of Historic Huguenot Street, New Paltz, NY. It is unusual in some ways but a very good example of an 18th century blanket. Here it is on a bed in the Stanley-Whitman House in Farmington, CT.
Whole cloth glazed worsted quilt for the Henry Ford Museum
We just finished this whole cloth glazed worsted quilt for the Henry Ford Museum for the Noah Webster House. We put it on our bed in our show room just for fun. I guess we are stuck in a colorway! But it looks really good. The underside is glazed strie hemp linen. We quilted this with the same worsted thread as the top fabric. Its dated for future reference.