Thistle Hill Weavers has had busy and interesting year weaving fabric for a few films, having a film of our own made, working on historic houses and special projects that kept us happy and learning.
The Rosen House bedspread will go down as being one of the more interesting projects along with the Mandalorian Cloak for Ahsoka. We finished a green silk upholstery fabric for Hyde Hall and we finished the window treatments for Emily Dickinson’s bedroom.
The Textile History Forum was held in July and Helena Loermans gave a keynote presentation about the complex weaves used as artists canvas in master paintings from the 16th century forward.
We finished the carpets for Grouseland, William Henry Harrison’s home, and we seem to be in carpet mode. The jacquard is working again and we are weaving figured ingrain carpet along with our Venetian, Geometric ingrain, Twill block and diamond carpets.
Our staff is now 7: Emma Gerry joined us in the last few months along with Lisbeth Ruggeri. Crystal Wack, Daniel Myrick, Holly Oakley, Raina Roe, and Betty Muscrella make up the rest of our team. Cathy Nark is now a staff consultant for drapery. The staff at Thistle Hill and I are looking forward to new projects that are in the works. We like visitors and you are welcome to come tour the mill. A phone call or email ahead is probably helpful. Best email address is rabbitgoodythw@gmail.com
I have been spending a bit more time working on the historic textile equipment at Kilts Farm, Stone Arabia, New York where I have become a board member. I have also begun work on my book on identifying and dating everyday textiles 18th and 19th century.
I taught a course at Eastfield Village this past summer and will have the opportunity to teach again this coming summer. Eastfield, like Kilts Farm, is very special. Both places are dedicated to hands on learning of historic trades and methods. The course I will be teaching at Eastfield is a journey into the transition between hand and powered textile Technology. This will be both lecture and hands on with textile equipment.
Kilts Farm workshops will be announced in February. They include my textile tools class and also hearth cooking, basket making, blacksmithing, and other hands on workshops. Stay tuned!
My coverlet collection is still growing. I cant seem to help myself but Lisbeth was hired to catalogue the collection and although she has spent more time in the mill, her ability to organize the space has been very helpful. I invite folks to contact me for a time to come and explore the collection.
I will be teaching two courses this year at Thistle Hill. In February, I will teach a course on coverlets and weavers drafts open to weavers and non-weavers. We will explore what weavers were recording and we will look at coverlets in my collection. In March, I will teach a beginning weaving class. I teach beginners about weaving a scarf from silk and worsted yarn. This is a great way to find out if weaving is something that you would like to pursue or just an opportunity to try weaving and then move on to something else.
Classes at Thistle Hill Weavers:
Weavers Drafts and Coverlets: A show and tell and explore class: February 17th and 18th. Cost is $125 includes lunch. Limited to 12 students.
Beginning Weaving: Weave a luxurious scarf: March 15th, 16th and 17th. Cost $275 includes materials and lunch. Limited to 5 students.
Please stay in touch and enjoy textiles.
Rabbit Goody and staff.
