I've had my Gilmore 8-harness loom for many years. It is hefty and can take up half of a living room if given the chance. I weave when I can. And at present, I weave when I want to create a special gift, or I'm wowed by a new pattern or yarn color, or I just need new dish towels. Weaving is like any technique or craft: those who are really good at weaving are artisans possessed with a zeal that pushes them forward to perfection over many years of practice and study. I have always admired Madelyn van der Hoogt and believe she is a weaver who will go down in history (hey!). She can make the hardest warp seem workable, and she spent almost 30 years editing the Handwoven and the Weaver's Magazine, in addition to weaving and teaching. I went to Coupeville, WA on Whidbey Island to attend her Weaving II class, and immediately understood things that previously seemed foggy or mistake-prone. Plus there were 30 looms--each with a different pattern. We spent the week making samples on each of these looms and listening to lectures in the morning. It was one of the best classes I've ever taken. Here are some of the patterns I tried below. I now have so many things that must be woven and tried again on a whole new level!
Note: All bolded words are linked.
