Deb McClintock's Work Where Samplers Were Employed

Dear folks -

Deb McClintock, one the the weavers who posts on Rugtalk and who both responded to my questions about use of samplers by contemporary weavers and posted in one thread in this salon, has just put up on Rugtalk a link to some of her recent work that included the use of samplers.

I thought you might like to read what she says there and to look at her work through the link she provides. I'll just quote her Rugtalk post:

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Hi guys, below is my web link to my latest commission. It is quite a
challenge, new substrate and new gradations of natural dye extracts.

Even thought I did do a good size sample to compute my yields I did have to go back and redye one of the substrates to match. Good thing I keep obsessive notes.

Sometimes I do wish I wove scarves so I did not have quite so muchwool to dye.

The technique is split shed, learned from Jane Evans.

Enjoy.

Deb

http://homepage.mac.com/debmcclintock/PhotoAlbum50.html

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Regards,

R. John Howe

Great stuff!

John,

Deb has documented her work very well. I wish some 19th century SW Persian tribal women had done this!

Patrick Weiler

Why I keep records

Thank you, I keep records on my work because I try to build on what I learn and if I change something I like to track it. I also document what I do since I have become aware that so many weavers don't communicate very well as to how or what they do. I also belong to a historic group that discusses 1700 - 1900 weavers of the US. There are great discussions on exactly what equipment people used and how they used it. Nothing is documented as many people either were not literate or due to competition they keep their secrets in order to make a living.

In southeast Asia in Laos where I've studied with the silk weavers weaving is still an intregal part of life there. No one understands why they should photograph or document how they use their equipment because "everyone" knows how to do this or that. The economy is rapidly changing and many weavers are putting down their shuttles to pursue different ways of earning a living which pays more. Once they put their shuttles down all the details go away also.

Many anthropologists or textile collectors take photos of people at the looms but usually not the equipment or how the people are using the looms or equipment. As a weaver I always want to know exactly what was the equipment doing, why was the loom warped this way and how the weaver used the equipment.

My web page is just a short study in how one US weaver does her design and natural dye process.