Weaving two by twos refers to the foundation of weaving pairs at the start (and end) of a Navajo textile, which is characterized as a child taking their first steps. With our most recent weaving classes, Navajo Weaving with Betty Glynn Carlson and Beginning Weaving with Nancy Adams and Susan Johnson as her assistant, weavers took those first steps and beyond.
Using authentic Navajo patterns and wool yarns, students new to Navajo weaving worked on a small piece while those who had works in progress or wanted to explore techniques they had not tried before had the opportunity to do so with Betty’s guidance. Warping the loom as well as weaving isn’t (or shouldn’t be) measured in hours, but in terms of balance, harmony and awareness.
Beginners took their first steps with two experienced weavers lending their hands while walking them through the process. Those helpful hands belong to Nancy Adams and Susan Johnson. Nancy first came as a weaving student in August 1986 (35 years ago!) for a class with Judie Yamamoto. She’s continued to take many more classes and later became an assistant teacher for Beginning Weaving with Louise French before offering her own class in Beginning Weaving in 2007. Susan first came to Sievers as a quilting student in 1991 and has returned many times both as a weaving student and an assistant in Nancy’s Beginning Weaving classes. They are both “Sievers Achievers” and so were their students!
Each wove a table runner and then went on to a second project, including scarves and towels. The studio was so inviting, we commented it would make anyone want to learn how to weave!
In their 1974 “Learn How to Weave” booklet, Walter and Sophie Schutz wrote, “Weaving is a very personal sort of hobby. Do it the way you think best and the way it gives you the most pleasure and satisfaction. Experiment. This is good – it encourages initiative. More power and joy to you!” We hope you apply these same words to your personal art pursuits or hobbies.
We’ll finish with two views of two September days…the end of one and the start of another.
What beautiful work your students have produced! It makes me want to take the next vehicle to Washington Island and start creating these beautiful pieces. The colors of nature always speak to me when I’m on the Island. No wonder the woven works are a reflection of those colors we all see when we are there.
And I’ll never forget when Cindra sang, “Once you’ve been on the Island, you’ll never be the same!” How true!
Hi Karen, Thanks for your nice words and we hope someday you will pay us another visit! We’re still waiting for a few more signs of fall…there’ve only been a few hints so far and the temperatures are staying a bit above seasonal.