Continuing with a little more history, you may recall Sievers started with plan sheets to build a loom. The first print advertisement was placed in American Home Crafts magazine in 1974. In Walter Schutz’s own records, he notes on January 26, 1974, “Got our first request for our loom plans from Allen Roberts who owns north of us on Green Bay Road”. The first order of plan sheets placed from this ad was on April 15, 1974 for $9.00. About 50 orders were received in the first four months. Soon after, floor loom plans were added and Sievers began to become a name associated with weaving. Sievers School continues to offer more classes in the weaving category than in any […]
Weavers all around
Recently, it was looms to the right of us and looms to the left in Rita Hagenbruch’s Halvdrall and Monk’s Belt class in the Sophie Studio, joined by Nancy Frantz teaching eight beginning weavers on our Sievers table looms in the Walter Studio. The samples Rita brought were so inspiring. Some commented that they could never bring themselves to actually use such fine handwovens. But Rita reminded them that unless they are used regularly at family dinners, holidays and the like, they don’t become heirlooms. Only when they are part of your memories do they become most valuable. This piece (also shown at the top of the page) was fresh off the loom at the time of the class visit […]
Weaving and willow
We continued our fall weaving and willow classes this past week with Rita Hagenbruch’s Loom-Structured Lace and over the weekend, the Bent Willow Chair class with Ken and Michelle Workowski. The chair-makers were in awe over the finely woven shawls, blankets, scarves and runners still on the looms or on display and the weavers were equally struck by the progress that the willow chair students had made in just a few short hours, along with the woodshop atmosphere of drilling and hammering. The weaving class had been in session for four days prior, so each student had made great progress on their projects. Lacy wool plaid blankets and scarves, tencel shawls or scarves with beautiful drape and linen or cottolin lace runners were the projects of choice for this class. […]
Weaving Patterns
There were a number of comments this past week from Rita Hagenbruch’s Overshot Odyssey class and Jeanette Biederman’s Choctaw Diagonal Basketry students how the woven patterns in each seemed to mirror each other. Starting with one plain length of reed or cotton, the intricate designs of each were built row by row. Most overshot is woven with a light-colored warp, but this blue on grey turned out splendidly! Basketry may look dangerous, but it’s not. (Until you get hooked on making them.) It’s good that digital cameras have no film…you can take as many photos as you wish of the beautiful weaving patterns in baskets and handwovens! We’re already on to our next classes with introductions held this afternoon for […]
Coverlet Weaving + Tablet Weaving + Batik = July at Sievers
This is a four-class post! Students in Rita Hagenbruch’s Friendship Coverlet class not only fostered friendships, but wove overshot blocks for each other. Those blocks will be assembled into coverlets, warming the owners twice: first with the wool and second, with the thoughts of their new weaving friends. Two classes of Tablet Weaving with John Mullarkey discovered all kinds of intricate patterns at their fingertips. John is one of three new instructors this year and we, along with his students, are so happy to have him here, sharing his passion, samples and knowledge of tablet weaving. Would it be summer at Sievers without batik? I don’t think so. The colors of the rainbow and all shades in between soaking […]
