Contemporary Handweavers of Houston

Pat's Weaving Autobiography

Like most of us, my interests in fiber arts dates back to childhood with sewing clothes for dolls, and continued with crocheting, embroidery, etc. Weaving was beyond my ambitions until I discovered the fascinating things at Craft Industries. Bought many starter projects (rigid heddle loom, inkle, etc.) and thoroughly enjoyed all of them.

My world expanded when my daughter Diane found parts of a loom in a warehouse clearance. Evidently it had been used in a model home for that rustic look, and when they dismantled the model home the loom got thrown in a corner in many, many pieces and with no directions for reassembly. They wanted $50, and Diane bargained them down to $25. Imagine our surprise when we hauled the pieces home and found the original price tag for over $2,000.

It took me over a year to research how to put it together and to do so. To this day I've not found another loom like it. It's an Ullman 8-harness countermarche with a 45” reed and a castle 5-feet tall. Many rugs and baby blankets have come into being, much to the delight of every member of my extended family. Since the family became saturated with rag rugs and we're (almost) out of the baby blanket market, my next loom desire was for mobility and more precision. A Baby Wolf 8-harness loom purchased from former CHH President Janis Jeffcott's estate has provided both. Now I'm looking for a loom that combines mobility and precision with a wider reed capacity. Never satisfied, I know, but then what weaver ever is!

I've been a member of CHH for about 20 years and have served in various capacities, some several times and mostly behind the scenes (speechifying is not my cuppa). A third-generation Texan born in New Braunfels, I've lived in Houston since 1970. My husband and I plan to retire to our pecan farm in Matagorda County in two years, but I'll probably continue my ties with CHH. There'll always be at least one more dyepot or weaving project that'll require finishing.

Here are a few of my favorite projects:

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	Mission Valley Mills are in my hometown of New Braunfels, so these rag rugs made with Mission Valley selvedges were very much appreciated in my family. Even won blue ribbons for some entered in the Comal County Fair.
	All the world loves a handwoven kitchen towel. This has become my favorite weaving to enter in the annual CHH sale. They're such fun to do, are relatively quick, much appreciated as gifts, and absolutely the best when used frequently.
	CHH competed with other Texas weaving guilds at the State Fair in Dallas for two years in a Sheep to Shawl contest. Guess who won the trophy both years (and I was the weaver of this great winner the second year). Not only that, I won it when the guild raffled it later!
	Clarice maintained an indigo dyepot and had a workshop one year recently. This scarf is the result of that workshop and a turned twill and tabby pattern Rosemary Malbin worked out for me that I just love. The beading covers some flaws that became “design elements“.
	Both scarves were white silk rectangles at the beginning of the Bosnian Retreat in Round Rock. Michelle Wipplinger walked me thru dyeing one in a cochineal dye, then shibori wrapping it, overdyeing in an indigo dyepot and gilding with a little gold paint. The darker scarf is an ironwood dye with an indigo overdye. The beading and drops help to relax the Shibori pleats.
	Before I retired the Ullman loom, I designed 3 feet wide by 6 feet long rag rugs for both my sisters. This rug echoes the early Texas antiques and family heirlooms decorating my sister Jackie's San Antonio home, since we're descendents of the German immigrants who helped settle Texas.