June 4, 2019 – Warped for Good

Inspired by some of Joanne Hall’s exquisite large tapestries, I have been taking steps to learn her techniques. This fascinating style that is unique to Joanne enables her to weave large tapestries at a comfortable pace. My Lizard tapestry last year was a step in this direction. (See Quiet Friday: Lizard Tapestry.) One thing that the lizard taught me is how much more I need to learn. So, you can imagine my delight in having the opportunity to take a Pictorial Tapestry Weaving workshop taught by Joanne Hall last week! (Contemporary Handweavers of Texas Conference in Fort Worth was the setting.)

Texas Wildflowers, tapestry by Joanne Hall. Photo credit: Steve Isenhower 2013

Detail of Texas Wildflowers, tapestry by Joanne Hall. — Detail of Texas Wildflowers. Threaded in rosepath, with a linen warp. Woven with butterfly bundles of wool yarn. Photo credit: Steve Isenhower 2013

Things to remember: Don’t beat hard. Bubble the weft more. Color theory is invaluable for adding depth and intensity. Simplify the cartoon. And countless more bits of insight and instruction! I am invigorated in my pursuit to develop these tapestry skills. Expect to see a tapestry on my 120cm Glimåkra Standard in coming days.

Workshop looms. — My hand-built countermarch loom is perfect for a tapestry workshop. Betsy brought her Glimåkra Julia loom.

Tapestry sampler in Joanne Hall's workshop. — Workshop sampler gives students various tapestry techniques to practice. We learned techniques of other tapestry weavers, such as Hans Krondahl and Helena Hernmarck, as well as Joanne’s unique approach.

Tapestry workshop with Joanne Hall. — Fellow student Cindy created this pear, taking advantage of the rosepath threading to add pattern to the image.

Joanne Hall's tapestry workshop. — Joanne, center, explains the process of creating a cartoon. She spreads out photos of flowers as a starting point for students’ cartoons.

Joanne Hall's tapestry sample. — Joanne’s tapestry sample demonstrates the outcome of her process. A portion of the photo was enlarged from which she drew the cartoon.

Tapestry workshop. — Fellow student Deborah creates a flower from her original cartoon.

Making a tapestry cartoon. — I am choosing to make my cartoon from an enlarged portion of a lily photo.

Weaving from a cartoon in tapestry workshop. — Color studies and technique exercises all come together in the last part of the tapestry sampler. Weaving from a cartoon.

Tapestry progress. — Time to take the loom apart and head home. Checking my progress with the photo before packing up.

Lily sample from tapestry workshop with Joanne Hall. — Lily sample is finished at home.

I find myself pondering how experiences fall into place in our lives. There are times when the stepping stones seem to be set out before us, showing the way, when we don’t know exactly where we are going. The Lord knows where I am going. He knows me. And he kindly sets out the next steps. Perhaps he smiles as he sees our delight when we figure out that we are the bundles of yarn in his tapestry.

May your joy in learning never cease.

Happy Weaving,
Karen