President’s Message

October, 2024

The fall weather is sliding into place, cooler days and nights.  I’m looking forward to getting a project on my loom.  Deciding what it is to be is always the hardest part. 

I’m thinking of trying a amalgamation draft, using the Amagalmation tool on handweaving.net.  I belong to a Complex Weavers study group, requiring a sample exchange for more than 17 shafts.  I want to weave this draft, #36383, which is on 18 shafts.  I might try it in conference colors.   

If you have not tried this tool, it is really fun.  There is a video tutorial on handweaving.net that helps you through the process.  And YES – this can be done on 8 shafts.  Check it out. 

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I recently heard an interesting historical tidbit.  Did any of you have older brothers – or maybe even younger brothers who played with the construction building toy – the Erector Set?  I loved it when my older brothers would let me join them and screw something together on whatever they were making.  I just learned that this toy – for boys – was first made by Structo.  The company was persuaded to design a toy for girls also.  Guess what that was — the Structo Loom! 

I am looking forward to our fall programs and for what we come up with as collaborations.  It might be as simple as working with another member to add embellishment onto a weaving.  It could be sharing a yarn source with another member and each coming up with a unique but related weaving.  It would be fun to use the conference colors.  Let’s collaborate! 

—Mimi 

Mimi Anderson, 2024/2025 President