Cynthia Jack Newman, Threadbenders and Handweavers Guild of Boise Valley, Baker City, OR
Winner: Best Use of Conference Colors – 2nd
Best Weaving Webs Theme
Material & Technique: 5-end satin blocks. 8/2 Tencel warp and weft. 100% Tencel. Pattern source: original design Structure source: Pattern Techniques for Handweavers (Eugene, OR: Doramay Keasbey, 2005). Woven on AVL Compu-Dobby 1
Description: I am fascinated with architecture and the natural world, so many geometric designs ramble through my head and find their way into my sketchbook. Connecting and elongating squares and rectangles appear repeatedly as I explore ways to combine block shapes and plant-like forms.
When I saw the list of conference colors, I realized I had every color listed in 8/2 Tencel in my studio. I wanted to create large blocks of color using all six colors, so I created a stripe pattern in 5-end satin blocks, using five colors for the stripes and one color for the background.
The conference represents the connection of weavers from many locations and walks of life coming together to share a common passion, so I wanted my design to represent that connection. Keeping the design simple to showcase the colors, I created long blocks, linking them together throughout.
Although the block design would lend itself to a clean hand-stitched hem, I wanted to explore fringe options. Somehow a twisted fringe looked too small for the large blocks, and I wanted to keep the color groups together in the fringe, so I opted for a knotted fringe. The obvious design contrast was interesting to explore.
