May 2024

Dear Friends,

We bring you this monthly update in the form of a semi-scripted drama.

FADE IN:

INTERIOR. WEAVING SCHOOL — DAY

WE OPEN inside a small craft school housed within a historic barn. 18th and 19th-century looms and spinning wheels crowd the room. Views of Vermont mountains appear in the wrap around windows. The INTERROGATOR asks questions of the WEAVING SCHOOL in a non-combative tone. The two share an open bag of ginger snaps on the table.

Question: “Have you found a new home yet?”

Answer: “Not quite.”

Question: “Who is looking for your new home?”

Answer: “Our Board-led Location Search Committee, with help from the school community at large.”

Question: “How do you find a home for a weaving school?”

Answer: [Improvised Dialogue]

FADE OUT

We’re still in the improvised dialogue stage and want to bring you, our scene partners, up to speed. Finding a new home for an organization like the school doesn’t come with a script. HGTV might have House Hunters, but we’ve never seen any episodes of Craft School Hunters. Without a playbook to follow we’re “Yes, and!”-ing our way through the story.

Each step of the process is easily described in terms of mood. A vibe in the words of the youth. First came shock and sadness; how can we leave this place? Second came despair; is it even possible to keep the school open? Third came resolve; yes it is possible to keep the school open! Fourth came action. In the movie montage (cue Eye of the Tiger) the action step began by forming a Location Search Committee which determined a list of requirements with input from the board, instructors, and students. (This list isn’t a done deal, we welcome all suggestions!) Potential spaces continue to be compiled and looked into. Filming hasn’t wrapped for this scene in the show, but we’re pushing ahead!

While we never asked to be in this situation, it has allowed us to take a step back and give real thought to the future of the school. What kinds of programs are we offering now, and what facility will best support those? What kinds of programs do we want to offer in the future, and what kind of a facility will allow room to grow in those areas? How can we make the school more accessible to people with different physical abilities? What locations are served best by public transportation and local amenities? While we may not find a new space that can fulfill each criteria flawlessly, we’re taking this opportunity to dream big.

The perfect future home might be ready and waiting, or we may set up shop somewhere temporarily while we continue the search. Either way the final mood of this process is optimism. We might be leaving the nest, but there’s no better way to stretch our wings.

On behalf of our board, please fasten your seatbelts and raise your tray tables in preparation for takeoff,

Justin Squizzero

Director

Looking Back

Since reopening post-covid we have not scheduled classes during the month of April to accommodate animal births and springtime chores. We may not have any class photos to share, but we do have a project update, some behind-the-scenes moving, and some cute critters from the month behind us.

Above: Sara used the double cloth yardage she wove in March to create several bags without seams. All that was required to finish them was to hem the top and add handles and now she's ready to carry her yarn in style!

Above: We began the process of moving pieces not required for our summer classes into temporary storage. This includes objects like looms and wheels, but also many small objects that are stored in a large steel cabinet that was included in the donation from the American Textile History Museum. The cabinet alone weighs approximately 575 pounds and is the most challenging piece to move by far. Many thanks to friends of the school Jim, Sue, Jeff, Susan, Laurie, and Rowe; and board members John and Eliza for all the heavy lifting.

Above: We couldn't let the month go by without some of those schedule disrupting baby animals! Justin and Andrew had an uneventful farrowing season with their tried and true Berkshire sow, and Mary Lake returned to shear their flock of Border Leicester sheep as seen in the header photo.

Looking Ahead

Introduction to Spinning

with Andrea Myklebust

In this five day intensive class, students will learn to make their own yarn by hand with a hand spindle and spinning wheel. This class is designed as an introduction to handspinning for absolute beginners, but people with prior spinning experience who wish to improve their skills are also welcome. Topics will include the characteristics of different fibers, fiber selection and preparation (including raw fleece selection, skirting, and scouring), spinning wheel mechanics, use of a distaff, how to create strong, consistent singles yarn, plying, and wet finishing. Register here!

Dimity, Diaper, and Damask

Dimity, Diaper, and Damask are just a few of the names given to families of weave structures with useful applications from napery to drapery and garments to bedding. Monochrome textiles with woven in pattern are the focus of this class, though we’ll let you go wild with color if your heart desires (rules are meant to be broken). Students may weave napery for the table or kitchen, a throw or small counterpane, or yardage for curtains or garment making. Weave structures may include:

Huckaback
Spot weave
Ms and Os
Birds eye
Lined work
Dimity
Honeycomb
Damask diaper, in divisions of three, four, or five leaves

As with Supplemental Warps, our usual prerequisite of prior experience at Marshfield has been waived for this class, any prior weaving experience will be accepted. Register here!

A full listing of our programs may be accessed here. We hope you can join us!

Meet our Board of Directors

Jesse Klein Seret, Treasurer

Jesse is a volunteer teaching assistant at the Marshfield School of weaving. She has years of nonprofit experience and is currently on the board of the Onion River Chorus. Before her two sons were born, she worked as a film editor in L.A. She and her husband, a filmmaker, returned to her home state of Vermont in 2020. Jesse graduated from Bates College with a BA in Studio art. She currently lives in East Montpelier.

Look for this feature in upcoming newsletters as we introduce the hardworking team guiding the Marshfield School of Weaving, and learn more about each board member here.

As always, we can only do what we do with your generous support. Gifts of all sizes make a tremendous impact. Thank you.

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