LETTERS
Project Index
Jane’s Town Tote
pages 32–A Clever Red Ruana for
Linda pages 28–Norwegian Blue Towels for
Anita pages 60–65 Roses Scarves
pages 48–Shadow of Doubt Shawl
pages 44–A MEDITATION ON MADELYN
A few years ago, Northwest Arkansas Handweavers Guild formed a study
group to explore Madelyn van der Hoogt’s weaving journey. The group
members included weavers with years of experience as well as those just
starting to weave. Studying Madelyn’s life, we followed the path of her jour-
ney beginning with her fi rst weaving classes in Columbia, Missouri. We
traced her path to Whidbey Island, where she established the Weaver’s
School, and followed her as she took on the challenges of editing fi rst
Prairie Wool Companion, then Weaver’s, and fi nally Handwoven.
We studied the many resources she created, including her Best of
Weaver’s series, The Weaver’s Companion, The Handwoven Design
Collections, her DVDs, eBooks, and workshop notes. We relied heavily on
her encyclopedic study of structures, The Complete Book of Drafting for
Handweavers. Through our research, we came to understand the breadth of
her infl uence on the weaving community. After analyzing dozens of struc-
tures, each study-group member chose a structure that represented a high
point in Madelyn’s career and created either a table runner or a scarf. Our
challenge was to take our weaving a step further than we had gone before.
The study group selected black and white with red accents as the color
scheme. After many monthly meetings of study and exploration, encour-
agement and critique, we presented our project at the biennial Midwest
Weavers’ Conference held in Indianapolis, June 12–17, 2017, and were
awarded the Margaret O’Shaughnessy Special Award.
For our display, we created signposts etched in wooden shuttles that
marked key locations and events in Madelyn’s weaving journey. Those
who viewed our display had the opportunity to record in a memory book
their own adventures and experiences with Madelyn. The memory book
was presented to Madelyn at the conclusion of the conference.
Comprehensive documentation for each project was recorded in a
detailed resource book for our guild library.
The study group marveled at how prolifi c and inventive Madelyn’s
weaving journey has been and the number of vistas she has opened for
all of us. Each of us successfully moved forward on our own journeys as
we followed her explorations into new and exciting weave structures.
Marty Benson, via emailAsk Madelyn Overshot Scarf
pages 40–Jean for a Day Table Runner
pages 36–Plaid Pin-Loom Lapghan
pages 55–Lacy Poncho
pages 52–The projects inspired by Madelyn van der Hoogt.
TOP ROW LEFT TO RIGHT: Projects by Mary Booker, Mary Harp, Cari Kessler, Mary Harp,
Debbie Davis, Loyanne Cope, Gayle Pace, and Glenna Renner.
BOTTOM ROW LEFT TO RIGHT: Projects by Janet Giardina, Marty Benson, Marty
Benson, Deborah Thomas, Joan Vieux, and Ann Weymouth.PHOTO^
BYGEORGEBOE4 | HANDWOVEN http://www.interweave.com