As I said at the
CW open meeting at Convergence[2002], if you work on more than
two shafts, Complex Weavers has something to offer you and you have
something to offer CW. - Marjie Thompson
CW is not for
"harnesses", it is for people who are intrigued with the
question "What if...?" - Nadine Purcell
Challenge - Laurie Autio
"Complex" is anything you don't understand. Join Complex Weavers
and you'll soon understand a lot about weave structures! - Paul O'Connor
One of my interpretations of Complex Weaving is that complex interlacements
can be done even on two shaft looms and certainly on four. Complex doesn't
stand for or mean more than four shafts or computer looms. One doesn't
need computers to design although they make work a lot easier. It's ones
brain, heart, and hands that do the creating. The challenge is to make
whatever tools we use do whatever designs and projects we want and to
use those tools in an optimum manner to be creative. - Ladella Williams
Complex Weavers is as
simple or complex as you want to make it for
yourself. It's anything beyond plain weave. - Lillian Whipple
Complex Weavers seek
to satisfy the curiosity of a special kind
of weaver, and it does not matter how many or how few harnesses the
weaver uses. The special kind of weaver
Wants to understand weaving structures.
Wants to manipulate structures to get a desired result.
Wants to play with structures to see what new and interesting
results will appear.
This sounds kind of academic and stuffy and I would appreciate
someone improving this to make it sound more snappy! - Jo Anne Ryeburn
I think Jo Anne's description
is very snappy just as it is.
I think the words about "does not matter how many or how few harnesses..."
are very apt. Note: many of the study groups involve no shafts at all! - Shirley Berlin
...Discovery, support and sharing... - Su Butler
Complex Weavers is not
necessarily about "complex" weaving. Rather, it
offers members the ability to further study specific weaving topics at their
own pace in a non-competitive and supportive environment through the study
groups. Because many members have more than 4 shafts, study group members
have the ability to ask questions and explore structure and patterning that
require more shafts and receive answers based on other's actual experience
however many shafts are involved. - Nancy M McKenna
Inspiration, satisfaction, and exhilaration - Anita Bell
Complex weaving is
about the ongoing pursuit of considering the infinite
possibilities when crossing two threads. It transcends the number of shafts
on a loom or the spectrum of hues on a color wheel since it is only our
imagination that limits a weaver. - Robyn Spady
...it only takes that "first step" of getting involved with
CW, that one finds a wealth
of information, friendly resources and unlimited opportunities to learn,
regardless of the equipment one has available to use.
I have purposely stayed with 8 or fewer shafts and find great satisfaction
in achieving a cloth that at first look, one might have said no way
that’s only 4 shafts. As said by others, CW helps to keep alive the "What
If……train of thought."... - Leslie Killeen
...Curiosity. And new friends. - Judie Eatough
I have only one tool
that is essential when I do complex weaving. It isn't
one of my looms, my computer drafting program, or even my graph paper; it's
my brain. I've re-discovered the wheel with great delight a number of
times. I've had plenty of failures, both from going too far, and not going
far enough. No matter the outcome, when I have learned something in the
process, pushed my limits, or put something together in a new (to me at
least!) way, then I have been richly rewarded. Complex Weavers offers me
the chance to share that journey, and I am grateful. - Laurie Autio
"Complex. The word can be scary. Many weavers
shy away from weaving when associated with this word. Why? In weaving,
complex does not have to be defined as difficult. I consider
complexity better defined as a degree of depth as opposed
to a degree of difficulty." - Su Butler, Understanding Rayon Chenille.
Butlerdidit! Press, Woodstock, IL (2002); p 73.
All activities and functions of the organization are carried out by volunteers
who are members like you!
Any problems with the site should be reported to
Josephine Earl
If you wish to contribute to this web page contact:
Web Chair, Josephine Earl or
one of the area representatives listed here
Update: Thursday, October 28, 2004
Any problems with the site should be reported to
Josephine Earl
