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Having discovered weaving after retirement, I fell in love with this craft that blends color, texture, math, and problem solving into unlimited creativity. Constantly experimenting with weave structures, I deciphered the binary code of translating Sashiko patterns into weaving drafts and their use as center motifs. Coupled with a gradient of 4 shades of hand-dyed blue yarns, I created this piece to showcase both, and to show that simple techniques can be spectacularly stunning.
Techniques:
Plain weave with center Sashiko motif utilizing 4 gradient colors all woven on 6 shafts with 2 shuttles.
Dimensions:
18”x70 (including fringe)
Materials:
8/2 tencel
Loom:
8-shaft Schacht baby wolf
Mary McConnell
In 2020, after 25 years as the Indiana State Director for The Nature Conservancy, I retired. I had the life-long privilege of living my passion for conservation and the natural world. My career allowed to me travel extensively and experience spectacular landscapes in remote locations around the world. I was able to meet and work with incredible people in all walks of life who were all making a difference for the planet we all call home.
With a career that was 24/7 I had little time explore hobbies outside of work. But a couple of years after retirement, I took a beginning weaving class and was quite amazed that my old brain could learn a new skill. I became fascinated with all aspects of weaving and took several more classes to learn different weave structures. Now my happy place is sitting at one of my 3 looms. I have so many projects in my head, entirely too much yarn, and not enough hours in the day to keep playing with color, texture, sett, materials and structures.
My husband and I split our time between our summer home in Indiana and our winter home in Arizona. We are avid outdoors people traveling, constantly hiking, and exploring the natural world around us. I feel so fortunate that I discovered weaving, though late in life. There is a never a day that passes that I wonder what I will do to fill my time.
