Événement

"Handwoven Tape - Ties that Bind" Talk and Demonstration

During the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, many households in Early America had a tape loom, for the making of the family tape. Because of its strength, these narrow bands of cloth had many functions, i.e., sachel straps and the tying of clothing. There were no zippers back then, so it was necessary for family members to have tape for drawstrings for the petticoats and garters for holding up ones stockings (no elastic!), to mention a few tape needs.

There has been little documentation on the making of this hand loomed cloth, to date. Susan has spent several years researching the weaving of Early American tape, as well as the different styles of looms used in the weaving process. She will be discussing the undertaking of this project, working closely with a museum curator to document her extensive, 40-year collection of hand woven tape. A hand weaver for thirty years has given Susan a unique perspective in understanding the principles of this traditional weave structure.

Along with the Talk, she will also demonstrate tape weaving and be able to answer questions pertaining to these interesting, portable looms.

BIOGRAPHY: Susan Faulkner Weaver, of Lancaster, PA, has been hand weaving for 30 years. She began her weaving studies at The Mannings Handweaving School in East Berlin, PA. From there, she moved to Mexico to research Mexican-style tapestry weaving, at Instituto Allende. Living with her husband in Arizona, Susan continued her studies of different cultural tapestry structures. Upon returning to Lancaster, she began her PA German textile research while working at Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum, for 7 years in the Textile Barn. Giving textile tours to many groups of people, she was able to explore the variety of flax tools, spinning wheels, as well as the barn and tape looms on site. It was here that she became fascinated with the tape weaving process, leading to the writing of her book on hand woven tape.