Historic Weaving

For those that think historic reproduction or repair is a piece of cake. It is not. This has been the end result of my weekend experiments.

I feel that I know the structure - stitches used to make the object, but neither copy makes the same size with the same number of stitches. That tells me that the main thread is size is somewhere between the two.

My first sample was using 10/4 cotton and a 1.5 mm hook. The second sample was using two strands of 10/4 cotton and a 2.5 mm hook. (Two strands of 10/4 is equivalent of a 5/4 cotton). The second copy was easier to stitch than the first. The first used a smaller hook, and had more split plying issues that required frogging to remove.

I can see that the original stitching is "tight", presumably to create a dense fabric with no holes for steam to get through. This can be achieved best through tension and wet finishing. This piece was been originally stitched most likely in one session, as the stitches are consistently tense throughout. Even my second piece required two sessions. Did you know that your mood affects the result? Different mood yields a different amount of tension in the string on the hook. The stitch sizes change with a change in tension.

Likely this was made with a 3/4 cotton thread unmercerized. The resulting fabric is soft and "well bloomed" after years of use. I'll have to look around to see if this thread is even available in my stash at the shop. It was not available while I was camping which is why I used two balls of different color thread.

Often these pieces would have been made in the afternoon or evening when things were quiet around the house. This piece, once the pattern is memorized is easy to work in dim light. The are few rules required to make it. It has a 45 stitch base, needs to be square, and the end result should be a 7 1/2 inch square after wet finishing. It was not made by a beginner, as there would be more tension issues in the final product. The hands that hooked this had tension down to a fine art. This only comes with muscle control and that requires practice.

We have seen objects that looked like this in our grandmothers home if you are in the same generation as I am. They were daily use objects. Not a doily for show when company comes, but something used for moving a warm teapot, or gripping a pot handle on the stove. There was no need for fancy decoration, just function.

Can a new crocheter make this? Yes. But it may have ripples in it if there are yarn tension issues. It would make a lovely gift for a holiday for a family member. Back in the day, when money was tight, we had to make things rather than buy them. Turns out hand made is worth more.

Answering the question I am always asked, How long does it take you to make that? Time for an experienced crocheter to make, is about 8 hours of stitching time. The longest part of the time is in the main fabric, the trim stitching was completed in about an hour. To add it up, 16 hours of hook in hands to make the two copies this weekend, but additional days and hours building the skills needed to execute the instructions well.

The antique potholder reproduction, has a time value if I were to make $10 per hour one of these this worth $80. Question, would someone pay for that? Highly unlikely if it were for its functional value alone. If it were to preserve a historical record of how the item is produced, perhaps.

There is a third copy to be made to confirm the size of thread used, and then I will generate the pattern needed for others to make their own. There is great benefit in being able to "read" historic fabrics and know how they are made. There is more benefit in being able to construct them yourself.

Do you value your learning time? Do you make room for you to be able to make things multiple times before getting a result you are pleased with? For me it is rare that something works out perfectly the first time. I value the experience, I am able to look at the object I made and say, next time I will change this part and each time I repeat the task my results improve.

It is amazing how life works.

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The Art walk is coming…… the week marches on and so do I.
I do have a piece in the Ability MT art exhibit at the IBRC. It’s all about celebrating birthdays. There is a whole story around this piece. Yes, it is available for purchase.

Yesterday was a really good day, I was able to pass a professional loom on to a up and coming artist in the fiber arts. The process took about 3 hours to introduce the artist to the loom, and then to disassemble it for them to be able to move to their studio.

I watched the significant other in their life pull up with the transportation for the loom, only to discover this object was far bigger more complex than they had ever imagined, even though they had seen it in my studio for the past three years. My reassurance is that now that the fiber artist has this tool, he will likely have more opportunities to feel like this in the future. This is a weaver being birthed. But this one is a professional. She will do great things, and he will watch in wonder. What I loved best was the fact that all of this emotion was wrapped in love for his other. Watching change and growth could be hard, but these two they have something special as they move through life together. I expect wonderful things in the future.

It is a proud moment for me, to have a hand in watching an artist rise. My old studio is emptier but not sad. I am in the process of moving forward. I am moving from a space that was too small for me, to one that entices be to keep thinking bigger. I have a lot of packing and toting to do in the next few days to make my deadline. I know it will be tiring, but it will also be a new beginning.

I recognize my body will only permit me to do so much, and then I must rest so that I can do it all over again. I am proud and excited to be making the move. And I give myself grace to know that it may be bumpy, but I choose to move forward.

I too hope to be open for the Art Walk, not in my full capacity. but at least the storefront. I get to discover that good things don’t happen immediately, they can take time to sort themselves out.

I will be replacing the loom I passed on, but that process will also take a little time. Queen Esmeralda moves slowly as she has a great many pieces and requires time to assemble. I will do that after the big push is complete.

I hope that you will join me on my journey. I truly believe the best is yet to come. Recovery is possible, and recovery looks different to everyone. What does your recovery journey look like? Where will it take you? Who will you meet along the way?

I hope that I get to meet you, and that we have time to share life together. Life is good when we are in community. That’s what I hope to build, a community of friends who all love the Arts.

Time to get packing and unpacking. I have company coming and I want things to look the best they can.

We will be at 22 West Park Steet , right next to the Metals Bank building.

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This has been a very important week. From the outside it looks like not much is happening, but that is not true. Sometimes you need to build foundations before you can strut the showy stuff.

To bring a mailbox system to life one has to fill out paperwork with the Post Office and the city. One has to figure out a business plan and decide what services to offer.

Then there is the obtaining the boxes, and in our case they were completely disassembled. We transported them, and then had to figure out how to reconfigure them to fit our space.

In doing that, I was unable to make the move myself. Pieces were too bulky, and awkward. I had someone provide a generous offer of a vehicle to move the pieces, and that process took a solid day with three or so movers. We started out thinking they would fit upstairs so we placed them on the second floor. With a bit of public input, we later decided downstairs in the storefront would be best. That required a second move of the pieces. More help was needed. That was another day of moving.

We set up the frames, and looked at how things would work, analyzed it would be uncomfortable for wheelchair access, and then found another way to arrange the room. We called in more help to fasten things together, and at the end of yesterday we have our basic mailroom layout with the mailboxes in place. there is some finish work to complete the look, but the basics are all here.

Looking at the boxes we have three sizes of boxes to offer the public. I am working securing a separate package storage system so that we can offer package services to businesses in town who have customers who need to pick up after regular business hours.

This week the next steps are getting the studio packed and moved and displaying inventory in the storefront for Art Walk night.

There is room for additional artists to participate in the opening night this Friday, please contact me via DM.

Step into spring in your Derby finest! 🌹

Join us for Derby Day 2026 at the Belmont Senior Center on May 2 — an afternoon of food, fun, and fabulous hats.

Enjoy the buffet, cheer on the Vintage Hat Fashion Show, and cast your vote for the People’s Choice Award.

🎟️ Tickets are just $20 — available at the Belmont Senior Center, World Museum of Mining, or by scanning the QR code.

All proceeds support two beloved Butte institutions: the World Museum of Mining and Belmont Senior Center.

Let’s make this Derby Day one to remember! 💃🐎

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Today it all became real. It is now a certainty there will be a moving day, and an opening day for Art as Support for Recovery.

I signed the lease in the morning, and I was given the keys in the afternoon. Before the day was out, we had determined what the address will be.

There are three parts to the business, a retail storefront on Park Street in the center of the Uptown district. The second floor Suite has two large studios and a gallery. The private mailboxes will be available in a separate area on the second floor.

Short term goals: Get the private mailboxes installed and membership cards ready. Get signage and inventory prepared for the storefront for a planned opening on May 1 during the Art Walk. Install gallery rails in the gallery and in the store front.

If you are an artist and you want to be part of Art as Support for Recovery, during the first Art Walk message me. I am posting a call for art for that event in a separate post.

For the next couple of weeks, I will be moving my studios from 68 W. Park Street to 22 W. Park Street. My regular hours may appear to be choppy until I get things all settled in. For those that have my contact information, nothing has changed, you can still get a hold of me.

The Certification documents needed for the CBHPSS - Certified Behavioral Health Peer Support Specialist have all been filed, I will soon be officially state licensed in the state of Montana.

Art Cafe Butte Montana will be migrating to Art as Support for Recovery soon. What does that mean for you ?

New Support Services will be available - Package and USPS (USMAIL) receiving with a West Park St address, Retail Opportunities, Teaching Opportunities, Studio Access and Individual Studio Support, Support Groups for Artists.

New page: Art as Support for Recovery
New Website: artsupportrecovery.com. (under construction)

If you want to be involved and you have not spoken to me in a few weeks, text, or private message me.