Alpacas Magazine - 2010 Spring

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Spring 2010 117
The weaving techniques that tapestry weavers use
are centuries old. The tapestry weavings of today
are works of art, used mainly to enrich our lives.
Small tapestries can be woven and added later to a
piece of clothing or even another type of weaving.
The ideas are limitless which makes it so exciting.
Some of my earlier tapestries were a very primitive
style woven on a simple frame loom made of old
cedar fence posts. I love having the freedom to cre-
ate, even changing my design as I go along to make
it work better on the loom or because I feel it looks
better during the process of weaving. I also like to
add various things I have collected, such as lichen,
feathers, bark, etc. Tapestry weavings can tell many
different stories. One of the tapestries I have includ-
ed is one I wove after my younger brother died. It
was of things that I felt were important to him in
his life.
I believe going to museums and art galleries can
give one many ideas for tapestries. I was in the
United Kingdom several years ago and was able to
go to the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.
It was a fantastic museum with many beautiful tap-
estries. These were so wondrous for me to see and
to imagine them hanging in a castle… and then let
my imagination go further to see what I could pos-
sibly do when I came home. I always carry a
notepad to draw on whenever I am traveling. I have
also traveled in the Western U.S. and seen many
beautiful Native American rugs and tapestries.
When weaving trees, once I spent days driving to
different areas near me to just look at trees.
Looking online for tapestries from different places
can also be a good source of inspiration. To see an
“old” tapestry in person, though, is unbelievable!
This article will hopefully give you a taste for
weaving a tapestry. There are many more books out
there than the ones I have included. Enjoy and cre-
ate a woven picture! Check out my website for
more pictures of other tapestries I have woven. It is
Lynnette Ausland Eads is a weaver, spinner,
dyer, and master knitter who has been
working with alpaca fiber since her parents
began raising alpacas in the mid-1980s.
Lynette enjoys teaching children about
the fiber arts, and also teaches adult
classes on weaving, spinning, knitting, and Australian
locker hooking. Contact Lynette at
or
for more information
Weaving is Creative,by Jean Wilson.
Van Nostran Reinhold Comp. NY. 1972
Woven Tapestry,by Tadek Beutlich,
Watson-Guptill Publications, NY. 1967
The Guide to Successful Tapestry Weaving,
by Nancy Harvey, Pacific Search Press, 1981
Tapestry Weaving, A Comprehensive
Study Guide, by Nancy Harvey,
Interweave Press, 1991
© 2010
Alpacas Magazine
/ Ross Chandler
Lynette wove
this tapestry
in remembrance
of her brother.