janet dawson weaving overshot quotation

Overshot is known as a coverlet structure, but it’s also ideal for placemats, runners, blankets, fashion accessories, table linens, rugs, and much more. Just about anything you want to weave can be done in overshot.

Our class project is a series of coordinated placemats and table runners, woven in inexpensive, easy to get materials you may already have in your stash. You’ll choose from three different threadings composed of classic overshot motifs, then treadle them in star fashion, rose fashion, and many other ways.

Don’t feel like weaving placemats, runners, OR samples, or don’t have a loom available? No problem! You can still participate in the class without weaving at all. The lessons, videos, Q&As, and pen and paper exercises will help cement your understanding of overshot even if you don’t take it to the loom right away.

Don’t have that kind of loom? No worries! You can still read, watch, listen, and do all the pen and paper exercises. Your deeper understanding of overshot will be beneficial when you do have a loom to use it on or decide to explore how to weave it on the loom you already have on your own.

Our departure gate is a traditional overshot threading and our first stops in Week One are the most common variations on the overshot theme: closely related to standard overshot with just a little change here or a little change there.

In Weeks Two through Four we"ll venture farther and farther; by the end of our four week journey, your fabric won’t resemble overshot in the slightest. All without rethreading, resleying or even cutting off -- unless you’re too anxious to see your samples to wait!

With my retirement from production weaving and selling my work, the move out of the annex, the disbursement of production equipment, there have been many, many changes in my life and my work space.

For about 40 years I have had goat trails in the studio as the boxes of yarn and such were stacked here and there. Not to mention I wasn"t just weaving, but teaching, spinning (at times), lace making, knitting, writing, self-publishing small run publications - and not so small run. I not only wrote it, I - and Doug (and various family and friends) - assembled and shipped it. So, shipping boxes, labels, unsold copies - all had to be stored somewhere. Which is where the annex came in, for a while.

The top photo is the Megado. Changing the AVL (60" weaving width with fly shuttles, two beams, air assist et al) to the smaller footprint Megado helped enormously as it freed up quite a bit of space. Every inch of wall space that could be was converted to more shelving.

At the weekend I led an Intro to Weaving class and it was a delightful group of six who got that they needed to understand principles, gain knowledge, practice their physical skills mindfully. I am hopeful they will continue, but mastering weaving is a lifelong pursuit.

You and Janet are amazing! What an incredible gift you are giving us with this structured class on color. I could have never figured it out on my own, with just trial and error.

I"ve won countless awards for my work - my handwoven wedding dress is in the permanent collection of The Henry Ford Museum, my Kodachrome Jacket was featured as the Garment Challenge winner on the cover of Handwoven, and I"ve written over thirty articles for some of the most respected weaving magazines today. I"ve taught online courses for thousands of weavers.

Truthfully, I love to help mold happy, confident weavers - sometimes even more than I love weaving myself…and I’m pretty obsessed with weaving! But helping others like you understand and enjoy all parts of weaving – project planning, loom prep, as well throwing the shuttle – is my favorite part of the whole business. I can’t wait to meet you!

Weaving is the perfect solo hobby… But after hours (days! months!) alone at the loom, it can sometimes feel stagnant and lonely. And with social distancing in effect, it can feel even lonelier.

We had almost 6,000 participants in the live Weave-Along - so come on in - the water’s warm! Between our super-active Facebook community and course materials, it’s sure to jazz up your weaving routine!

Thank you so much, Tien and Janet. This weave-along has been a blast and oh, the things I have learned. And sharing the journey with others has been inspirational and encouraging. What a treasure trove of creative juices flowing!

(The one exception is the Color Editor lessons - the Color Editor is the property of Handweaving.net, so if we have to shut down the platform, the Color Editor will not be included in the downloads.)