When I was nineteen I learned how to weave on a small frame loom.
And ever since I have explored the ups and downs, the over and unders, the twists and turns of threads. Mostly I am a weaver, but I also spin, dye, crochet and net. As a weaver, I have favorite tools that support the processes and the techniques that I use to narrate my stories.
In the early 1970s, I discovered Macomber Looms while I was a student at Rhode Island School of Design. I found that the other brands of looms not only were more difficult to use (to thread, beam on, etc) but they did not hold up well to the repeated use (abuse ) by generations of students.
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After graduation I followed my husband up to southern NH where he was a graduate student. Macomber Looms also moved at that time from Saugus, MA to York, ME - not far from my home in NH. So from 1976 -nward, we developed a wonderful working relationship. I taught classes in the barn above the workshop, as well as became a sales person for looms and parts. I also traveled with the staff to several weaving conferences including Convergences.
And as Macomber grew, so I did I. With the development of their first generation of computerized looms, I added their Designers Delight, and then an air assist ESP - electronic single pedal. Next came the Atari weaving program and then finally the Air Loom Dobby System. These technological developments supported the kind of weaving patterns I loved to weave. The air assist also allowed me to weave multi-harness designs that required many harnesses to be lifted at one time.
It's been a wonderful 50 years working with Macomber Looms - and we still are in touch quite often. Although I am no longer a sales person for their Looms (they no longer have sales reps) and I no longer teach above the workshop - I still weave on Macomber Looms. And I still think they are the BEST looms to weave on -- hands down.
Please check out my website for my latest art and activities - sarah@sarahhaskell.com
Or instagram - @sdhaskell
Thanks to all who have been with me for this amazing ride. Onward -- thread by thread!
