January 25 - Stevengraph

The ancient English town of Coventry was, for centuries, identified with silk weaving, especially the manufacture of ribbons. Here, at the opening of the twentieth century, stood the well-known factory of Thomas Stevens, who, acting in the adventurous spirit that was quickening all branches of industrial enterprise, began to make innovations in the general character of ribbon design. He produced silk-woven bookmarks, greeting cards, and mottoes with ornamental designs and appropriate wording. (from http://www.stevengraphs.com/)

The Stevengraph trade name was coined by Thomas Stevens in about 1863 to describe his woven articles, and today that includes his silk pictures and portraits. He began in 1854 using the Jacquard loom to produce an infinite variety of items. The fashion for such gradually reduced until few were being produced in the 1920's, but the factory continued until blitzed in 1940. Many items were exported to the USA, and this explains their popularity there today.

Here's my book entry -

As the first stevengraphs made were bookmarks I decided to make a bookmark for this page. Mine is not a slk weaving, however, I wove it from linen threads using a loom I made first (see below).

The loom is in two "U" shapes, with one fitting into the other and it's adjustable so I can make short or longer pieces on it. There are holes drilled along the sides and I used nuts and bolts to connect the pieces. The combs on the ends are actually old plastic combs but they tend to be a bit too bendy so I'll replace them with metal ones before using the loom again. For the shuttles I cut milk bottle plastic into the shapes I needed.The challenge of designing and making an appropriate loom for the job was fun.