Richard Vogt 7/19/23 Richard Vogt 7/19/23

Member Profiles: Noel Hammock, 1908-2005

Noel Hammock was born in Belfast Northern Ireland and, as a child, came to the United States with her family. She graduated from Broadway High School and the University of Washington, then taught school in Everett for ten years. She had an orderly mind, a dedication to creating opportunities to learn, and appreciated the art and science of weaving. She joined the Seattle Weavers Guild in 1953 and proceeded to leave an indelible mark on the organization.

Serving two terms as SWG President (1957 to 1959), Noel was instrumental in starting what is now known as study groups as well as what we now call mini-workshops. She was the Bulletin Committee Chair for 17 years, initiating the inclusion of woven samples in each bulletin, many of which she wove and even more for which she wrote the technical descriptions. For a number of years she recruited a group of weavers to contribute multi-harness samples which were added to the bulletin for those willing to pay a small additional fee.

Noel was the point person for establishing the weaving program at Lee House, now the Southeast Senior Center and was their mentor for 30 years. In the early 1960’s the University of Washington established a weaving program in the UW Mental Health and Occupational Therapy Department and Noel was the steward of the looms there until professional staff took over those duties.

Noel served on Library Advisory Panel, compiled sample notebooks for the Library, donated a number of books to the collection, and helped compile an index for members to use. She typed and edited Dr. Bateman’s manuscripts and played a role in preserving his work upon his death.

She presented study hours, programs, mini-workshops and hosted study groups for the Guild, many focused on drafting, warping, and fabric analysis. At the same time she held other positions in the Guild and co-chaired several exhibits and conferences.

In 1976 Noel became President of the Handweavers’ Guild of America (HGA) and when her term was over in 1980, she became chairman of the HGA Board until 1982. During her time with HGA she compiled several portfolios which could be loaned out to guilds for study.

**Noel Hammock** was born in Belfast Northern Ireland and, as a child, came to the United States with her family. She graduated from Broadway High School and the University of Washington, then taught school in Everett for ten years. She had an orderly mind, a dedication to creating opportunities to learn, and appreciated the art and science of weaving. She joined the Seattle Weavers Guild in 1953 and proceeded to leave an indelible mark on the organization.
Serving two terms as SWG President (1957 to 1959), Noel was instrumental in starting what is now known as study groups as well as what we now call mini-workshops. She was the Bulletin Committee Chair for 17 years, initiating the inclusion of woven samples in each bulletin, many of which she wove and even more for which she wrote the technical descriptions. For a number of years she recruited a group of weavers to contribute multi-harness samples which were added to the bulletin for those willing to pay a small additional fee.
Noel was the point person for establishing the weaving program at Lee House, now the Southeast Senior Center and was their mentor for 30 years. In the early 1960’s the University of Washington established a weaving program in the UW Mental Health and Occupational Therapy Department and Noel was the steward of the looms there until professional staff took over those duties.
Noel served on Library Advisory Panel, compiled sample notebooks for the Library, donated a number of books to the collection, and helped compile an index for members to use. She typed and edited Dr. Bateman’s manuscripts and played a role in preserving his work upon his death.
She presented study hours, programs, mini-workshops and hosted study groups for the Guild, many focused on drafting, warping, and fabric analysis. At the same time she held other positions in the Guild and co-chaired several exhibits and conferences.
In 1976 Noel became President of the Handweavers’ Guild of America (HGA) and when her term was over in 1980, she became chairman of the HGA Board until 1982. During her time with HGA she compiled several portfolios which could be loaned out to guilds for study.

Richard Vogt 2/28/23 Richard Vogt 2/28/23

Member Profiles: Jean Wilson, 1911-1995

Jean Wilson got her first loom in 1933. She became a member of the Seattle Weavers Guild in 1947 after moving to Bellevue. Jean served in many capacities, including Guild President (1960-1961).

Jean furthered the education of textile workers everywhere, through publication of ten books and extensive workshops and lectures internationally. The first book, “WEAVING IS FOR ANYONE” (1967, translated into 20 languages) was written because there had been no recent books on weaving. By the time of her death in 1995, she had completed nine more books, many articles, and had taught workshops and given slide lectures throughout the U. S. and Canada. Her books feature the work of SWG members (64 of them) and other Northwest craftsmen, making the world aware of the talent here in our Northwest corner. A book on embellishment of handwovens through learning embroidery stitches has helped weavers and others to design and produce completely finished garments, decorative items and household weavings. “WEAVING YOU CAN WEAR”, by Jean Wilson with Jan Burhen was published in 1973, presenting clothing shaped on the loom, woven in units, and inspired by ethnic clothing. At the time, it was a ‘new’ old idea.

She received the Northwest Booksellers Award for “WEAVING IS FUN”, and was given the National League of American Pen Women "Owl Award" in 1976 for Letters and in 1986 for Letters and Art.

**Jean Wilson** got her first loom in 1933. She became a member of the Seattle Weavers Guild in1947 after moving to Bellevue. Jean served in many capacities, including Guild President (1960-1961).
Jean furthered the education of textile workers everywhere, through publication of ten books and extensive workshops and lectures internationally. The first book, **”WEAVING IS FOR ANYONE”** (1967, translated into 20 languages) was written because there had been no recent books on weaving. By the time of her death in 1995, she had completed nine more books, many articles, and had taught workshops and given slide lectures throughout the U. S. and Canada. Her books feature the work of SWG members (64 of them) and other Northwest craftsmen, making the world aware of the talent here in our Northwest corner. A book on embellishment of handwovens through learning embroidery stitches has helped weavers and others to design and produce completely finished garments, decorative items and household weavings. **”WEAVING YOU CAN WEAR**”, by Jean Wilson with Jan Burhen was published in 1973, presenting clothing shaped on the loom, woven in units, and inspired by ethnic clothing. At the time, it was a ‘new’ old idea.
She received the Northwest Booksellers Award for “**WEAVING IS FUN**”, and was given the National League of American Pen Women "Owl Award" in 1976 for Letters and in 1986 for Letters and Art.
**Books by Jean Wilson**
Weaving is for Anyone (1967)
Weaving Is Fun: A Guide for Teachers, Children and Beginning Weavers, About Yarns, Baskets, Cloth and Tapestry (1971)
Weaving Is Creative: The Weaver-Controlled Weaves (1972)
Weaving You Can Wear with Jan Burhan (1973)
Pile Weaves (1974)
Weaving You Can Use (1975)
Weave with style (Connecting threads)(1979)
Soumak Workbook (1982)
Joinings, edges, and trims: Finishing details for handcrafted products (1983)

Richard Vogt 2/27/23 Richard Vogt 2/27/23

Member Profiles: Grace G. Denny 1884-1971

Grace Denny was one of the founding members of the Seattle Weavers' Guild. Miss Denny came to Seattle in 1914 to teach Home Economics at the University of Washington. (She was not related to the Denny family associated with the founding of Seattle.) While at the University she was recruited by one of the major department stores in Seattle, The Bon Marche, to write some definitions about textiles and fibers so the store's buyers would know something about their textiles. This ultimately became the book known as Fabrics which was first published in 1923 and is now in its eighth edition.

Miss Denny retired in 1950. She continued to write, lecture and travel until her death in 1971.

She wrote textile definitions for the World Book Encyclopedia and for the American College Dictionary as well as many other articles about textiles. She was the co-editor of the translation of Raoul D'Harcourt's Textiles of Ancient Peru and Their Techniques.

Among her students were Jack Lenor Larson, American textile designer, author, collector and promoter of traditional and contemporary craftsmanship, and Elsa Gudjonsson, former curator of the Icelandic National Museum.