Heading 6
The Weaver's Friend 2
History of The Weaver's Friend
Janet Katharine Meany
1931-2020
Founder of The Weaver's Friend
In 2020 we lost a very important and beloved person in our Rag Rug weaving community. If you have subscribed to The Weaver’s Friend for any period of time you have interacted with Janet in some way. Her knowledge of looms, rag rugs, enthusiasm, and willingness to share and mentor anyone who gave a call will be greatly missed. She taught weaving patiently, she researched looms diligently. She was a master at networking and often managed to get many subscribers in touch with each other if they were trying to solve the same problem. Through her research, she assembled the Loom Manual Library, which is of immeasurable value to all of the rag rug weavers using historical looms.
Carol Ann Kapheim
Editor 2015-present
Like many of you, I have been weaving for over 35 years. I have been a middle school teacher, a librarian, computer saleswoman, director of children's theatre, and museum program director. Through all these careers, I was always a rug weaver.
​
The first time I saw a loom, I knew I would be a weaver. My first loom was a Reed Cambridge Model, four harness, counterbalance loom. The purchase included a spool rack, handmade rug shuttles, boxes of carpet warp, sewn rag balls. I had all of the equipment and enthusiasm, but no teacher. There was no internet, so I turned to books, and authors like Mary Black, Harriet Tidball, and Mary Atwater. But it was The Weaver's Friend that brought me into the Rag Rug Community. Many subscriber letters helped me to master my loom although we were miles away from each other.
​
I am very interested in old looms and historical weaving equipment. To me, there is a sadness that most people have no idea what these looms can do and adult children often take no interest in their weaving heritage. Sometimes, looms are in parts and with my husband's help, we put them back together. I have helped many historical societies acquire a loom. I taught the docents to dress the loom and weave. Now they are demonstrating rug weaving to the public. To encourage community interest, I teach beginning and intermediate weaving classes, demonstrate at various venues, and offer presentations on wide-ranging weaving topics.
