Fabric of Life: Weaving a Figured Coverlet with Justin Squizzero

Justin Squizzero of The Burroughs Garret brings us along as he weaves a figured coverlet using a 19th-century Jacquard head and 18th-century loom.
Handweaver Justin Squizzero challenges modern definitions of progress by creating functional textiles that celebrate the natural world and the dignity of human labor. Echoing a time when utilitarian objects were entirely handcrafted, his work connects material, maker, and user across time and place. Squizzero’s venture, The Burroughs Garret, draws on the textile traditions of his northern Vermont home, marrying natural dyes and fibers with a reserved aesthetic rooted in early New England. Produced on his 19th-century farm using 200-year-old hand looms, Squizzero’s textiles examine the role of handcraft in a post-industrial society, questioning the human experience in a digital age.
Justin and his husband Andrew live on the Burroughs-Hebb-McClintock farm where they raise hogs and poultry, tend a quarter-acre kitchen garden, and work to breathe new life into an old corner of Newbury, Vermont.
Justin says "The traditional skills that we know today are the result of centuries of human ingenuity. Preserving those skills honors the past, but more importantly, ensures that these practical pieces of our collective knowledge are available to the future. Organizations like Fabric of Life that support continued practice and teaching are essential for ensuring that traditional skills don't just survive, but have a chance to thrive."
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Fabric of Life's annual Barnfest event helps support our mission of preserving traditional skills. While we wish we could be hosting this event in person, we hope this virtual format will allow more people to be involved in helping to sustain the work of Fabric of Life through our online fundraiser auction (www.ebay.com/usr/fabric-of-li....
Bidding on our online auction items closes on Tuesday, October 27th at 10AM EST!!
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Fabric of Life is a 501(c)3 not for profit educational organization dedicated to the preservation and passing on of knowledge and skills that enrich our daily lives. We strive to see traditional skills flourish in our modern world and make these educational opportunities available to future generations. Working together creating practical things of beauty not only improves quality of life, but also strengthens communities.
Learn more about Fabric of Life at: fabric-of-life.org/

[@katemarshall1920]

I just did an Overshot Coverlet workshop with this amazing man at the Marshfield School of Weaving in Vermont. If you get the chance, study there. A wonderful teacher and one of the best weaving experiences of my life!

[@michaelberg9656]

Amazing! Now I know how a Jacquard machine works! Thanks!

[@craz4mom]

Love to see such vintage machinery still working - amazing to watch - thank you so much for sharing!

[@cynthiastandley5742]

It is the best explanation and pictures of the jacquard I have seen. Thanks!

[@CraftyKarin]

Truly fascinating! I am an amateur weaver and didn’t follow absolutely everything but I really appreciate the clear explanation and seeing how such a mighty machine works, and how innovative it is for it’s time. I love watching weaving videos, thanks so much.

[@jettevandermeiden8673]

an excellent description of an older Jacquard loom and how it functions.

[@FabricofLife]

We agree! Justin did a wonderful job giving us a tour of his loom!

[@barbarablumenthal860]

Wonderful and fascinating to see this. Thanks!

[@FabricofLife]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@sandramarshall7712]

Awesome!!!!!

[@patmetzger7387]

Very very interesting. Thank you

[@ericmunro7941]

Man that looks fun! How do you warp that giant thing in such a tight space?

[@theburroughsgarret]

I wouldn't say there's a lot of extra room, but just enough to get the job done.

[@MazHem]

Wonderful, but I did have to turn the video up very loud on my speakers

[@sybilq2509]

thanks for sharing how this loom works. fascinating! may I ask what yarns are used? fiber content, weight? it's hard to grasp the density (epi) of this kind of weaving. thanks again for sharing your knowledge!

[@theburroughsgarret]

Hi Sybil, there are two cotton warps, a fine binding warp of 20/2, and a heavier figure warp of 3/8. There are two wefts, a binding weft in the same 20/2 cotton, and a heavier wool weft, in this case its doubled strands of a two ply wool around 1,000 ypp. The warp is sett at about 30 epi with two heavy warp ends for every fine warp end, giving ten pattern blocks in every inch. The resulting cloth is pretty hefty.

[@sybilq2509]

@@theburroughsgarret thanks for your detailed answer!

[@CarolineNH]

Wonderful explanation! How long a warp do you put on that big loom?

[@theburroughsgarret]

Currently 35 yards, but I'll be experimenting with a 50 yard warp next. Because the Jacquard turns this loom into a stationary bottom shed, rising top shed loom the warp can't come off the top of the warp beam as it was designed to do. In order to keep the warp at the right angle I can't wind too much on the beam at once, so I'm still testing out its limits. In a perfect world I'd put on 100 yards since the warp never changes between coverlets.

[@leeroyallen1772]

Excellent video. Great explanation. I believe I just found you on Instagram.

[@FabricofLife]

Wonderful! We look forward to connecting with you!

[@pavanputrahandloom5056]

hii

[@user-fe6be8wx3g]

مرحبا فيكم انا مغربي شعير في مانموها بي ديرازا تقليديا