Contributed by DeeDee Woodbury
Last summer CHH received an inquiry prompted by an article in a back issue of Handwoven magazine. It referenced a book, Patterns -MSS (Miniatures), written by Margaret S. Sheppard. The book is out of print now, but occasionally we receive a donated copy. We happened to have one for sale in the used book sale. The weaver who bought it, collects books of miniature overshot patterns, was thrilled to receive an autographed copy. The guild library owns a copy, of course. You may find it in section 10. Alphabetical by title.
Please enjoy this book review from the CHT newsletter archive. weavetexas.org
Patterns- MSS (Miniatures) by Margaret Salisbury Sheppard
Patterns . . . is a charming recollection of Margaret Sheppard’s “almost 50 years of a happy weaving career.” Most of the patterns are derived from “name-drafts”, some of which have been elaborated on by Margaret and her computer. The miniature patterns are given with computerized drafts and drawdowns, and she offers some favorite coverlet patterns as well as three patterns for dollhouse coverlets. There is a brief, but concise and easily understood explanation of name-drafting, draft-blending and computer drafting.
This book is much more than just another pattern book, however. It is a “memory book” of Margaret’s life through the vehicle of weaving. She has taken personal recollections and given them fanciful names, such as “Ball & Jacks” (at which she admits she had “no talent at all” and could not get past “foursies”), “Bayou Queen” (Margaret likes steamboats . . . “their slowness, the smell of the river, the interesting things along the riverbanks, and the wonderful sunsets over the water. . . ) “Blue Norther” is a whimsical reference to Houston’s weather and “Azalea” to its beauty when those plants are in bloom. There are names of favorite people, places, things and events that have woven the fabric of Margaret’s life.
Reading this book will be like sitting down with an old friend to reminisce, as well as share weaving information. It is a refreshing change of pace in weaving literature.
(Margaret Sheppard’s work was known to me long before I met her at a CHH meeting. I had admired her elegant linens and no-nonsense weaving articles before I had located the guild or discovered that Margaret even lived in Houston! When I learned that she had written a book, I jumped at the chance to be the first to read it by offering to review it in the newsletter. Thank you, Margaret, for the opportunity and the honor. As it turns out, we not only share a love of “fine threads,” but a fascination with history and overshot!)
~ written by Janice Jeffcott~ CHT, V.42, no.1 October 1990, page