Jessica Norris
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jessica-handweaver.bsky.social
Jessica Norris
@jessica-handweaver.bsky.social
150 followers 91 following 73 posts
I’m a hand weaver living in the Southern Highlands of Australia (lovely Gundungurra Country). I make uniquely beautiful textiles from natural fibres.

Website and shop: jessicanorrishandwoven.studio
Blog: simplecraftylife.com
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jessica-handweaver.bsky.social
I’ve been super busy but just lately I’ve been restocking my coasters for the upcoming Apple Day (Tallong festival). This is Ms and Ws twill with a historical pattern.
This is “Earl’s Canvas” on twelve shafts, an example of a pattern in gebrochene or Ms and Ws twill. The white warp is narrow for sampling and so I just have one repeat woven here in a dark blue. I’ll make some table runners with this threading next.
September 14, 2025 at 1:13 AM
jessica-handweaver.bsky.social
Recently I’ve been exploring diversified plain weave. I love sampling! These explorations will lead to a new range of hand towels or possibly table runners. So many possibilities in this weave structure! #weaving #handwoven #diversifiedplainweave #artisancloth
Three weaving samples in Diversified Plain Weave. I’ve used navy and green in the warp, with white in the weft. Thus weave structure is a block weave, and these designs use up to seven blocks, plus one for borders. Another set of samples, each with a different tie up that changes the patterns with the blocks. I really love the colour texture with this weave structure.
June 11, 2025 at 11:53 PM
jessica-handweaver.bsky.social
Sometimes you sample, plan meticulously and then weave only to say, “Nope”! The gut feeling can’t be ignored and you just have to cut out and try again. #weaving #handwoven #turnedtwill #8shaft
Handwoven sample in turned twill: a variety of stripes in hot colours (red, pink, orange) and blues with overlapping purple colours. The warp here is 20/2 silk and the weft is cotton. From this sample I designed a more careful gradient, increasing the size of each coloured section. Weaving at the loom showing one colour (bright blue) which to my eye just didn’t look right. Too much, not enough contrast with the warp and the ratios in the block changes look wrong. So I’ve cut the weft out and will spend twenty minutes pulling the threads until I can start again. That’s weaving life!
May 5, 2025 at 2:07 AM
jessica-handweaver.bsky.social
I’ve wound a pure silk warp for the first time. This is 20/2 silk, ready to become a pair of scarves. Expensive yarn, but delicious! #weaving #handwoven #warp #mastercraft
Two bouts of 20/2 silk yarn, ready to beam onto the loom. I’ve not chained this warp as it’s only 6 metres, my husband helps me beam and we have a fair space to use in the process, plus I’ll beam it straight away. The colours are hand dyed by Elizabeth Calnan, and they are dark salmon, light salmon and pale yellow. Dreamy!
April 26, 2025 at 1:02 AM
jessica-handweaver.bsky.social
Here’s the final result from the warp that suffered a threading error setback: a lovely, drapey, deflected double weave scarf! #weaving #handwoven #8shafts #slowfashion
April 19, 2025 at 4:25 AM
jessica-handweaver.bsky.social
Whilst I was deciding how to recover from a dire threading error on my Spring loom, I wove off a couple of lovely Harrisville Shetland scarves. One sold at market last weekend, but this shawl is freshly fulled and brushed and ready for the Goulburn Spinners and Weavers 50th anniversary exhibition.
Me wearing a pure wool shawl woven in Twill and Basket weave, in Rust, green-gold and Grey. I'm standing on my back verandah and the colours really were this vibrant, I promise! The trees in the background are starting to change colour for autumn. #weaving #handwoven #twill #colourandweave #purewool A closer view of the patterning on the shawl. With DDL colour and weave, the twill and basket weave yield different interesting patterns. The shawl has a stripe of green-gold running down the edge. Another close-in shot of the colour and weave patterns on this shawl. This one is DDLL basket weave on top of DDL straight twill threading (for those who know what I mean!) This scarf was very heavily based on a piece by Linda Pickett as part of the Jane Stafford School of Weaving. Linda's piece has a stronger contrast in the red, but I'm using what I have in my stash, with a very autumnal effect.
April 14, 2025 at 5:30 AM
jessica-handweaver.bsky.social
Threading error dilemma solved: sacrifice the border to avoid re-threading! Finally I stopped procrastinating and now I'm weaving away on this deflected double weave design I call "Roses and stars". Looks great, but next time I'll use more contrast in the warp! #handwoven #weaving #colourandweave
This warp is 16/2 bamboo and is actually two-tone, although the contrast is extremely low: Pale Grey and White. I'm weaving deflected double weave with two ends per unit, hoping for a luscious scarf. The borders are narrower than I planned because I made a threading error right at the beginning and couldn't face re-threading the entire piece in pale fine threads! This photo shows one repeat with three "roses" apparent. The "Stars" will appear as I weave the second repeat. The weft is "Cactus" (like a Sage green) with White. #deflecteddoubleweave #DDW #8shaft #multishaftweaving
April 12, 2025 at 6:35 AM
jessica-handweaver.bsky.social
Tomorrow (6 April) I will be selling my tea towels, scarves, wall hangings and other handwoven items at the Southern Highlands Wool Festival, at Mittagong RSL. Come and say hello! Take home a tea towel for your Mum. 😍

If you can't make it, my online shop is still taking orders. Link is in my bio!
A pile of folded tea towels from my recently woven "Autumn" range. These towels are Swedish lace and feature hot colours: gold, rusty orange and red, medium brown and fuchsia. The top towel is swirled up to show the lovely drape. #handwoven #weaving #swedishlace #teatowels #4shaft An arrangement of folded tea towels from my recently woven "Autumn" range. These towels are Swedish lace and feature hot colours: gold, rusty orange and red, medium brown and fuchsia. Each towel is unique and has a different way of incorporating the lace. #handwoven #weaving #swedishlace #teatowels #4shaft A tea towel from my "Jungle" range with a swirl in the middle to show the drape. These towels are woven in an #8shaft point twill and feature jungle foliage colours with splashes of bright Jungle bird plumage. Peacock, pale green, olive, stone, dark blue and medium green are shown in this photo. #teatowels #handwoven #wovenart #8shaft #twill #weaving A pile of seven folded tea towels from my "Jungle" range. These towels are woven in a point twill and feature jungle foliage colours with splashes of bright Jungle bird plumage. Peacock, pale green, olive, stone, dark blue and dark green are shown in this photo. The twill patterns here include diamonds, lattice and vines. #teatowels #handwoven #wovenart #8shaft #twill #weaving
April 5, 2025 at 3:55 AM
jessica-handweaver.bsky.social
That moment when you get to the end of your threading and ask “why do I have these extra ends?” and you realise you haven’t made the right border wide enough. Smaller border or rethread? (Time to have a cuppa and decide later.) #weaving #mistakeshappen #8shaft
I’m holding a bundle of threads at the left of the photo which are supposed to have been threaded like the heddles on the right. This means I made a threading error, which is a blow for any hand weaver. This is an eight shaft threading but you have see the lower bars for twelve shafts in the picture. Sigh. Another photo of the loom being threaded, this time you can see all the heddles I have completed and at the right hand side my hand separates the warp where the threading error happened. In fact, this is twenty threads in, meaning I must rethread the other 370 threads or change my plan with the borders. This is a head desk moment. I don’t want narrower borders!! Argh!
April 2, 2025 at 1:15 AM
jessica-handweaver.bsky.social
I've just complete the echo weave scarf that I've been working on for some weeks. This was the most complicated draft I've woven, and I used a table loom, too! This scarf will be shown at the upcoming May exhibition with the Canberra Spinners and Weavers. #weaving #handwoven #handweaving #8shafts
This is a handwoven cotton and bamboo blend scarf draped over a coat hanger. The scarf colours are blended like a peacock's feathers. The warp is two shades of medium blue and the weft is navy and pale green. When combined the pattern forms iridescence. This is a close-up view of the scarf showing the warp interlocking with the weft. The iridescence is not visible this close-up but you can see sections with more green (the weft) and more blue (the warp). This view shows the bottom of the scarf including one complete repeat of the oriental flower pattern (the pattern is from the book: Janna Weaves). There is also a twisted fringe showing where I have added thrums from a previous project to bulk out the fringe with colours that complement the scarf (dark blues and greens). One last view of the flat scarf with the other half draped into a bunch. This shows deep folds which highlight the drape of the scarf.
March 31, 2025 at 5:42 AM
jessica-handweaver.bsky.social
I have finally finished my handwoven twill blanket that I started last year. The widest piece I’ve woven yet! I filled it and brushed it by hand and it is thick, soft a luscious! #weaving #handwoven #twill #4shaft #purewool
Me snuggling my handwoven twill blanket. A handwoven twill blanket draped on the sunshine. The blanket is checked in blue, green and grey wool. Me posing with the blanket draped over my shoulder to show the drape (folds of thick cloth). Me wearing the blanket, fastened with a Viking brooch.
March 24, 2025 at 7:13 AM
jessica-handweaver.bsky.social
Today I’m winding a new tea towel warp. Aren’t these colours delicious? I was going for an autumn vibe, but this has ended up a little juicy, too. 🍇🍊🍋 #weaving #handweaving #teatowels
Close-up view of a colour gradient warp, from top: Fuchsia, Brick red, Medium brown, muted orange and Gold.
March 16, 2025 at 3:50 AM
jessica-handweaver.bsky.social
Having a quiet morning twisting my fringes before wet finishing my latest pieces. #weaving #handwoven #artweaving
March 9, 2025 at 10:36 PM
jessica-handweaver.bsky.social
More deflected double weave, this time a composition for a wall hanging. These colours are coming together nicely, I think! #weaving #handwoven #deflecteddoubleweave #artweaving #art
Deflected double weave on the loom showing bands of motifs separated by horizontal and vertical stripes. The warp is Teal and Jeans, but the weft has greens and peacock colours.
March 5, 2025 at 4:52 AM
jessica-handweaver.bsky.social
When hunting for a sturdy placemat sett I discovered the DDW with two ends per unit creates 1/3 and 3/1 twill (striped sections), and this creates ridged textures at this sett. Awesome!! #weaving #deflecteddoubleweave #twill #colourandweave
Deflected double with showing 3D effects due to 1/3 and 3/1 twill in striping sections. Weft colours are “Cayenne” and black. Deflected double with showing 3D effects due to 1/3 and 3/1 twill in striping sections. This photo shows different “light” weft colours. Deflected double with showing 3D effects due to 1/3 and 3/1 twill in striping sections. This photo shows different weft colours.
March 4, 2025 at 4:20 AM
jessica-handweaver.bsky.social
Today I didn’t have enough spools of yarn in each colour to wind a 4D4L colour sequence, so I did each colour as a separate warp and beamed them in one. This trick taught to me by @janestaffordtextiles. Thanks Jane! #weaving #handwoven
Two warp layers beamed as one, each with a pair of lease sticks. The red straps are improvised to hold the extra pair in place so I can start threading
March 2, 2025 at 3:09 AM
jessica-handweaver.bsky.social
I’m at it again, this time with a tighter sett and using “Primrose in Diamonds” from MPD’s green book. #weaving #deflecteddoubleweave #8shafts
Deflected double weave forming strong strips and patterns on the loom Centre view of deflected double weave in cayenne and black, on the loom.
February 27, 2025 at 6:47 AM
jessica-handweaver.bsky.social
That exciting moment when you pull the weaving out of the washing machine and see what happened to all the floats: magic! This sampler is my attempt to get my head around deflected double weave, in particular, using overshot to develop the pattern.

#weaving #handwoven #deflecteddoubleweave #8shaft
Handwoven sampler drying on the clothes line, showing deflected double weave patterned from an overshot draft.
February 26, 2025 at 6:03 AM
jessica-handweaver.bsky.social
I've been absolutely flat out these last few weeks completing a commission: table settings for six places including a placemat, napkin and coaster for each setting, with an additional three coordinating table runners. What a project!

#weaving #handwoven #commission #doubleweave #plainweave
A pile of handwoven table linens including a coaster, blue napkins, and an assortment of table runners. The reverse side of a double weave table runner in muted green colours. A handwoven table setting showing a double weave place mat, a plain weave textured napkin and a double weave coaster. A close-up view of a folded napkin made of plain weave with textured ridges on top of other matching napkins.
February 19, 2025 at 10:08 PM
jessica-handweaver.bsky.social
I’m looking forward to weaving more on this echo weave scarf. Echo is a new-to-me technique so I started with a draft from Janna Weaves (one of the oriental flower variations). So far these colours are amazing!
#weaving #handweaving #echoweave #skillbuilding
Echo weaving on a table loom showing four colours, with an appearance like an oil slick
February 7, 2025 at 9:12 PM
jessica-handweaver.bsky.social
There’s something so satisfying watching the newly woven cloth stacking up on the cloth beam!

#handwoven #doubleweave
Roll of handwoven cloth forming on the cloth beam
February 4, 2025 at 2:20 AM