Here’s just a quick hello and update (as I’m typing with one finger of my left hand)…
I’m still in transition mode living on the mid-north coast with my brother and sister-in-law (and loving it!) while working on rehabilitating my hand. I did end up having a second surgery because it was all pretty messed up….tendons and a very irritated nerve were encased in scar tissue and stuck together. Another tendon had become adhered to the bone, plus the plate that was too bulky for my small frame was removed. I had been expecting a minor miracle after that but it was, in fact, a move back to square one rehabilitation-wise. Expectations were adjusted and I’m back to work exercising.
I managed to get one more key fob gift woven before being advised to stop weaving until I’ve recovered wrist rotation. It’s quite limited right now. I was kidding myself thinking I could manage weaving with my injured hand. I was, in fact, compensating with my shoulder and ended up injuring it.
This fob is for my hand therapist, an occupational rather than physio therapist, and has the name of her business. The name will only make sense if you understand that the last two letters are capitals and are pronounced Oh-tee.
So, weaving is on the back-burner once again and I am entertaining myself by designing a hand-themed triptych which will be a story of my Indian roots, my 32 years in South America and the new possibilities that will come to me now that I’m back in Australia.
I’ve joined an organisation here called the Fibre Artisans Network and am excited about being able to exchange ideas and share skills and perhaps exhibit some of my work alongside that of the other members one day. We’ve met up twice already and will do so again tomorrow. The first thing I’d love to learn more about is dyeing with eucalypts.
I’m going to leave you with something I’ve posted before but which brings me joy and makes me want to share it again. I hope the melody isn’t an ear-worm for you. I’ve added some bits since I last showed it to you.
MY FAVORITE THINGS (a few of)
A beater, a shuttle, a small weaving sword,
Plant fibers twisted and woven like string,
These are a few of my favorite things.
Others to strum across threads that are sticking,
Laid out before me the pleasure they bring,
These are a few of my favorite things.
Books that tell stories of teachers I’ve known,
Covered with fabric and carefully sewn,
They hold the memories to which I will cling,
These are a few of my favorite things.
Dipped in a dye pot of cochineal red,
Patterns of summer, fall, winter and spring,
These are a few of my favorite things.
When I must wait,
Cannot cre-ate,
And I’m feeling sad.
I simply remember my favorite things
And then I don’t feel
So bad.
Spring has sprung here and it’s glorious! The air is drenched with the aroma of jasmine and the sound of bees. An increasing number of surfers can be spotted bobbing about in the waves and it’s time to make friends with all the magpies I encounter on my walks lest they start swooping me at nesting time.
Until next time when maybe I can reveal some of my hand-themed patterns. I’ve made some good thrift store purchases of cotton (I love how thrift stores here in Australia are called “op shops”) which I’ll dye for this project…..or maybe I’ll use eucalypt-dyed wool. It’s exciting to think about.
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I am so glad that you have had further surgery to remove the hardware, and liberate the stuck tissue that had adhered to the bone. Hopefully bit by wee bit, with patience, you will regain your full wrist rotation and the full use of your right hand. Meanwhile, you have opportunities to make new connections and celebrate the coming of spring! I love the words you have here to My Favorite Things. I’ll copy them into my notebook so I can sing them wherever I go!
By: lausanneha on September 18, 2025
at 1:20 am
Hi Lausanne,
You’ve always had such a way with words that I’m sure you’ve added your own to my lyrics and have been singing them too. Oh my, Vermont seems so far away now (not just “up the road” as it did when I was in Bolivia…haha). Take care. I often think of you.
By: lavernewaddington on October 12, 2025
at 8:51 pm
Wishing you a very speedy recovery and all happiness in your return to Australia.
By: Christina on September 18, 2025
at 1:56 am
Thank you so much,Christina. 💓
By: lavernewaddington on October 12, 2025
at 8:48 pm
Dear Laverne,
such a beautiful melody, and your lyrics give me a little knot in my stomach for you. You’re putting such a positive ‘spin’ on it, but gosh it must be tough.
I’m going to keep that melody with me for the day, thank you
xx
anna
By: Anna Wittert van Hoogland on September 18, 2025
at 2:20 am
Anna, it’s always SO nice to hear from you. Yes, that song has such a pretty melody and one of the few I can tolerate having stuck in my head for days…haha.
Thanks for your understanding words. I hope your spring in Tassie is beautiful. It must be a very striking transition down there. Take care xxxx
By: lavernewaddington on October 12, 2025
at 8:47 pm
Hi, Laverne,
We are so moved by your continued good spirits in the face of continued tribulations. Your post and a few of your Favourite Things brought smiles to our faces and tears to our eyes.
With love,
Jim and Raoul
By: mortally308cff26a2 on September 18, 2025
at 4:31 am
Dear Jim,
It’s so nice to have Raoul included in this message so that I can “meet” him for the first time and know that you’re both following (and maybe singing) along. Take care and thank you so much ❤
By: lavernewaddington on October 12, 2025
at 8:43 pm
So good to hear how you are and I wish it was easier for you, but you are a so deeply inspiring human being and your favourite things hit a beautiful chord with me. Thank you for sharing and I send you lots of love and wishes for the healing to progress and your choices to increase once more, xxxxooo
By: audreydebralewisgmailcom on September 18, 2025
at 3:24 pm
Dear Audrey,
Thank you for your warm wishes in your comment. Please know that they are truly appreciated even though I’ve taken so long to reply. I’m so happy you enjoyed my lyrics.
By: lavernewaddington on October 12, 2025
at 8:39 pm
Wishing you a quick recovery from your surgery. I have experienced not being able to do things with my right hand because of injuries in the past, so I understand how difficult this time is for you, doubly so because you just went through a rehab period. Hopefully you will come out on the other side well healed with the dexterity that you need to move forward. Best of luck in your healing. I guess you get to just enjoy the lovely summer ahead of you.
By: tscweaves on September 18, 2025
at 3:25 pm
Thank you so much, Therese. I really appreciate receiving your comments with your words of support. Rehab as you know from your own experience is a slow ol’ process. Every morning it’s Groundhog Day again dreading having to try and curl fingers that feel like they’re made of wood! I’m sure you know the feeling. Thanks again and I’m sorry I took so long to reply.
By: lavernewaddington on October 12, 2025
at 8:36 pm
Hi Laverne,
Thank you for another interesting newsletter. I imagine that it is difficult for you with your hand – maybe it is a time to read some interesting books. I am very keen on books by Henry David Thoreau right now, though they aren’t specifically to do with weaving. They are more about nature and doing things simply.
l am still experimenting with weaving on a backstrap loom – which l wouldn’t have ever tried to do if l hadn’t come across your wonderful blog – l often recommend it to people.
All the best, Bethan
By: Bethan on September 18, 2025
at 4:01 pm
Hi Bethan,
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave your warm wishes. I have indeed been reading but not as much as I’d planned because I’m here now in Australia with the novelty of Netflix which is nice but also a bit of a curse in some ways!
I wish you all good things with your backstrap loom experiments and hope to hear from you again some time.
By: lavernewaddington on October 12, 2025
at 8:31 pm
Lovely to hear from you Laverne and what a fantastic post it is!!
I love all your favorite things and am so jealous🥰🤣what a wonderful treasure trove! Oh, if they could only talk, some look to be quite old.
Stay strong! Even though you’ve experienced a set back, it sounds like it may be a good thing in disguise. Perhaps the second surgery was the answer all along. If positive thought and warm wishes can do anything, know I’m sending a boat load your way 🥰💕 and I’m not the only one because you are well loved my dear 🙂
Looking forward to hearing more about your hand-themed patterns, dyeing with eucalypts, and the Fibre Artists Network sounds very exciting, you’ll be connecting with some very interesting people. What a journey!
By: Shirley on September 18, 2025
at 5:28 pm
Shirley, thank you so much for your message so full of positive thoughts. It really brought me smiles and is so appreciated. It’s brought me smiles all over again this morning. I must add receiving such comments to my list of favorite things. I apologise for not replying sooner. I’m often receiving messages in the middle of a sleepless night with the intention of replying in the morning and then of course forget!
By: lavernewaddington on October 12, 2025
at 8:26 pm
As a woman of almost 70 with fairly severe arthritis I understand sleepless nights and the foggy days that follow. I do hope things are healing up and rehab is working for you Laverne.
Iâm really enjoying all the lessons in your books. Thanks again for passing along the knowledge your gained over the years in S.A. Iâm currently attempting the Hawis design (hope I spelled that right) from one of your books. My kids always ask if itâs too hard on my hands⦠and surprisingly enough it is not (yay!). I tell them that when youâre doing something you love doing, pain is not a factor ð¤£
I know thatâs not always the case but I believe your love of the crafts you do will bring you back to full strength again. When you really love doing something, you always find a way to make it work.
Stay well and strong ð
By: Shirley on October 12, 2025
at 10:40 pm
I always enjoy seeing your messages as well as photos of your projects. Best wishes as you complete your therapy and continue to much better health.
By: Sandi on October 6, 2025
at 9:30 pm
Thank you so much, Sandi.
By: lavernewaddington on October 12, 2025
at 8:20 pm
Dear Laverne,
I discovered your blog about two months ago, and I truly admire your work. I hope that one day I’ll be able to create such beautiful things myself. I’m still a very beginner at this point in my journey and sometimes feel a little lost. I would love to find some resources on how to finish a piece of weaving in the simplest way, but without fringe.
I wanted to purchase your video “Operating a Backstrap Loom”, but I’m having a problem with the payment. I wrote to support and am still waiting for a response. Could you please tell me if “The Eye-Pattern Tubular Band and Other Decorative Finishing Techniques” is suitable for a beginner in terms of learning how to finish a piece of weaving?
Wishing you a smooth recovery and lots of inspiration for new projects.
Greetings from Poland!
By: dazzlingpizzaa0ac5513c7 on October 11, 2025
at 8:10 pm
Hi. Welcome! It’s nice to hear from a new reader.
I hope you get the support you need soon so that you can complete your purchase at Taproot Video.
No, the Eye-pattern Tubular Band book is not what I would call a basic way to finish for someone at beginner level.
I don’t know what kind of fabric you’re producing or what you intend to use it for but I have no other suggestion for a fringe-less finish apart from sewing a hem. There are ways to weave a piece with four selvedges but that’s quite an advanced technique.
By: lavernewaddington on October 12, 2025
at 8:19 pm
Thank you for your response. As English is my second language, I’m not exactly sure what you mean by “sewing a hem.” I’ve seen different techniques for making hems online. Did you mean using hemstitching like in the video you posted (
), and then folding the edge about 1 cm, sewing it, and trimming the fringe?
I’d like to make a band and a scarf.
I also read your post about “How do I finish a band with fringe,” and my idea for making a band without a fringe is to go one or two rows back with the weft to secure it, then cut the warp and finish the edge by sewing around it (I don’t know what it is called) with either the same weft or a new thread.
I’m not sure if I’m being clear, but I was wondering what the simplest way is to secure the raw edge so that I can cut off the fringe. My focus is not on making a neat, pretty edge, but on securing it in the simplest way possible so I can trim the fringe without risking damage to my piece.
Unfortunately, I still can’t purchase your video class or eBooks.
I admire your work—it really fascinates me what you have created.
Wishing you all the best!
Iza
By: Izabela on October 13, 2025
at 4:33 pm
Hi Iza,
Your idea for taking the weft back a few rows and then sewing across the edge sounds good. I can’t think of any other way to securely cut off the fringe.
By: lavernewaddington on October 25, 2025
at 2:55 pm
hello! i was interested in purchasing the book an andean pebble weave, but taprootvideo seems to no longer work… do you know if this is a temporary issue? will the website come back up?
By: annieb on October 19, 2025
at 8:43 pm
Hi. It’s a temporary issue. Keep trying, please. It will be back up again at any moment.
By: lavernewaddington on October 20, 2025
at 5:47 am