Gay's fascination with early coverlets and pattern manuscripts from the nineteenth century has led her on an interesting journey. Her exploration of early weaving started many year ago, when she learned how to weave coverlets through her study of the legacy of the early American weavers. Now the early coverlets and handwritten manuscripts are the resource and inspiration for her handwoven coverlets.
The Coverlet Weaver's Gallery includes photos of coverlets Gay McGeary has woven.
Star Coverlet
Year woven: 2012/2013
Pattern name: Star
Weave Structure: Star Work
Size: 92" x 99"
Fiber: Cotton & wool
Description: This star work pattern is one of my favorites. It is inspired by an early coverlet original owned by Tandy & Charles Hersh who were kind enough to share their coverlet collection with me. The fringe is woven separately and sewn onto the coverlet.
Year woven: 2012/2013
Pattern name: Star
Weave Structure: Star Work
Size: 92" x 99"
Fiber: Cotton & wool
Description: This star work pattern is one of my favorites. It is inspired by an early coverlet original owned by Tandy & Charles Hersh who were kind enough to share their coverlet collection with me. The fringe is woven separately and sewn onto the coverlet.
Close-up of Star Coverlet with Tied Fringe
Snowball & Tree Coverlet
Year woven: 2012
Pattern name: Snowball & Tree
Weave structure: Tied Beiderwand
Size: 84" x 97"
Fiber: Cotton and wool
Description: This coverlet is based on a pattern in early coverlets in Gay's collection. The draft can also be found in Jacob Angstadt's Diaber Book. The trees used in the borders on the sides and the bottom are designed by Gay and are variation of the snowball motif.
Year woven: 2012
Pattern name: Snowball & Tree
Weave structure: Tied Beiderwand
Size: 84" x 97"
Fiber: Cotton and wool
Description: This coverlet is based on a pattern in early coverlets in Gay's collection. The draft can also be found in Jacob Angstadt's Diaber Book. The trees used in the borders on the sides and the bottom are designed by Gay and are variation of the snowball motif.
Close-up of Snowball & Tree Coverlet
Stars & Window Coverlet
Year woven: 2011
Pattern name: Stars & Windows
Weaver structure: Point Twill
Size: 87" x 95"
Fiber: Cotton & wool
Description: Gay's coverlet was inspired by a pattern she found in an early coverlet owned by the National Museum of the American Coverlet, Bedford, Pennsylvania. Drafts for this pattern can also found in the nineteenth century manuscript owned by two Pennsylvania German weavers from Lebanon County, Pennsylvania: Joseph Capp and Johnannes Schmidt.
Year woven: 2011
Pattern name: Stars & Windows
Weaver structure: Point Twill
Size: 87" x 95"
Fiber: Cotton & wool
Description: Gay's coverlet was inspired by a pattern she found in an early coverlet owned by the National Museum of the American Coverlet, Bedford, Pennsylvania. Drafts for this pattern can also found in the nineteenth century manuscript owned by two Pennsylvania German weavers from Lebanon County, Pennsylvania: Joseph Capp and Johnannes Schmidt.
Close-up of Stars and Windows Coverlet with Tree Border
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Cumberland Star CoverletYear woven: 2010
Pattern name: Cumberland Star Weaver structure: Star Work Size 86" x 93" Fiber: Cotton & wool Description: This coverlet was inspired by an early coverlet owned by the Cumberland County Historical Society, Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Drafts for this pattern are also found in the nineteenth century manuscripts owned by two Pennsylvania German weavers from Adams County, Pennsylvania: Christian Frey and Jacob Biesecker. Copies of the later are located in the library of the Lancaster County Historical Society and the former is shown on page 135 of Tandy and Charles Hersh's book entitled Rural Pennsylvania German Weaving 1833-1857, and the Christian Frey and Henry Small Pattern Book. |
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Star & Diamond CoverletYear woven: 2009
Pattern name: Star & Diamond Weave structure: Star Works Size: 88" x 90" Fiber: Cotton & wool Description: You can see the descriptive analysis and photo of the early coverlet which inspired Gay to weave this piece on her Coverlet Notebook page. This coverlet was designed by combining a variation of one star work pattern with the color scheme of another coverlet. The fancy fringe is woven separately and then sewn onto the finished piece. Gay learned about this fringe technique years ago from a friend, Peggy Flowers, who brought her an early coverlet with this interesting fringe. She carefully documented the hand tied fringe and has used it many times. |