Annie MacHale, The Weaver

At the age of seventeen, I first discovered the inkle loom, sparking a lifelong love affair. With the help of my dad and a library book, I built my first loom in 1976. Since then, I’ve woven miles of bands, including over 1,100 guitar straps.

This type of loom makes narrow pieces, no more than 6” in width. Within this narrow constraint, there are endless possibilities for combining colors into patterns. My idea in creating a woven piece is that it should be both functional and beautiful. I get great enjoyment out of what I do. I play with color, so you can, too!

Because I weave only one strap at a time, each one is different, a unique work of art!

On the Air

In 2012, I was invited to be a guest on “Darlene Carman Presents,” which airs on San Jose CreaTV. In this 28-minute interview, Darlene and her husband gave me the opportunity to show off many of my woven items and talk about what inspires me.

More Information and Publications

• My weaving blog; read the stories of inspiration and creation here: ASpinnerWeaver.com
• BOOK: In Celebration of Plain Weave: Color and Design for Inkle Weavers; self-published; 2019.
• BOOK: Three-Color Pickup: A Modern Look at an Ancient Baltic-Style Technique; self-published; 2021.

Both books are available in print and PDF format from TaprootVideo.com

Affiliations

I am proud to be a member of the following groups/associations:

• Handweavers Guild of America
• Española Valley Fiber Arts Center
• Las Arañas Spinners and Weavers Guild
• Las Tejedoras Fiber Arts Guild
• The Braid Society
• Taproot Video Coop

In 2019, I was invited to the White House to show my straps as part of the “Made in America Product Showcase”. Only one business was invited from each state. Weaver Guitar Straps was selected to represent New Mexico. My husband and I were happy to travel to Washington, D.C. and meet other makers from around the country. We set up our display at the feet of this historical painting of George Washington. A beautiful guitar made by Pimentel and Sons, Guitarmakers of Albuquerque, accompanied us. Vice President Pence stopped for a chat as he made his way around the room, greeting each of the invited guests.