This show looms large
Handweaver Linda Borntrager will pop open a trunk full of vests, shawls and jackets for her show at the Lincoln City Cultural Center Fiber Arts Studio Gallery, running from Thursday, Feb. 4 through Sunday, March 28.
Borntrager finds inspiration for her handwoven textiles in nature, where colors and light are so masterfully combined, which leads to her selection of fiber, weave structure and visions for the end use of the woven fabric. The creativity of combining all these elements carries Borntrager through each step of the process.
“I weave fabrics to be worn every day, not just special occasions,” she said. “I design simple, classic garments to flatter real people with real shapes and real lives.”
Textiles have always captivated Borntrager’s interest. She purchased her first loom at the age of 30 when she was already busy as a young mother and fulltime elementary teacher living in an isolated, rural Eastern Montana ranch home that did not offer much for aspiring weavers. So, Handwoven Magazine became a great resource for her to explore fibers, patterns and structures. Her children grew up thinking looms and spinning wheels were normal in every household.
“I will never get involved in production weaving,” she said at the time. “I just want to weave for fun!” Well, never say “never.” The hobby expanded into production weaving the year a former student approached her about a possible summer job. That was the year Weave Montana was officially established with the purchase of a 60-inch loom and contracts from clothing and interior designers for custom yardage production.
Before long, she had several more looms in her weaving studio, aka: her husband’s garage. Weaving was a summer-only enterprise as Borntrager was still teaching at the local two-room schoolhouse. Population density in Eastern Montana was low, perhaps only three people per square mile — outnumbered greatly by cattle and rabbits. Job opportunities were few and far between so Weave Montana filled a need and soon became a busy studio with up to five weavers during the summer months. Eventually, her husband realized the “little” weaving business could support the building of an actual weaving studio, so in 2004 construction began on a 1,200-square-foot studio space. Clearly, he realized it was the only way he would get the looms, weaving, fiber and people out of his garage.
Gradually the “weaving season” began earlier in the spring and extended later into the fall to meet the demands of the designers and willingness of the weavers. The employees had changed from local kids to adults and even a mother-daughter team. During peak production, the studio produced more than 2,500 yards of fine and medium-weight fabric per year.
Though she has relocated Weave Montana to Oregon, Borntrager continues to develop her own fabrics, patterns and garments in a new custom designed weaving studio that includes four looms, a couple of spinning wheels, vast quantities of fiber, raw wool and all the other assorted necessary equipment.
The trunk show in the Fiber Arts Studio Gallery is a small sampling of the creations she sells in boutiques, at shows and events and by special order.
The Fiber Arts Studio Gallery is inside the Lincoln City Cultural Center at 540 NE Hwy. 101, open from 10 am to 4 pm, Thursday through Sunday. For more information, call 541-342-1973.