Diane Braun learned to spin the summer before entering graduate school and to weave the following year. With a master’s degree in history, she has combined her passions by exploring pre-industrial textile traditions of America and Europe. Her goal is to perpetuate the weaving techniques and patterns of the past by creating original works for the present.
Braun particularly likes overshot and summer and winter weave structures—used primarily for coverlets in the 18th and 19th Centuries—which she incorporates into a wide variety of household textiles such as towels, placemats, table runners, and pillows.
She performs all the steps of the weaving process herself, by hand, working on either a 4-harness, 36-inch Harrisville floor loom or a 16-harness, 48-inch Macomber floor loom. She uses natural fibers, particularly cotton, linen, hemp, wool, and silk. She raises Cotswold sheep and weaves her handspun yarn into some of her work. She welcomes custom orders.
In addition to selling textiles on her website, Braun participates in three annual sales sponsored by her local weaving and spinning guild and has demonstrated spinning and weaving at a variety of historical events and craft shows.
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Early American Homes
For Sale in Pennsylvania
COLUMBIA
This property is part of the Victorian past in the Historic District of Columbia, PA. Features 5 bedrooms, 2 full baths, 3 porches, 3 fireplaces, and a lovely ballroom. The home is furnished with elegant Victorian pieces and is in move-in condition.. $485,000.