Kate Jenkins

Studio 115

Arts & Industry Building

221 Pine Street
Florence, MA 01060

(413) 348-7503
kate@thejenkins.org

I taught myself to spin and weave 45 years ago while raising sheep on a farm in Pennsylvania, When I moved to Northampton in 1990, I got a job weaving rayon chenille yardage for a local clothing designer who sold her hand-made clothes at high-end craft shows around the country. I also began weaving my own line of chenille scarves and shawls for sale.

Over the years I’ve done production weaving for several designers and also taught weaving at various local craft schools, including Snow Farm, Webs Yarn Store, and The Fiber Arts Center in Amherst.

Now that I’m retired, I still weave scarves with rayon chenille and other yarns. I’m also weaving cotton kitchen towels and making potholders on my granddaughter’s square metal loom, (in more complex patterns than the ones we all used to weave as children). In addition, I needle weave one-of-kind tapestry necklaces, incorporating beads and medallions into the woven jewelry.

My studio is in an old factory building that has been repurposed as artists’ studios. I am also a painter and printmaker, and some of my art hangs in my studio. I look forward to your visit for the Working Weavers Trail.