"Tammy Renner is a skilled weaving and textiles artist who creates beautifully crafted pieces that blend artistry with function. From beautiful versatile backpack purses to vibrant home decor textiles, Tammy’s woven creations are designed for a variety of uses, each showcasing the rich texture and intricate patterns of her craft. Her work celebrates the timeless art of weaving, infusing each piece with both warmth and style. Whether you're looking to add a statement piece to your home or a handmade accessory to your wardrobe, Tammy’s textiles offer a perfect combination of artistry and practicality."
- Printed Mass
tammyweaves textiles are now available for purchase locally at Printed Mass located in Eastworks in Easthampton, MA. For those out of town, please contact Tammy to make a purchase
and have your tammyweaves handwoven heirloom shipped to your home!
Visit the tammyweaves blog
In 2016, I delighted in 16 weeks of textile heaven at Vävstuga’s very first Vav Immersion class in Shelburn Falls, MA. During that time, I wrote a weekly blog to share with my family, friends, and fundraiser supporters. The tammyweaves blog has been read by thousands and become a place I return to often to recall details of various textile projects.
tammyweaves has recently moved to Eastworks in Easthampton, MA. Originally located in Ann Arbor, MI, tammyweaves is thrilled to be weaving in an old textile mill. It is truly a dream come true!
2021 Michigan League of Handweavers Member Spotlight: Tammy Renner
Tammy Renner was awarded 1st Place in Fashion Accessories and the HGA Award for her ‘Smålandsväv Scarf #3. It’s been forty-four years since Tammy entered textiles in a show. In 1977, Tammy won 1st prizes for her sewing, needlepoint and knitting-crochet sample book. Not knowing one could study textile arts in college, Tammy pursued a career as a music educator, and found herself on the quest of joyful, effective pedagogy.
Tammy was an avid potholder weaver in her youth. While at Miami University, she spied the summer Weaving Workshops with keen interest. Her friends told her "only old ladies weave." It wasn’t until the 1990’s when Tammy befriended a group of younger weavers that, she knew she too must weave on a floor loom.
She excitedly joined Weavers Guild of the Miami Valley (WGMV) in Yellow Springs, Ohio, borrowed a table loom, and wove her first dishtowel. Afterwards, Tammy enthusiastically purchased a used cherry Norwood Workshop Loom and participated in workshops with WGMV & at Convergence Cincinnati.
Tammy lived in Norway with her family during the
summer of 1999 and was inspired by the amazing textile displays at the living history museums. Despite many telling her that linen was too hard for beginners to weave, Tammy began weaving linen dishcloths inspired by the Växbö dishcloth she had purchased. After hearing Katie Reeder Meek’s lecture about her book Reflections from a Flaxen Past, Tammy realized she wasn’t the only one who loved weaving with linen. A decade later, she joyfully joined Katie Reeder Meek’s 3-day workshop: Warp with a Trapeze and Dance with
Your Loom. Within a few months a Glimåkra “loom in distress - that urgently needed a new home” came into her life. Tammy began to weave with a happiness she had never known. Simultaneously she was reading Marion Marzolf’s book Shuttle in Her Hand and dreaming of attending a weaving school.
That dream came true as Tammy wove with Becky Ashenden at Vävstuga - first Vävstuga Basics, followed by a glorious 16 weeks at Väv Immersion. Tammy kept a Väv blog, which continues to have thousands of views each year, and has presented her talk: Väv Immersion: Sixteen Weeks of Textile Heaven to weaving guilds. Tammy loved weaving at the Vävstuga Drawlooms and set her loom up at home to weave Smålandsväv – a technique that can be woven without the extra drawloom equipment. She wove Smålandsväv scarves for her daughters in their favorite colors and then wove a third (the award-winning) scarf for herself, blending the colors and patterns of her daughters’ scarves, create a mother-daughter connection.
Tammy has become known for her creation of Smålandsväv pillows and sachets filled with lavender flowers, balsam wood, or wool. Her newest creations, Smålandsväv backpack purses that convert to a totebag, have become an instant hit wherever she goes.
Loving and Caring for Your Handwoven Heirlooms
Welcome to tammyweaves!!! I handweave each textile with love and delight so that you may you enjoy the pure pleasure of using your handwoven heirloom daily. Each item is uniquely designed and created on the loom for you. Small irregularities are a part of handwovens and are part of the human process of making.
Your handwoven’s first bath: Soak in a bowl of warm water with just a few drops of soap. Gently rinse in a similar temperature of water, then squish out water without twisting or applying strong pressure. Blot out excess water with a thick towel. Block your handwoven by laying it to dry so that it is “square” with itself. Dry on a flat surface or on your favorite clothes line/drying rack.
Ongoing washings for cotton/cottolin items: Your handwoven textiles will become more and more absorbent with each washing. When using your cloth in the kitchen or bath – wash at least once a week. Toss it in the washing machine with towels of similar color or wash by hand in hot sudsy water. Remove from the wash and take a moment to square up and flatten the edges as needed. Line drying is recommended, though my mother always preferred to toss hers in the dryer. Either way they will shrink a bit with time. The Swedes put their towels through a mangle to press, so if the iron is your friend, you may delight in ironing your towel and if not, you can simply put your towel back to use as is!
Ongoing washings for 100% linen items: Handwash or wash gently in cool to warm water. (not hot!) Wash alone or with similar color and textiles. Shape square with itself and hang to dry. Note: Hot water washing or hot drying will cause significant shrinkage. and may change the shape/structure/useage of your handwoven heirloom.
Ongoing washings for textiles with wool or with 100% wool: Handwash or wash in a wool cycle on your machine - use the same temperature of warm (not hot) water for both the wash and the rinse, as changes in temperature from wash to rinse will cause shrinkage. Do not aggitate, or rub stains, as this may cause felting. Wash alone or with similar color and textiles. Shape square with itself and lie flat to dry.
Small SquaresFace Cloth/Dish Cloth: tammyweaves small squares have been used daily in my household for @25 years. Handwoven of Swedish cottolin – a mix of cotton and linen, these cloths will last for years, possibly decades. Rinse out with hot sudsy water after each use and hang over your facet/sink/towel rack to dry. Notice that the cottolin does not mold or hold odors. This is the beauty of natural fibers. Note: washing sharp knives with the cloth, risks cutting through the fibers, and is not recommended. Other than this, you can clean and scrub away at your sink, in the bath or in your home!
Rectangle/Square/Tea Towel/Tablemat: Enjoy these generous sized rectangles/squares in any room of your home. Originally woven to use in your kitchen or bath to dry your hands or your dishes, if you really “just can’t” use it as a towel, enjoy in your bread basket or to decorate the top of a table or dresser. Handwoven with Swedish cottolin – a mix of cotton and linen, your rectangle/square will provide you daily usages for years, possbily decades.
Table Runner/Rug: Enjoy in your household as is, or if the surface is slippery, place a non slip mat underneath to prevent slipping and accidents. Care: dust, shake outside, and or vaccumn on a gentle setting as needed. Spot wash, handwash, or machine wash on delicate with like colors, as colors may bleed when wet.
Backpack/Tote: Enjoy wearing your bag over your shoulders as a backpack or carry in your hand or over one shoulder as a tote bag. Use as is or with several smaller bags inside to keep small items contained and easy to find. Please note: over filling the bag may cause the seams to tear with time due to pressure and/or weight. If you notice this happening lighten the load and repair the stiching by hand or with a sewing machine as soon as possible. Spot wash, handwash, or machine wash on delicate with like colors, as colors may bleed when wet.
BalsamSachet/Lavender Sachet/Lavendar Wand: Enjoy daily while gently rolling/massaging between your two hands to awaken the aroma. Repeat as desire. Keep in a dry place where you will see it often and enjoy. Or place in a special closet or drawer to freshen your special clothes or linens. Avoid placing in a wet/humid area, such as near a sink, bathtub, or shower. Keep out of direct sunlight. If it gets accidently wet, gently pat dry and allow to dry out as soon as possible. If dusty, gently dust with your hands or the lowest setting on your vacumn cleaner. The aroma will continue to bring you joy for years, possibly decade to come.