Handwoven Coverlet 1936

Howard Sherman made this handwoven coverlet, sometime before 1995, in what looks like indigo and white. The design is precise but has a handmade, process-oriented feel. I love how the floral patterns and geometric borders sit together; it's like Sherman’s letting us in on his way of thinking. The stark contrast between the indigo and white gives the piece a bold, graphic quality. Notice how the roses are formed by weaving the white to create negative spaces within the indigo. Each stitch or weave feels intentional, building up the image. The way the individual threads create the larger image reminds me of Anni Albers' weaving or maybe even some of the Gee's Bend Quilters' approach to design. Sherman's coverlet celebrates how simple materials, when carefully arranged, can create something beautiful and complex. It's not just about the final product, but the journey of its making, a conversation across time and materials.