Jannie Taylor's Passing
It is with tremendous sadness that I inform you of the passing of our beloved design and weaving instructor, Jannie Taylor. Jannie passed peacefully on January 11, 2025, approximately six months after a terminal diagnosis. As with most things in her life, Jannie left us on her own terms. She is survived by her husband Paul, son Matt, daughter-in-law Aileen and two grandsons Jackson and Calvin.
Like many, Jannie began her weaving career in the 1970’s on an old used loom. Once she was able, she acquired an AVL Folding Dobby Loom, and so began her strong admiration of AVL’s equipment designs. Over the course of her life, Jannie owned many looms, including the aforementioned Folding Dobby Loom, an original Jim Ahrens 12 harness school dobby loom, a Workshop Dobby Loom, and her favorite, an A-Series loom. She wove thousands of yards on her A-Series and often told me that she would never need another loom because this one did everything she wanted. She professed “It is so easy and so fast – why would I ever want another loom?” In her passing, Jannie donated the A-Series loom to AVL’s school. As per her wishes, the loom now resides in our studio in Chico for future student use.
Jannie began her direct affiliation with AVL Looms in 1999 at a time when her son, Matt, joined AVL. Jannie’s initial influence was with what became the Warping Wheel. Years earlier after seeing an old garage-built concept for the same purpose, she grasped the profound significance that such a tool could have on sectional warping. When the opportunity arose she became the driving force at AVL in bringing it to life. After a couple of decades and many thousands of Warping Wheels coming in to use, it has become the staple tool for short-warp sectional weaving. Jannie also influenced and tested most of AVL’s looms from the early 2000s on. Her contributions in helping shape and improve so many of our products has been invaluable.
Jannie’s most significant role was as our master teacher. Over the past 20 years, she designed most of AVL’s curriculum and taught hundreds of weavers how to use their looms and design in WeavePoint. Janine traveled the world teaching for AVL going as far as Tasmania and the Philippines. Never one to let obstacles stop her, when COVID restricted in-person gatherings, Jannie developed a whole new online curriculum centered around teaching WeavePoint design of targeted weave structures. Her Zoom classes quickly booked solid for the first two years, only ending when she became ill.
Jannie’s influence extended well beyond AVL’s school. Jannie was a driving force in her own guild, Central Coast Weavers. She was a strong advocate in recruitment, teaching, study groups and the guild’s annual fundraiser, which routinely brings in tens of thousands of dollars for the guild annually. Jannie also taught at many conferences and for many guilds around the country. She became renowned and highly sought after, resulting in multiple published interviews and teaching videos. A quick search online of ‘Jannie Taylor weaver’ reveals a strong legacy of her efforts. It is safe to say that her teaching influences will be felt for generations to come.
On a more personal note, over my 20 years at AVL, Jannie and I became close friends. She was always generous with her time, and her innate intellectual curiosity and near encyclopedic knowledge of all things weaving and fiber arts -related were an amazing resource for me. I found her infectious laugh even more remarkable. We could find humor in even the darkest absurdities and shared many a good laugh in nearly every conversation. But in the end, I will remember her mostly for being a part of my family. In her many visits to Chico, she preferred to stay in our home, often bringing fun crafts to teach my children, and sharing many meals. She was often the first person I would reach out to for advice and consolation. As one of her guildmates put it, “With Jannie’s passing, we lost a giant in the weaving world”. I feel this same sentiment, but in the most personal of ways. Jannie will truly be missed.
- Bob Kruger, President AVL Looms
So sorry to hear of Jannie’s passing RIP. I contacted her by email on 22nd April 2022 asking if I could purchase a pdf copy of Warping Wheel Monograph as I was based in the Uk. Jannie gifted a complimentary copy as it was easier than dealing with international currency for such a small amount, on the understanding that I did not share the digital file.Even though I did not know her I have never forgotten this kindness .
This is so sad. I really enjoyed those classes with Jannie and our sometimes correspondence. As someone else said, “she was a giant in the weaving world”. She will be tremendously missed. I can’t believe that I must now do without her.
I am so sad to hear of Jannie’s passing. I think I tok every class she taught at AVL, and she helped me learn a lot. She was very generous and kind, and taught well-organized information-packed workshops. She will be missed very much by me and all her students.
Such a loss. Jannie was a brilliant, dedicated teacher. I still have a scarf she wove and cherish. She was a wonderful supporter and friend of AVL and Bob!
Bob, that is a lovely tribute. Thank you for the history and the personal perspective.