Looming Murder Read Free Page A

out of the shop area and into the second room, where I had set up my looms.
    “Welcome to our weaving group, everyone. I’m thrilled that so many of you decided to join, no matter what reason may have brought you.” I looked at David Swanson and gave him a smile. “There are a few different ways we can do this. We could meet once or twice a week and work together, or we can each decide what kind of blankets we want to make and then weave them on our own. I will leave the decision to you.”
    This time Jenny spoke up. “How about a combination of both?” She looked around. “Maybe I can do some work on my own, but I sort of like the idea of getting together once a week or so.” Her suggestion was met with smiles and nods.
    “I think that’s a good idea. Those of you who don’t have looms of your own can make appointments to come use one of mine whenever you like. As for tonight, there are seven of us, and only four looms, so we’ll have to partner up. But I’ll try to have enough looms for everyone at our next meeting. Does anyone have a portable loom we could borrow?”
    Jenny looked at me. “I have a rigid heddle I can bring. I’ve only ever used it to make scarves and place mats though. Do you think it’ll work for making baby blankets?”
    “Of course it will. Weaving on a simple loom is a wonderful way to learn the craft. It will be perfect for our beginners. After they learn the basics, they may want to graduate to a more complex loom.”
    Marnie Potter cut in. “I’ve seen some gorgeous blankets made on simple looms.”
    “That settles it, then,” replied Jenny. “I’ll bring it over.”
    Susan raised her hand. “I have two looms at home. One of them is portable. I can bring it over if you like.”
    “Thank you. That would be great. I’ll need help preparing the warps and dressing the looms for the beginner weavers.” I looked around, hoping for a volunteer.
    “I can do that if you like,” Jenny offered. “How about I come over tomorrow morning, say, sometime around ten thirty?”
    I wondered if I looked as pleased as I felt. Since I’d moved here, all my concentration had been on setting up and I’d yet to make friends. Perhaps that was about to change. “Great. Maybe we can have coffee together afterward.”
    Across the room Marnie Potter was fanning herself again. She looked at David Swanson. “Could you do this lady a favor and open that dratted window?” David struggled with the window for a few minutes and managed to raise it a couple of inches. Meanwhile, I plugged in the fan and turned it on, creating a light breeze.
    “That’s the most it’ll go,” David said.
    “That’s much better, cupcake,” said Marnie, beaming at him. Apparently it didn’t take much to soften her up, because the frosty woman of a moment ago had morphed into a coquettish flirt. “You are such a sweetie pie.”
    “Who else here is new to weaving?” I asked, trying to bring the subject back to our project. Mercedes raised her hand, grimacing. “I have a suggestion,” I said. “Why don’t the newbies join my beginner class? Better yet, how about I organize a class for just the three of you? That way, you can learn while working on your baby blankets.”
    They glanced at each other, looking unsure. The first to nod was David. “I will if you will,” he told Dolores.
    “You can count on Mercedes and me.”
    Her daughter scowled. “Oh, Mo-o-om,” she said, stretching the word into three syllables. “You know I don’t want to—”
    “Mercedes, you will do as I say, and that’s that.”
    “Let’s get to work,” I cut in enthusiastically. “I suggest our beginners join an experienced weaver—just for tonight,” I quickly added, seeing Dolores’s face fall.
    Marnie headed straight for David Swanson, hooking her arm through his. “Don’t you worry, cupcake. I know enough for the two of us.” She led him toward my AVL, the largest of my looms, and began explaining its different parts