Diane Itter

Diane Itter, basket weave. From the book The Art of Fabric: Mainstream

Diane Itter

Triangles by Diane Itter

Diane Itter began experimenting with fiber in 1968 while she was an undergraduate at the University of Pittsburgh, and continued her explorations as a graduate student at Indiana University. By the 1970s, she had refined her knotting techniques, taking inspiration from such wide-ranging sources as Peruvian weaving techniques, Native American mini-baskets, Amish textiles, and English miniatures. Besides working on her craft, she taught courses in weaving, quiltmaking, and other arts at Indiana University and directed the Crafts and Design Program there. By the time she passed away from cancer in 1989, Itter had created more than 350 works.

"I view my work as studies or fragments, parts of some greater whole as yet undiscovered.

 For me the excitement evolves as I work on the pieces - there is no planning involved 

and the pieces are always open to change. The working process is of greater importance

 than the finished piece…I have the desire to create something so complex that the

 method of its madness cannot be figured out."