Potentials
Awaiting yarn has the most incredible potential. What will it become? How will it become?
The ability and skill to manipulate and interweave these threads is where the construction process takes place.
It is said we are all full of potential, like yarn. But we seem to be always waiting and working on the development of our skills with determination, luck or whatever.
How do we learn and why does everyone learn differently? Why do ways of teaching come and go, then pop up again under another purported enlightened strategy? Do we really know anything at all about this except that when it all works it’s a great feeling…both for teacher and student.
The reason why I write about this is because of my intermittent frustration with learning to weave. Although I’ve been weaving for a very long time, I’m still a learner. I collect copious amounts of weave information hoping that its mere ownership will infuse me with its understanding – but it doesn’t.
My biggest frustration is the Complex Weavers Journal. I have many issues that collect in my ‘want to know’ information pile but sadly I don’t understand alot of it. So I read selected articles very carefully. Each line sometimes several times, analysing drafts and images for I’m not sure what! Then I start to wonder about my ability to understand any of the little technicalities that I love. I get so frustrated and often just give up…..annoyed like hell.
But something does eventually ‘click’. By revisiting articles, mostly years after. By referencing the references repeatedly. By sleeping on it – probably too much. And most importantly by actually copying a draft and putting it on the loom. Eventually and unexpectantly, I start to see and feel what’s happening and start to understand. Only after this very, very long process can I envisage possiblities in my imagination.
This points to the value of reading about and seeing how other more experienced weavers develop their weaves. Otherwise I truly believe I would never learn anything…that is without others.
I’ve included a photo of the book I first bought to learn weaving many years ago. My husband made my first loom from its instruction (the weirdest 4 harness frame loom ever) and I began learning about twill, tapestry, rya and the incredible potential of yarn. After that I owe most of my weaving knowledge to Handwoven. Although this magazine doesn’t fulfil my weave needs or styling so much now, it provided an amazing source of discovery, fulfillment and motivation to me for many years. The articles seemed to make the complex possible for me, they were written in a way that encouraged and guided me. I am very grateful for its existence.
Maybe I’ve stumbled on another old learning theory – encouragement from others and a determination in myself to keep reading and re-reading or doing that thing that frustrates me so much, because I really want to know how to do it.
I have that Sunset book as well! I poured over its pages again and again imagining all the things I could weave. I learned to read a draft from it and my brother made me the 4 harness frame loom. I think I used it once and it’s somewhere in a shed still. I do remember how I puzzled and pondered over the instructions for reading a draft and when it clicked…
I am just looking over it again and you know, it isn’t a bad little book!
Would you really want to have nothing left to learn? It can be a frustrating struggle, but it’s can also be half the fun!
That was my first book too. At the time, it seemed like the only book on weaving available in Aus; or at least the only one I could access and afford.
I managed to find space for it in my rucksack when my husband and I set off overseas on a remote and lengthy study trip; and it proved useful, in an very limited way, during my first instruction in weaving by a local weaver in a language which was practically foreign to both of us.
Back in Aus, it didn’t stay my only weaving resource, thankfully, as ‘inter-library loan’ facilitated the borrowing of many different texts on weaving. I especially remember being fascinated and inspired by the BBC publication, ‘The Craft of the Weaver’ by authors Peter Collingwood, Ann Sutton and Geraldine St Aubyn Hubbard, and Ann Sutton’s ‘The Structure of Weaving’.
Nowadays, I’m a little amazed at how frequently I see ‘Weaving – Techniques and Projects’ for sale on eBay; I sometimes wonder what influence it might continue to have.
How do we learn weaving?
I started with a course and used a lot of “recipies” from journals. I did a lot of different types of weaving and types of material. But I never created by myself. I looked for patterns I liked and maybe I adapted the pattern for my purposes.
Then I stopped weaving for nearly 10 years and about 2 years I started again. And I start from a new point of few. I want to know. What is the special pattern, is it related to another? In which way do colours interfer? What makes the difference of warp density.
I tried and tried and I got nearly stuck. Sometimes people ask me, do you only try or do you weave anything special?
I have discussed a lot with a friend of mine, a very experienced an well educated weaver. Even she is exploring the way of learning to weave. How can one instruct someone interested in weaving? What is important to know? There are so many variables. How can one chose the right combination, recognize the outcome and improve for the next time.
Traditional weavers only used homespun wool or flax. One quality, one loom, one pattern. Everything optimized during generations.
On the other end there are textile artists, playing with the ressources and then, there is a huge number of weavers somewhere in between, struggeling around with all that information in books, journals and all the web sites and blogs.
A couple of months ago they asked in handwoven, what is your favorite weaving book and what kind of weaving book is missing. I cannot really answer. I have found so many information here and there, sometimes a picture, sometimes a draft and how can I know about my weaving future. There are always several projects in my mind. Things I want to try. Sometimes I have the time to complete my ideas, sometimes not.
For me weaving is rather a way to go than a goal, at least I think!
It was interesting to read that you still consider yourself a learning weaver. That in itself is an encouragement to me. I’ve always thought of you as being more of the teacher! But then, there is always something to explore and learn.
The Complex Weavers Journal always intimidates me. I feel that I’ll never get to that level. Yet weaving is such an interesting subject to study. I figure it will probably take me the rest of my life to merely scratch it’s surface. Unless perhaps I find my niche.
Those blue and green yarns are very inviting. They beg to become something wonderful!
I know what you mean about the Complex Weavers Journal. But I’m grateful that there is something that I can read…and not understand.
I use the same approach you do. I read, re-read, and then put it away to be picked up later. Surprisingly, I am “getting” it….some of it…slowly.
Of course, it comes faster if I actually experiment on the loom — oh, that word: sampling. Even if my samples fail catastrophically! But I don’t always take the time.
Is it ironic that I’m the current Complex Weavers President?? I guess I just refuse to be intimidated, even when I’m totally in the dark. For now.
I, too, had that book when I began weaving! And yes, the Complex Weavers Journals are intimidating. But as with all the old issues of Weaver’s Magazine (and I treasure those issues I have!), revisiting and revisiting pay dividends. I remember when I found Weaver’s Magazine totally intimidating. Now not so much. Yes, I consider myself a learning weaver too. If Rubens could say and 90 or 92 that he was only just beginning to learn how to paint, I can say that I will never know it all………..not even if I just limit myself to crackle.
Like Leigh, I find the blues and greens most inviting. Especially after working with all this intense red!
What wonderful responses to this post!
It’s nice to hear that other members also find the complex weavers challenging but also totally engrossing and worth stretching the mind. I also agree with sampling and how it really helps to understand a weave when you see and feel it on the loom….but sadly I try to cut corners often and just remain frustrated with the speed of my bookish learning.
I think Amy’s words sink in…to refuse to be intimidated. It’s wonderful learning more and more about weaving, even when I know the learning will take a little longer to achieve what I want.
Thanks to all.
Kaz
Hi,
I am a beginner weaver and would like to know the exact name of the book that you got when you first started weaving along with the author.
I have 2 floor looms and going to be taking a class next month to learn how to get them warped and start weaving on them.
Karen