Warp Painting and Ikat in Melbourne
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With another opportunity to run a workshop with ‘live’ weavers I was over the moon….and in Melbourne too. Double over the moon! Thanks to the weavers and especially Amanda (and Mae) for being a most generous host.The workshop was fantastic. We focused on ways of warping with a horizontal warping mill, a vertical warping mill and a warping board using multiple cones of warp to speed up the process. Most of the weavers were or had studied at RMIT School of Textiles but had never had the opportunity to warp with multiple cones. To do this we needed a warping paddle or a rigid heddle to create the cross as the warp is wound. Very different handling techniques were needed with the different warping tools. I usually use a vertical warping mill so the other types were of interest to me too.
I am so motivated to continue in my craft by these types of workshops. I learn so much from other weavers as well. We started comparing tips and ways of doing things.
Most of the weavers used a guide string to measure their warps, something I’ve never done. Michelle even had coloured warping guides for different warp lengths. I think I learnt more than I ‘taught’. I don’t believe you ever ‘teach’ adults because they are so full of experiences possibly quite different and more diverse than mine. I just try to be open to a learning exchange within this. Here are photos of the warping, the dyeing and ikat tying and Amanda’s weave in progress and completed textile. Beautiful.
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It is so refreshing to hear you say that you don’t “teach” adults! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve signed up for workshops, only to not come back after the first or second time because the workshop leader’s approach resembled that of an primary school teacher, who talked to the “class” as if they were a bunch of dull-witted 8 year olds. Adults should not talk down to other adults, even if they are new to a certain skill, for the very reasons you point out in this, your latest post.