The Yearning of New Weavers
Just back from the Newcastle Weavers market demo. So good. I set up the two looms each with something different. One with an extreme version of the WWW technique and extremely loose weaving and the other with an instant collapse weave with my overspun handspun. I used an Aussie Polwarth breed from Wendy Dennis. Very nice indeed. After a few decades of weaving you would think I’d be a bit sick of it by now but no! Weaving is just so rewarding on so many levels.
The trading day was particularly rewarding talking to weavers, spinners and other fibre lovers but I also had interest from people who had never woven but had a burning desire to learn or know more. Several times over the last week I’ve had contact from people who just feel so excited about looking at textiles and looms. They remind me of what drew me to weaving many years ago. I think if you have an episode like this with intense yearning or funny feelings when looking at a loom you need to start weaving…for your health and sanity!
More new weavers in the studio and more new potential weavers wanting to WEAVE! As more established courses and studios for constructed textiles close more people are wanting to learn it. What a strange and paradoxical world we live in. Music, performance, art and craft is such an integral part of human life. Humans want to create, to sing, to make music, to make clothes, to imagine, to immerse themselves in the curious.We yearn for these opportunities especially when sharing and working with others and creating work that has meaning for us. Weaving may be a side salad of your life as ‘food on the table’ textile jobs are very thin, but we can still maintain the groundswell to invigorate handweaving so our yearning is fulfilled.
Next for the studio – Open studio Saturday 18 April. Two day workshop 23/24 May nearly full. All welcome. Bookings essential.
You are absolutely right Kaz – the immense satisfaction of making cloth with the hands cannot be quantified. Saori weaving is perfect to introduce new generations to this delight!
It was a delight to chat with you at the Newcastle Weavers Market, Kaz. I was one of those newbies who has that burning desire to weave. I loved your Saori loom and have fantasised about having one since then, but I think my beginners budget will start me with a rigid heddle and one day, when I’ve proven myself as a weaver, I’ll spoil myself with a Saori 🙂
Thank you for spending the time to chat with me, it was an absolute pleasure to talk with someone who gets so much enjoyment from their weaving. Hopefully one day I’ll make it up to Old Bar and take a class with you.
Cheers!
Marijke.
Thanks Heather and Marijke
Always a pleasure to chat with new or even vaguely potential weavers. I started weaving with a few sticks and home built looms over 30 years ago and see that everyone takes a different route to enjoying handweaving.