Thursday, April 11, 2013

Challenges in Weaving

Kente cloth workshop in Ghana. Picture sent by Jim and Marion Kirkwood.
Often more experienced weavers want to expand their technical skills and knowledge and this leads them to take on greater challenges in their weaving projects. In doing so determination and patience can be tested over and over again. It takes  good self esteem to  put ourselves at risk of being humbled  as more errors in preparation of the project occurs the greater the weaving challenge.  Sometimes projects have lengthy and complicated threadings, or challenging treadlings that interrupt the joy and flow of the weaving process. Other times, the yarn gives us much trouble and is very particular about how we handle it. Each project has its own challenges, its own lessons to teach us about weaving, if we are open to what it is teaching us about weaving and about ourselves. Each project builds our knowledge and experience.
Warp faced Rug in cotton by Fran Gurwitz
As we gain more experience in weaving, we often forget about what drew us to weaving in the first place. It wasn't necessarily the complicated, elegant handwoven things that we see more commonly today. We've forgotten that what drew us to the handwoven cloth is that it looked handwoven and not machine made. What drew us to the woven cloth was that it was not produced commercially and 'manufactured'.
Knitters Loom scarf by Laura de Vrij
Simplicity is powerfuly effective and  being experience at weaving can sometimes blind us to the beauty that the obviously handwoven cloth is, in it's ruggedness, it's imperfections, the evidence that a human hand has touched it and made it.
Knitters Loom scarves by Laura de Vrij
Each of us needs to determine  one's weaving path, what is a priority at whatever stage of our weaving experience based on our preferences and predilections, skills and life circumstances.
Pinwheel 8 shaft pattern 18/2 merino scarf by Julia Pelenyi.
New weavers are often very eager to be a masterful weaver without taking all the lumps and bumps on the road that come along with it and the battering one's ego might be subject to. The only way to become a better weaver is by ongoing practice, increasing our knowlege bit by bit, but above all, working at your own pace, honouring who are, how you learn....mistakes and all! Today I thank a few of the more experienced in our weaving class for modelling that for other students in the class and in doing so, being a good role model for our new students.
 
SHIBORI, KASURI AND WOVEN SHIBORI
Apart from our usual weaving instruction, I am also offering enrolled students  an opportunity to do Shibori, Kasuri and Woven Shibori this spring. Please talk to me if you are interested. I noticed that one can purchase special Ibushi thread cutters (for kasuri/ikat) at www.bestmadeco.com.
 
A SPECIAL THANKS TO.....
Laura de Vrij for the helping in keeping the class organized and tidy and to all those that helped Jill roll on her rug warp!
 

WEAVING CLASS FIELD TRIP MAY 29
to a well respected weaver not far from Mansfield, Pat Burns Wendland. The field trip is free to anyone enrolled in the Spring Class and to anyone who can take other participants in their vehicle. For others who would like to attend and who are not registered the cost is $25. Potluck.Departing at 8:45 am. Arriving at Pat's by 11:00 am. Departing no later tater than 3pm. RSVP with me. If you would like to attend and do not have a car, please contact me or talk to me. If you have a car and can take people please let me know (if you haven't already).
 
OPPORTUNITIES
Ann Noble informed me that the Maria Schuka Library at 1745 Eglinton West (east of Dufferin) makes free exhibition space available. It is looking for people to exhibit work. They have a 20' x 5" wall and 15' x 5' wall and would welcome weavers. The link is below.
 
ABOUT TAPESTRY
Go to my tapestry blog to see what's been going on in the world of tapestry. http://tapestryline.blogspot.ca/2013/04/cultural-mosaic-as-inspiration.html
 
RESOURCES
Want a weaving app? iweaveit from the Apple App Store is a weaving draft and design app available for iPad, iPod and iPhone. You can enter your own weaving drafts, edit them and view with your own choice of colours and yarns.
 
Free weaving patterns on line (sent to my from Mimma Draga)
http://www.handweaving.net/Home.aspx. an awe inspiring site when you see all graphic draw downs, especially in colour.
The other site that has archives full of weaving patterns is found here: http://www.cs.arizona.edu/patterns/weaving/
 
Recently released books on weaving:
A Crackle Weave Companion: Exploring a 4 shaft Crackle. by Lucy M. Brusic
Simple Weaves: Over 30 Classic Patterns and Fresh New Styles. Birgitta Bengtsson Bjork and Tina Ignell.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.