We were all looking forward to it – and we were not disappointed ! Using a careful structured project Ros skilfully led us through planning, blending, butterflies, woggly edges, blobs, fancy stitches and outlines. We learned SO MUCH. Great tutor, great company, wonderful “tea lady” .
Ros Wilson’s work
Warped up and ready to work
Intense concentration
Ros’s work
More of Ros’s work
Day 2
Finished work
back of a finished piece
Another example of Ros’s work
Terry : “you’ll do it all in one day”
Students : “oh no we won’t”
OH YES WE DID !
The aim was to make a warp, read a pattern, transfer the warp to the table loom, weave a variety of patterns, and eliminate the fear of multi-shaft looms. We began at 10. A motley bunch : some complete beginners, some rigid heddlers, some wanting a refresher. Fuelled by tea, coffee, biscuits and chocolate (many thanks Tracey) by 3 o’clock the tabby, twill and basket patterns had appeared.
Thanks to a brilliant tutor. Thanks to good company. Looking forward to our next step – without fear !
Members gathered to hear Our Stan’s talk on alternative weaving techniques. Several of them involved the use of cardboard, and he confessed to having an addiction to the stuff. (Well, it takes all sorts !) Stan explained, and demonstrated, how to pin out the shape of a garment, warp it up, and then construct it; how to weave a beret using card with punched holes; making a shawl from a HUGE piece of card notched at the edges, and how to “knock up” a scarf loom using cheap timber, wing nuts and a pound or two of nails. Lots of questions, lots of laughter, and delicious home-baked cakes made for a most enjoyable afternoon.
Amanda’s second visit to the Workshop, and look what she’s producing !
Stan helped Val warp up a replica of a 15C box loom with linen thread, to make strapping. (The sharp-eyed amongst you will spot a modern heddle, and cardboard tension strips, but you get the idea.)
The time had come. We’d enjoyed using our rigid heddle looms, made enough scarves for the population of the whole world, and even mastered pick up sticks. We could put it off no longer. And so, fortified with Sharon’s cake, and filter coffee, Jenny introduced us to the alchemy that is four shaft weaving. I will only divulge that it involves lots of different sticks, rubber bands, and bad language ! But oh ! the possibilities !
From fine cloth, to sturdy rugs, to . . . experiments with bicycle inner-tubes and zips ??? Tina is one of our less-traditional weavers.
There were oooohhs and aaaaaahs all round when we helped her take her latest piece off the loom this week.
Inspired by Elly’s workshop last week, Tracey quite literally “got weaving”. Having mastered the basics, she went on to produce several little masterpieces. The detail is amazing – tiny harvest mice and a delicate spider’s web being just two of her creations. (They will be on sale at the Aylsham Show this weekend).
Margaret is working on something a tad bigger – a blanket no less. It will be ready for husband Ken to snuggle in when the weather turns cold.
And Sharon showed us her skill with dyes when skein after skein of the most beautiful blue yarn emerged from her shopping basket. (If I tell her it’s “just my colour” do you think she might take the hint ???)
We have oft seen Sandra weaving intricate items on her inkle loom, when she is not already otherwise busy contributing to the life of the Guild and we have marvelled at the wonderful results.
At our recent workshop, with the assistance of Jenny, she unlocked some of the mysteries of inkle weaving for us, an ancient craft that even back then deserved several mentions by Shakespeare.
We had a really instructive workshop and learnt that in addition to being portable and accessible, inkle weaving can risk becoming addictive, but do not let this put you off having a go.
Thank you Sandra and Jenny for a really great day.
