In late 2020 (and what a year that was!) I purchased a second-hand rigid heddle loom on Trade Me. It had seen better days, and had a few quirks, but it started me on a journey that is now five months old, and looks unlikely to stop any time soon.
I find handweaving textiles to be highly meditative. I also find that it is rich with metaphors, many of which enable me to explore life’s ups and downs from a different perspective. A process I find both reassuring and useful.
I have now woven over 50 different projects, using a range of natural and man-made fibres. From double-bed sized blankets to tiny little samples, and lots of things in between. I have even cut up my handwoven textiles to create cushion covers!
I have purchased four new looms (and nearly five… any day now) bringing my total to six – three for tapestry weaving and three for textile weaving. And, great joy of joys, I have just taken over our conservatory as my studio.
But by far the greatest joy of all is giving away what I have made. About 20% of what I make I give to people I love as gifts. Sometimes as I’m weaving, the emerging textile just speaks to me and tells me who it’s for, other times I have someone in mind from the outset.
Do you have a hobby or craft that brings you joy? I resisted this craft for decades… and in some ways, perhaps it is sweeter and more joyful as a consequence, but I am looking forward to decades more joy to come!
I have been crafting for most of my life from the age of 10yrs now 61years young. – but it has only been in the last 6-8 years I have really seriously fallen in love with fibre & spinning, hand dyeing -both fibre and yarn .
What started out as a means of getting the colours of yarn I wanted for crochet and knitting, it then went to why dont I try spinning the yarn as well. Then of course came why dont I dye the fibre to give me a wider range of colours too. One thing lead to another so as a natural progression recently I have added weaving to the rabbit hole as well. I have an Ashford Rigid Heddle (80cm) and really enjoying the different path from just knitting my yarn etc. Seriously considering a 8 shaft table loom to allow for a whole new world of patterns etc
I have been slowly building the up the stash of equipment and family and friends have been given a wide variety of things over the last few years.
I am continually learning and cant wait to retire so I can devote more time to my passion of all things fibre & yarn. Only 4 years to go now – so definitely on count down mode. !!!
I love meeting follow crafters and always appreciate what they do – we all do things sometimes in a different way yet achieve very similar results in array of wonderful colours and textures.
Crafters are a special breed and I am pleased to see new generations are appreciating what we do and even giving it a go. I love showing my Granddaughter and she often helps me dye fibre on her weekends stays.
Laurie
Two of my favourite parts of this journey have been: meeting other people with same/similar passion; and getting to work with fibres and materials that have been hand-made by others!
Laurie, your eye for colour is divine… I still have some of your yarn on my shelf, ready to be wound into a ball or two before becoming something new… hopefully worthy of the time and skill you put into it! Rebecca
This is why I have joined the singing group Rebecca as I too felt the need for a joyful thing. I am glad you are doing something so restful and useful at the same time. I had fun singing again and I was pleased with how much I could follow along with the music even though I can’t read it.