One thing about writing the new articles is the age old question...why?
Why is this thing happening? What causes it? How can it be prevented? or enhanced?
Right now I'm working on two different articles. Neither has a tight deadline, but I suspect both are going to need some examples/samples to explore the questions scurrying around in my brain pan right now.
I've done some research on one of the topics, before, but not particularly in depth and I have questions. I now have a much more extensive library than I did back in the 80s when I first started looking at the broader topic, and so I'm going to go deep diving into those new (to me) books and see if they shed any light on the question.
The other topic is more of an explainer of a term that - per usual - has more than one meaning, depending on the context. This can be very confusing for newer weavers who learn the definition of one meaning, then encounter it in another context that is different. I'm going to attempt to explain as many of the different definitions as I can, in hopes of bringing understanding to the question of what that term means.
Why? Why am I going to spend several hours over several days, and even more hours weaving samples to illustrate the articles? Because I want to help people to understand, not just follow suggestions. Suggestions that may only address part of the equation.
Weaving is full of 'it depends' conditions.
The way it depends varies in so many ways that sometimes it's hard to remember them all! But I'm going to try, and it is going to take time for me to dig through my memory banks and those books until I'm satisfied I have been as thorough as I can be.
The craft of weaving is huge. Much larger than most people grasp when they first begin weaving. And so we each of us pick away at it, trying this, trying that, finding out what works, and what doesn't.
Ultimately the only correct answer is the one that gives the weaver the results they desire. But on the journey of getting there, it can be a good idea to draw upon the experience of others, to find out what they have done, and what they advise.
So, yes, I will be digging through the indexes of these books looking for the terms I am trying to write about. Just this morning I was reminded of alternate words to use in addition to the term that is most commonly used *today*. Since some of my books date to the late 1800s, early 1900s, having other search terms is going to be useful, I think, and might bring me closer to some answers.
The only downside to doing all this? I keep thinking of more aspects of weaving that I'd like to dive deeply into! Fortunately I've already forgotten the one I thought of this morning (although it may come back!)
I've been weaving for nearly 50 years. And I still learn. And that is why I keep weaving - because I want to have answers to the questions that pop up when I'm doing something different, or trying to explain why something is happening to a newer weaver.
The life so short, the craft so long to learn...
1 comment:
So I'm reminded of an old friend who played jazz, and taught himself piano in his later years. His motto was 'As ye Fool Around, so shall ye Discover." In fact I embroidered this and it hangs over his piano.
Post a Comment