Over the weekend, six people attended the Introduction to Weaving class at the local guild. I began by explaining that we would discuss language, equipment, fibres and then I would demonstrate how to dress a loom. One warp and loom had been reserved for the demo.
I talked about the depth and breadth of information in the craft and warned them that while they would be weaving, their results would be a sampler, not a 'thing', and that while weaving their sampler, exploring the possibilities of a very simple threading (straight and point progression woven in twill variations) what they would be mostly working on was their physical skills.
Two days barely scratches the surface of what someone needs to know to weave successfully. Weaving - like many other crafts - is not something that can be picked up in a day or two, but can be practiced, explored and investigated for a lifetime.
This morning someone posted about teaching a class and someone being vexed because they didn't get perfect results the first time, and when asking for suggestions was offended when the suggestion was that more practice, of the mindful, analytic kind, was the only way to gain the skills required to get close to 'perfection'.
My six students embraced the fact that they were making weavers, asked good questions, accepted their clumsy hands and feet, worked to weave with more...let's call it grace.
They saw the potential, their eyes lit up, they smiled, they laughed, they helped each other.
I am quite sure they are at least as exhausted as I am but I hope they will all continue. Because they got it when I said they needed to make weavers. Those weavers would then be able to go make textiles.
Photo below of the demo I did showing how to regulate beating the weft in:
I talked about the depth and breadth of information in the craft and warned them that while they would be weaving, their results would be a sampler, not a 'thing', and that while weaving their sampler, exploring the possibilities of a very simple threading (straight and point progression woven in twill variations) what they would be mostly working on was their physical skills.
Two days barely scratches the surface of what someone needs to know to weave successfully. Weaving - like many other crafts - is not something that can be picked up in a day or two, but can be practiced, explored and investigated for a lifetime.
This morning someone posted about teaching a class and someone being vexed because they didn't get perfect results the first time, and when asking for suggestions was offended when the suggestion was that more practice, of the mindful, analytic kind, was the only way to gain the skills required to get close to 'perfection'.
My six students embraced the fact that they were making weavers, asked good questions, accepted their clumsy hands and feet, worked to weave with more...let's call it grace.
They saw the potential, their eyes lit up, they smiled, they laughed, they helped each other.
I am quite sure they are at least as exhausted as I am but I hope they will all continue. Because they got it when I said they needed to make weavers. Those weavers would then be able to go make textiles.
Photo below of the demo I did showing how to regulate beating the weft in:
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