"Old School"

 

Respect the Spindle by Abby Franquemont

This morning Abby Franquemont did a short video explaining how spindles are legitimate spinning tools because they are better at some things than a wheel.  They are a tool that does some things better than a wheel, kind of like a knife is not a cleaver and why a chef would want both in their toolbox.

I thought about what she said for about a nano second and realized the same can be said for many weaving tools, as well as spinning tools.

For example, so many people insist that end feed (delivery) shuttles are the 'best' shuttle to use.

And are surprised that I don't, as a matter of routine, use them - because I no longer use a fly shuttle - which is what an end feed (delivery) shuttle was originally designed for.

It isn't that I can't use one.  I just find them unnecessary for 99.9% of my weaving needs.  I actually use a stick shuttle more frequently than I use an end feed (delivery) shuttle. 

I use a computer assisted dobby, not because I can't weave without one, but it makes what I want to accomplish a lot easier.  For example, I can weave a complicated overshot pattern on my four shaft counter balanced loom, but it takes a lot more attention and concentration than weaving a tea towel with a 100+ pick repeat on the Megado.  What can I say?  I'm 'lazy'.

I'm also dealing with brain fog from pain/painkillers most days, so the mechanical assist is very welcome.  

That doesn't mean I can't also sit down and do a complex pickup design using a stick shuttle.  Just that I need to choose my days and check my energy spoon drawer.

I like a very specific style of hand shuttle.  The doesn't make the ones I dislike 'bad', just that I *prefer* that one style.  Others may have a different preference.  And if that preference includes an end feed (delivery) shuttle, that is *their* preference.  

MY preference does not invalidate someone else's preference.  Which is a really good concept to keep in mind, not just about weaving, but life choices as well (imho).

However, that said, a new weaver might want to pay attention to what more experienced weavers do and choose as their default tools.  And then find out how to best use them!

For example, I still use good old graph paper when it comes to laying out certain types of designs.  I also have Fiberworks weaving software, but it doesn't always do what I want it to do, in the way I need it done.

So it was with the new 'shifted twill blocks' weave structure I've been playing with.  I tried to lay it out in Fiberworks, but then had to find my graph paper and grab a pencil in order to clearly understand what I needed to do, then to make the weave do what I wanted it to do.

Over the weekend, I grabbed graph paper again because I needed to lay out a design and doing it in Fiberworks wasn't working for me - and I don't have the skills to use other design software.  It was far faster and easier to grab paper, pencil *and eraser* in order to lay the design out.

Now, however, I need to render the information in a way that the editor for SOS can work with it.  So that's (one of) my job(s) today.  Get that information finalized and send the files to SOS for the sectional beaming class, coming in November.  I'm very late sending it, but I'm finally confident I've got it correct.

Too frequently we carry biases in our attitudes.  We should at least understand why the various textile tools exist and what they do.  

I have the deepest respect for people who work with tools that I don't use because I recognize that they are using the best tools for the job - or that fit their environment (space issues) or physical needs, or just what they want to do.

While it is possible to weave a tapestry on a floor loom, it may not actually be the best tool for the job in hand.  While it is possible to weave with 3 rigid heddles on a rigid heddle loom, it might actually be easier to just use a floor loom - but the weaver may not have the financial or space resources to have a floor loom.  

So, utmost respect to those textile workers who use different tools than I do.  I see you making wonderful textiles.  I see you employing skills I don't have, understanding those tools (Inge Dam, for example, who incorporates tablet weaving *with* floor loom weaving), backstrap weavers, ikat weavers, brocade weavers, drawloom weavers etc., and celebrate your skill and creativity.

Above all, when it comes to any textile art/craft...it depends is the only correct short answer.  It is in the 'it depends' part of learning about textiles that we begin to master the craft.