Fallow

 

The word 'fallow' is not one that 'we' use much these days.  But it is something that human beings ignore when they should be paying attention.

When a field is 'fallow', it is not a 'waste'.  A field is left 'fallow' in order to allow it to 'rest'.  Sometimes the farmer will plant a crop that will regenerate the nutrients in the field, sometimes it is helped by the addition of fertilizers - be that from compost or bags of chemicals.

It is a recognition that the land is getting 'tired' and needs some time to recover before it can properly feed whatever crop the farmer wants to plant there 'next'.

Human beings seem to be more focused on 'doing' - instead of 'being'.  We forget at our peril that our bodies need rest.  And that allowing some time to be 'fallow' is not a 'waste' but necessary.  

There are times when I'm designing something and I will set it aside for a bit.  Then, when I return to working on it, I can see it more 'clearly'.  Sometimes I toss out what I've done, sometimes I will make small changes, correct errors.  Like with this draft.  When I split the motifs between the front and back 8 shafts, I made a progression error.  When I returned to the draft with clearer eyes, I spotted that error and fixed it.

When I write, I leave the text alone for a while before trying to edit it.  While the text is left to 'rest', my brain keeps nibbling away at it.   Then when I return to take up the editing role, my brain has had a chance to think through what information I want to convey, and consider my word choices.  Does this word or phrase make sense, or only to me?  If I want to help educate others, I need to get to where they are in order to lead them further along the path of knowledge.  Especially a craft as complex as weaving.  (Well, all of the crafts are, I just happen to know more about weaving than anything else...)

Saying that weaving is 'complex' doesn't mean that people can't weave, can't make good cloth, can't choose good projects and their own colours even while new to the craft. 

But I feel that people who know more about the complexity of the cloth/craft should try to share 'good' knowledge.  Knowledge that will help others to understand some of the complexity involved in creating cloth, so that they can make good decisions and come closer to what they want to make.  

I would say - and do it without mistakes - but I would be giving assurances I cannot, given the number of mistakes I *still* make.  The previous warp had 3 threading errors.  I *hope* this one does not.  I took a quick look at it last night and it *looks* good on the loom.  So far.

Yesterday I, Doug and our neighbour, went to vote.  We chose to vote during 'advance' polling and were confronted with a line up - something unheard of!  We didn't wait long, but I heard throughout the day that line ups continued, not just here, but in multiple locations across the country.

Now I need to leave the election 'behind' because I have done my duty and the next few days need to continue until all Canadians have had an opportunity to vote.  And for those votes to be counted.

Yesterday I finished setting up the above warp and wove about 10".  I wanted to get it weaving so I could do a cursory look for threading errors.  Finding none (that I can see) I am now ready to finish weaving the last of the linen, then tackle one of the (huge) cones of 20/2 white cotton (unmercerized).  The warp is 2/20 merc. cotton, so the contrast of the shiny merc. and matt unmerc. yarn should be a nice subtle effect that will show off the complex patterning without looking too 'op art'.

Yesterday I also emailed the text for the next article for WEFT - forgetting it was a holiday weekend.  But hitting 'send' means I have put a period on that project.  I can now clear away the clutter generated in the production of that article.  And I can move on.  That project is now in other hands, and my brain can go 'fallow' for a few days while I weave this warp - and think about what I want to write.  

Next week I should also get the new medication.  Time for me to just 'be' for a while and wait to see a) who has won the right to govern Canada, b) if the 'hail Mary' drug will work for me.

In the meantime I *can* still weave, so I will.