It's really nice to see the influx of 'new' weavers into the online groups. It's just really difficult to give meaningful answers to questions when they have little knowledge of the craft or its language. It is equally difficult to give answers that won't offend the new weaver - and the last thing I want to do is discourage anyone, especially when they want to know the answers.
Unfortunately, like so many other things about life, the only accurate short answer is 'it depends'.
I just had that experience with one doctor, and yesterday with the pharmacist, as - once again - my body is not 'simple' but full of 'variables'. The conversation with the pharmacist was encouraging insofar as the recent testing revealed some potential things we can try to 'fix' - and guess what? More questions!
So today I will phone my doctor's office and request a full panel examination of my thyroid function.
I need more coffee, first.
(Just posted to Bluesky that this morning spouse made the pot of coffee with the extra sarcasm blend and filled the sugar bowl with swear words, so it's not *my* fault...)
Yesterday I declared the warp done (I hate playing yarn chicken) and, after inspecting and repairing the tea towels from that warp, starting setting up for the next warp. I even managed to get 8 sections beamed, which was a decent start and means that I should be able to finish beaming today and begin threading.
Anyway, regarding the title of this post...
I saw another post about an ancient artifact that dates to 2000+ years ago. The photo showed a stunning example of hand blown glass that some people would whiff away because 'everyone knows our ancient ancestors were 'primitive'. Yeah, about that. They may not have had the level of 'technology' that we have, it's true. What they had was some extremely specialized knowledge and a great deal of skill. To minimize and declare that it was done by 'aliens' is to diminish our own capabilities of creative creatures who studied, and learned, until they achieved incredible levels of skill.
And it all begins with that first tentative step on the road to learning. And that's why I try not to offend when I offer suggestions. Because the people who are asking the questions are *trying* to learn. The problem comes when they expect *specific* answers, and 'it depends' is not what they want to hear!
To that end, I tried to collect the 'basic' information that I would have loved to be able to learn from when I was just starting out. But the craft is nuanced. Layered. Not simple.
But! It *can* be learned, if the students keep an open mind and begin to understand the complexity of the craft. And to understand that this IS a skill, and it needs to be practiced in a mindful, analytical way. To accept 'failure' - or at least understand that not meeting one's expectations is to be expected, and that each time you try, you get a little closer to your goal. And, that as you learn, your expectations may change.
For me, it's a 'failing' body that I need to accommodate. That fall I took last August was a watershed event (won't call it a 'moment' because I am living with an injured brain - this has turned into far more than a 'moment'!) and I have had to adjust my expectations accordingly.
I am much less 'critical' of myself when I make mistake. But every warp I do, I notice that I am 'regaining' some of what I 'lost'.
Best of all, through the vehicle of the articles in WEFT I have been able to use my writing as part of my 'therapy'. And hoping that I can make my body more 'comfortable' I continue to try, and not beat myself up when I have 'mistakes' in my cloth. I'm making tea towels. They will still dry dishes...
Just because I have a fancy schmancy loom doesn't mean that I don't make mistakes! But Life truly *is* a journey. Sometimes some of the stops along the way aren't very nice, but it is *my* journey. And since I'm still here, apparently I need to keep going. If not for WEFT, then for here, if nothing else?
Onwards...
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