July - Stories from the Studio and Weaving Tips
July - Finished pieces, Frame Loom Weaving and the slow down for Summer
July is always a busy month in the studio, as projects are finished and everything is gradually cleared away before I pause for the summer holidays. After weeks of learning, loom preparation, and weaving, I was so pleased to see three beautiful woven pieces leave the studio and head off to their new homes.
Each piece had its own identity, shaped through careful choices of colour and design, and through those little marks that show the hand of the weaver within the cloth. That, for me, is always one of the loveliest parts of the process.
I’m already looking forward to seeing what our next Floor Loom students produce from September. I do still have one space remaining on the course, following a postponement, so do get in touch if you would like to weave a project for the autumn.
Frame Loom and Table Loom Beginners’ Workshops
On Saturday 11th July, I welcomed seven students to the studio for a go at weaving. Many had not woven before, but everyone left with a beautiful woven sample to be proud of.
The Frame Loom workshop was taught on the Louet Lisa looms, which I have really enjoyed working with — not only during the workshops, but also while sampling for the new weaving kit launching in September. For such a small loom, you really can create some beautiful cloth.
The Table Loom workshop took place in the afternoon on a rather warm day, with temperatures reaching 30 degrees in the barn. Three students learned all about the weaving process, and after about half an hour of me talking them through the set-up, they were straight into weaving. All three produced some lovely sample pieces, testing out different patterns as they went.
In Other Studio News...
As you know, I have been putting together a new Weaving Kit. This came about after I needed to find a new Frame Loom supplier, following the closure of my previous one.
I always believe that things happen for a reason, and if I hadn’t needed to source a new loom, this kit may never have come to life. I’m so pleased it did, because I am very excited to share it with you in September.
The kit is really a mini course in how to weave at home. It explores how quite complex-looking cloth can be created in a surprisingly simple way. It also looks at the importance of sampling, and how, as weavers, building a weaving archive gives us so much to reflect on over time and provides valuable information for future projects.
Here are a few sneaky peeks at what is going into the booklet…
Speaking of sampling, this month’s weaving tip is all about the benefits of sampling — but before that, I wanted to share a little more information about the courses starting in September.
The Weaver’s Year
This year-long course starts in September, and if you would like to join us, I need to know by Friday 21st August.
The course offers a structured year of learning for weavers who want to deepen their practice. You will begin with a two-day introductory workshop to meet the group, discuss expectations for the year, and explore the finer details of the course.
From there, you will develop your own projects at home, returning to the studio at key points through the year to review progress, expand your skills, and plan the next stage of your weaving.
For more information, do pop over to my website, and if you have any questions, please just ask.
Floor Loom Course
Starts Wednesday 9th September — one space available.
Our Floor Loom Weaving Course is a series of eight sessions, where you will set up and weave on one of our heritage countermarch floor looms, using British wool in beautiful countryside colours.
You can either choose from designs suggested by Rebecca, or if you have completed the course previously, you can return and make something of your own choosing.
Table Loom Course
Starts Monday 7th September — one space available.
Across eight sessions, you will have the opportunity to use one of our Louet Jane table looms — a wonderful way to gain a fully rounded experience and consider whether you might like to buy your own loom to continue weaving at home.
The course takes place over four weeks, with two four-hour sessions each week, all in a calm and creative environment that I hope will leave you feeling inspired.
You can either choose from designs suggested by Rebecca, or if you have completed the course previously, you can return and make something of your own choosing.
Table and Frame Loom beginner workshops
Spaces available on Friday 4th and Saturday 5th September.
Rebecca’s Weaving Tip for July: The Importance of Sampling
I would guess that 80% of the time during my workshops, I mention how important sampling is.
Occasionally, I can see the light go out in someone’s eyes, as though I’ve just taken away all the excitement in a few words. But when we are learning a new craft, sometimes we do have to go back to basics before jumping straight into the bigger projects.
Over the years, my sample box has become rather full. Some pieces make me think, “What was I thinking?”, while others leave me wondering, “Why didn’t I weave more of that?”
We don’t just learn from finished scarves or tea towels — we learn from trying a new sett, changing a weft, wet-finishing a sample, and comparing fibres and colours.
Some of my best designs have come from sampling: taking the time to play at the loom. You discover that you are less precious about a sample warp, and that gives you the freedom to experiment. And sometimes, a mistake can unexpectedly produce a sample that becomes your favourite.
Over the last few months, I have revisited my sample boxes from university. These archives are now over twenty years old, but I still use them all the time. When we were building our sample boxes, our tutors told us constantly how important notation was. At the time, we thought it was the boring bit — the part where we had to stop weaving and write everything down when all we wanted to do was carry on at the loom.
Very quickly, though, you realise that they were absolutely right. Without the notation we spent hours writing out, I would not have such an incredible library of information to return to in my own practice.
And now it is my turn to pass that wisdom on: sampling before a big project can save you from costly mistakes — not only in yarn, but also in time. And you never know, you may even discover a new design by chance.
Enjoy building your weaving archive and documenting your weaving journey, which you will hopefully reflect on for years to come.
Rebecca x
