Weaving wonders

John and Peter are very productive and are always creating something interesting on their looms. Peter has really only just begun to weave but he loves it so he is learning quickly. John has a lot of experience and has been very helpful to Peter. We like seeing what they are doing and are always amazed with the level of skill and then the patience setting up the looms and making the cloth. Peter’s new pattern is coming along nicely and it is destined to be a rucksack. John is currently working on an American Colonial pattern. Those patterns favoured red and white and blue and white. Originally people were not allowed to weave in America. They had to send the raw fibres to Britain and then bring it back as woven cloth. You cannot stop people , though.   Weaving cotton, linen and wool was popular. John’s  red and white piece is looking lovely and such a good design.

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Show and Tell

The weather was beautiful on Monday and our ocean view was quite spectaular. it may have been April Fool’s Day but no fools were present. Just plenty of enthusiastic peopel with great colours and good ideas.

Marjorie: 3 skeins 1, multi coloured blue, green & red, purple & green & a spun wool vest in brown with white flecks.

Janette: ball of spun wool in grey & turquoise.

Cathy: Beret in dark brown, blue & red, ball of spun wool dark brown alpaca/pink corriedale.

Marina: large rug crocheted pattern from corner to corner in various shades of brown, fawn & cream. Small beanie with a fur pom pom.

Karin: a crescent scarf spun from wool dyed at our work shop.

Jan 1: 3 beanies knitted from commercial fibres in various colours, turquoise fluffy/blue, various reds with stripes of blue & black, mainly greens with stripes of blue & violet.

Peter: weaving a piece for a ruck sack,

John is weaving his straps for the latest shopping bag.

Weaving wonders

Peter and John were both doing some good weaving this week with interesting colour palettes. John was using his inkle loom and making a bag strap with dark colours. Peter was mastering a new pattern and had chosen some lovely bright colours which go well together and show up the  new pattern to good effect.

Dear John

John’s weaving

Sonya , our roving reporter, is bringing you John’s story this week. It has been great to have weaving looms up and running again. As someone who is self taught he has shown us the value of methodical, regular and planned learning.

 

 

 

You’ve only been with us a month or two but you are quite indispensable!  Such a tall strong and muscled up man, (and handsome!) you single handed set up our heavy trestle tables and dismantle them again at the end of our day. And you have given validity to our name Spinners and Weavers. After a lapse of some years we have a weaving group! You have inspired and taught Peter and Marina the ancient and seemingly complicated art of threading up and working their loom. Peter’s outstanding weaving has quickly materialised, impressing us all. What a tribute to your teaching, John.

Here is his story.

When I was pensioned off from the mining industry someone asked me to make some weaving tools, which I did. From that time I started repairing weaving looms .It then occurred to me that I should actually know how to use weaving looms, so that I would know better how to repair them or make parts for them.

I went to the Weavers’ Guild and was told that Bev Bills, one of their members, had been weaving for many years. I learned the basics from Bev and then plodded along on my own. I read a lot of weaving books!

I’ve now   got 4 shaft, 6 shaft and 8 shaft looms. I also have three Inkle looms (they are used for making bands, belts, handles etc.)

What used to be our lounge is now my weaving room! Fortunately my dear wife doesn’t object to that. She does bobbin lace making, but as yet isn’t into weaving. I buy my yarn from various sources. I got some from the Hills group at Littlehampton and it was there that I met Peter and Marina. They said ‘why not come to Seaford Spinners and Weavers.’ Good promo thanks Peter and Marina!  Heard of that group but didn’t know where it was. Now, thanks to them, I found where it was and here I am. Currently I am using a loom that used to belong to this group. I fixed it up a bit and now it’s done the full circle.