I am a self confessed fibre-holic who feels her day is not complete without a wee while at my tapestry loom or my embroidery. I have been researching the use of textile arts as therapy and am interested in hearing from weavers about why you weave. How does it make you feel or how do you feel when you don't or can't weave for a while? What is it about weaving you like or makes you feel good?

Thank you
stonetapestry

Comments

Wed, 08/13/2014 - 12:24

jander14indoor (not verified)

I'm an amateur/hobby weaver.

I weave because I can not just sit and watch TV/chat without doing something with my hands.  It is just one of several hobbies I have to fill this need.

As to why weaving, several reasons of course.  I really enjoy the mental challenge of figuring out a weave structure, pattern, color, etc that goes into planning a finished piece.  Once that's done, I enjoy the physical challenge of the actual weaving.  Treadling correctly to produce the pattern.  Throwing the shuttle for good selvedges & speed.  Beating consistently (still working on THAT one).  Repairing the threads my cat bites through (better, figuring out how to keep him from doing so!).  Finally, I enjoy the satisfaction of watching spools of fiber turn into the finished three dimensional piece, so different from what they started as.

Jeff Anderson

Livonia, MI

Thu, 08/14/2014 - 07:46

stonetapestry

Thank you for responding Jeff. Your answer fits well with what I have heard from other weavers. I'm afraid you are not the only one whose feline friend causes havoc with the fibres. I do know of one weaver who kept a catnip toy dangling beside the loom which she used to distract her cat when he tried to 'help' rearrange her yarns. Not sure it was totally successful though.

I can see that lots have viewed the thread but not commented. I would really like to hear from others please.

Alison

Scotland

 

Tue, 09/09/2014 - 03:54

ZenSojourner

I weave because I can't do silverwork any more and crocheting had become unlimited frustration.  I've lost fine motor control and can't really feel all the way to the edges of my fingers so I'm very fumbly.  Although it makes warping and tying up "interesting" (oh, and maybe you should seem with with a knife - or maybe you shouldn't, LOL!), it doesn't seem to affect weaving itself - so its something I can still do.  I doubt I'll ever do it WELL, but given I don't have a past history of doing it well, its less frustrating for me than some of the other handsy things I used to do.

I'm not really happy if I'm not doing something productive.  And if I'm doing something productive, its grounding and I have fewer "floaty" episodes (where I lose track of time and get foggy).

I am in the process of assembling my new Glimakra Julia, and as soon as we get some boxes cleared out of the garage (recent move), I can have my pottery studio set up out there as well.  If I don't feel like doing one, there's always the other, and betwixt the two I can usually keep busy.

Tue, 09/09/2014 - 15:20

theresasc

I started weaving because I saw a handwoven denim rug and I thought I want to do that.  Once I had a loom (or two or three or...) I found that I really like making household textiles, specifically towels.  I do not know why, but I love weaving towels.  I once told some weaving friends that I would like to wrap the world in handwoven towels.  I have woven a wide variety of useable items on my looms, but I always come back to towels.  Even now there are 2 cones of 8/2 unmercerized yarn next to me for the next run of towels.

Another reason I weave is the never-ending combination of color and structure.  My looms go up to 8 shafts and I will never in my life get through trying everything that those looms can do.  There is always something new and different, but even saying that I am always surprised at how often I go back to a project that I had done and do it again in another colorway.

Then there is the tactile part of weaving, handling the yarns, being able to collect and use warm, beautiful wood shuttles, and using the cloth everyday.  It is watching the cloth grow under my hands and then to be able to use it or to give it someone else to use - it is just a major kick.

Tue, 09/09/2014 - 20:01

Sethwoman

I weave because I love the intellectual challenge that happens when I try to figure out a design or solve a problem.  I have worked in IT for the past 20 years (oh my!) and having a product that I can work with and touch with my hands is a wonderful addition to the experience of creating something.


Finally, I weave because I enjoy meeting the all of the wonderful other weavers in our community.  I never thought the social aspect of the hobby would prove to be important.  A great surprise.

Wed, 09/10/2014 - 23:06

sally orgren

It's the only activity I can think of that is mentally, creatively, and physiclly challenging, all at the same time!

True weavers have proven to be amazing people in my journey.

Thu, 09/11/2014 - 08:48

Catweaver

I wasn't keen on weaving when I firat tried it, but when I came back to it a few years later, I loved it. Now I am obsessed with all things weaving. I love the sensuous side of it - colour, texture and lots of playing with lovely fibres; and I also love the intellectual challenge of learning how to weave well, how to understand drafts and how to create my own designs. I also enjoy dyeing my own fibres, and improving my colour eye. I have made good friends through weaving. So what's not to like about it?
Tue, 09/16/2014 - 14:00

Artistry

Hi, I was fortunate to have a Great Aunt, who after retiring from being an elementary school teacher, took up weaving. I lived in the same city with her for 5 years. So starting at age 5 she allowed me to wind her bobbins. Then it was attempting to throw the shuttle. As the years went by she even allowed me to thread some heddles. I loved her and I loved weaving, and she loved children and knew how to teach them. We moved a couple of times far away, then she gave me her large loom when I was 16. A 4 shaft 45(?) inch LeClerc. She came to visit and taught me how to put a warp on and weave( overshot no less!). With Mary Black, and Margurite Davivison in hand I started to weave. Why do I love to weave? First I am an artist who chooses weaving as my medium. I draw and paint but I always come back to weaving. First, I love the equipment. Operating this machine called a loom, knowing all it's parts and what everything does is still quite a thrill. Second, it's tactile. I enjoy working with my hands, it's so intimate to have these threads running through your fingers. So different than painting or drawing. Third, I enjoy the mixture of pattern and color. I weave mostly tapestry now, I enjoy that, because of the imagery, the ribbed surface and the richness of color. Lastly, I weave for my Great Aunt, to keep this wonderful tradition alive, to make her proud, to be close to her.( she is long gone, but I know, she knows)
Tue, 09/16/2014 - 16:38

LindaHahn

Although I had never seen a loom or watched anyone weave I have always wanted to weave. My husband saw a loom at a resale shop and brought it home--a wonderful 4-shaft Schact table loom. I had it in the attic until I retired then my daughter gave me weaving lessons as a retirement gift--obviously I had talked about weaving to my family! Now I love it for all the reasons listed above: the intellectual challenge, the tactile experience, the love of textiles, the color--oh, my, the color. I see the world differently now. The beautiful Kansas Flint Hills send me to the loom everytime. Such wonderful, multiple shades of green, gold, brown, red, blue, etc. I love weaving more than I had even imagined. Even made me enjoy the math challenges. Who knew?

Fri, 10/10/2014 - 08:34

Andrew Kieran (not verified)

Somebody mentioned the physical and mental challenge above. That's definitely part of it for me. I take great satisfaction from correctly, carefully controlling the process, especially when I'm using difficult, fine yarns.

I may be unusual here, but I also have industrial experience, and something about the beaming process on a large warping wheel is truly beautiful. If you've never been to a weaving mill and seen a full-width warp moving in perfect order from the wheel to the beam I fully recommend it. It's a wonderful sight.

Sadly, I don't get to do nearly as much weaving as I'd like myself now, but that's more than made up for by the fact that I get to teach it and maintain the weaving workshop. I love teaching the students how to weave and seeing the 2 or 3 every year who get really enthusiastic and just love it.

Fri, 10/10/2014 - 15:33

laurafry

I visited a mill in Sweden with a couple other weavers and we got to see a warp being wound, then transferred to the warp beam. It was fascinating. I would love to have a large creel. Alas I can't fit one in my studio. .:) We then got to see that warp being tied on to the old warp on a loom and see the knot tying robot If anyone is visiting Sweden the mill is called Eklands and they have self guided tours. Cheers Laura
Fri, 10/10/2014 - 17:25

laurafry

Here is a short interview done with the local cable tv company:

http://youtu.be/eDRGwbu76mA

For the longer story of why I weave, I blogged about that when I starte blogging back in Aug. 2008.

http://laurasloom.blogspot.com

cheers,

Laura

Sun, 10/12/2014 - 07:57

kerstinfroberg

Laura refers to has a webpage: http://linnevaveriet.se/

Just a short walk away, one of the biggest mangles in Europe can be seen. (you may have to call beforehand) As their website is in Swedish only, I translated parts of the text on my blog.

And yes, both are well worth the visit!

ETA: there is a video showing the mangle in motion, and more from the mangle shed. The mangle portion starts at about 1:13 in.

Sun, 10/12/2014 - 15:42

laurafry

Thanks for the video clip link Kerstin.  :)  I wish I could come again.  We've had some great road trips!  :DDDD

cheers,

Laura

Mon, 10/13/2014 - 12:40

crosstownshuttler (not verified)

35 years ago a friend of mine let me sit at her floor loom and throw a few picks and I was hooked. Weaving is the balance to my job which I love but is very physical, sometimes dirty, often chaotic, and usually in dark surroundings. Weaving is light, color, order, creative. I will never learn all there is to learn, never run out of ideas to try. I like the process of designing, weaving and the final article. And of course I like the compliments ;-).

Fri, 11/07/2014 - 02:49

Calico_Raven

I'm a bit of a tomboy, and if someone tells me I can't do that, I take it as a full blown challange. Taught myself tatting to recreate a piece my great grandmother made in the 1800's, because somesaid you can't learn tatting on your own.

learned to knit kilt socks because my friend told me I couldn't learn knitting on socks. My mom left me to take care of my grandmother while she was out of town. she made a remark that I couldn't figure out the loom she had in a pile on the floor before she got back home. had it up and a test piece on it in 2 days by myself. then was told that you couldn't do a Tartan as your first full weaving piece. 9 yards of Morrison and 4 years later, I was hooked. 

And yes I use it as therapy, I have a high stress life and family. weaving and fiber work calms me down. I'm slow but a bit of a perfectionist.

Mon, 10/12/2015 - 17:16

jwms

I got started by dyeing regular cottan string as a kid when I read an article about native american -"indians" we called them back then - and the techneques they used. "REAL WEST" magazine as I recall. Had Cherokee blood in my dad's line back in the 1860's. That over the years and getting married to a fine lady who likes to spin and a small table loom - "SMALL" - and and and... fun, challenging, and a host of other words, even therapuetic.