A blog about letting go, attachment to equipment and the art of weaving - thoughts?

 

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Dawn

Comments

Wed, 07/27/2016 - 23:57

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Quite the aha for me to think about attachment to equipment, weaving and the process of letting looms go to new homes.  Our relationship to looms, favorite tools, favorite authors, and special teachers creates in each of us our own unique weaving DNA and tells the story of our weaving geneaology.  

I have a very strong attachment for my Gallinger loom as a direct link to Osma Gallinger Tod who first taught me to weave on this loom or the identical loom next to in her studio in 1969.  Matchmaking and picking out a pet are two of the metaphors I think about in helping to move looms on to new homes.  Fit is important, just as it would be in selecting a home and more usual furnishings. The intangibles and memories are also important. 

I recently reread someone's great advice to keep the looms you love and let go of the ones you don't love. That brings to mind memories of school dances and dating.  The looms that deteriorate nearly beyond recovery are like wall flowers at the dance and become misfits by the time their remains are sold by descendants of weavers.  It is certainly better to let go and pass them on while the splendor still shines through.

It is almost a year since I first saw the picture of the mountain table loom now in my oversized foyer weaving space.  I wanted it to have a great home.  It was clearly a hard parting for the seller even though she had a new loom and knew she really wanted to sell this one.  I would have been as happy for the loom if she had decided at the last moment not to sell it.  

Since then I have taken increasing interests in the relocation of looms and provision of lost information about looms to new owners.  I don't have space for more looms right now but I can still follow the ads and cheer when I find a Gallinger loom for sale.  I send the seller information about Osma and the design of the loom along with an invitation to join the Gallinger Group here of Weavolution to be passed along to the buyer.  Over time that will help to bring together Gallinger loom aficionados preserving our beloved looms for another generation.  Structo aficionados have sustained interest and expertise long beyond manufacturing.  Loom groups such as the Macomber group here on Weavolution foster community.  Through our looms we share genealogy and create community despite the solitary aspects of weaving.

This topic will continue to engage me for a very long time.

 

Thu, 07/28/2016 - 00:01

laurafry

Yikes.  I feel your pain.  :(

i have two looms, the AVL with all the bells and whistles and very noisy.  The Leclerc Fanny.  Very quiet but just four shafts.  And, in the long run, harder on my body than the AVL.  I find myself, in my 66th year, vacillating between which loom I could keep should we decide to downsize.  And eventually coming to the same conclusion...I'm not moving until I am done, done, with weaving.  :-/

Thu, 07/28/2016 - 00:16

Dawn McCarthy

Another part of the story is I have 6 small folding looms, 3 warping boards, multiple shuttles and equipment all for teaching, it took me a long time to acquire and my long term goal was to teach & weave.  I have a large Glimakra with drawloom attachment which I am just not done with, I have owned several AVL looms which I loved all of them, something had to go and seeing my work is leaning to damask and I could never replace all the teaching equipment, the AVl was the short straw, I will truly miss it.

Dawn

Thu, 07/28/2016 - 00:17

Dawn McCarthy

It does seem strange though to have a strong attachment to a tool, that is why I appreciate this group!  

Dawn

Thu, 07/28/2016 - 02:22

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We enjoy the memories of the person who held the tool before us giving it a bond not unlike special gifts of jewelry and other more commonly thought of treasures. the hard choices a like those around a family heirloom when it can no longer be passed down within the family. Weaving tools spark joy when held and that too is part of the attachment and connections between us. Your tools and succession of looms chronologue a wonderful journey. 

Thu, 07/28/2016 - 10:45

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Dawn, your trials and tribulations in making a big geographic move as an experienced weaving teacher gives me new admiration for Osma Tod.  I spent enough hours in her Coral Gables studio to be able to close my eyes and be there again.  Even after visiting her prior studio at The Mannings, it did not occur to me how miraculous it was for her to move from farming country in East Berlin, PA to a suburban house in Coral Gables, FL with a much smaller studio and begin teaching again.  She lost her third husband soon after the move and still built a wonderful community for weavers as well as a studio that seemed perfect in every way.  I will have to dig out a bit more of her story in Coral Gables before I met her.  It is all about inspiration!

Thu, 07/28/2016 - 12:29

ellenspn (not verified)

I'm coming to grips with the fact though I love my Baby Wolf, I just can't seem to lift the shafts with the way my legs are now.  And that it's not likely to get better.  I'm so happy I bought my Oxaback and the shafts are much lighter and easier to treadle.

Thu, 07/28/2016 - 12:35

Dawn McCarthy

Ellenspn, congrats on the Oxaback, what a wonderful loom and delightfully light to treadle. Another favorite of mine!

Dawn

Thu, 07/28/2016 - 16:10

Queezle

My two looms are the ones I purchased used nearly 30 years ago.  Both schacht (standard and mighty wolf), and I often wonder about replacing one - they are not easy to treadle or thread.  The MW, though my first loom, was purchased from an anonymous person, and though I've used it a lot, I'm not that attached.  The 4-shaft standard, though little used, came from a professor who got her PhD from one of my dad's PhD students.  When she realized who I was, she gave me every weaving-related item she owned. It was her who really made weaving possible for me.  I recently moved that loom up to TRFKATDR (the room formerly known as the dining room).  And I'm thinking that down the road, I will replace the MW with a 10+ harness loom that is more ergonomic.  Just what that will be, though, is currently a mystery to me. 

So Dawn, yes, I get it.  I'm attached to the loom I seldom use, and have great empathy for those with large loom collections.  How do we evoke the love of weaving in the next generation so there are welcoming hands to take them from us?

Thu, 07/28/2016 - 19:42

laurafry

I have no children, and even if I did, no guarantee they would be interested in weaving.  So I make friends much younger than me.  One day I'm hoping one of them will be my...successor...or maybe I will live long enough to wear the looms out?  :^)

Fri, 07/29/2016 - 16:37

Artistry

Yes, post # 5 and # 10 ! Well,  and many others. I have my Great Aunt Jesse's Loom which I acquired when I was 16 ( 63 now) she was responsible for my love and career in weaving. A 4 shaft LeClerc. It will probably be the last loom I own. I remember being 5 years old and sitting on the bench with her when she wove these mysterious patterns , which turnEd out to be an overshot coverlet which I now own. When I sit at that loom and put my hand on the breast beam I can feel her touch. Sentimental yes, but keeps me connected to my past and and what she passed down to me and what I hope to pass to another someone.

alas, Letting go !On a very personal note , after a vocation spanning over 30 years my weaving will be greatly curtailed if not given up completely because of continual injury. A very difficult idea to face. I have exhibited in National juried exhibits, and lots of other things, and all I really wanted to do is experiment and exhibit. So , I've decided to take up embroidery, design, color, texture, a lot of one handedness! It has been suggested to me by my PT to do tapestry for no more than 15 minutes a day starting in the fall. So, embroidery will keep me busy and I think it could become a new passion, especially if I design myself.

so looms. I will sell both my 8 shaft baby wolfs. Probably the 2 Mirrix's . Just hold onto the big Shannock and the AVL and of course Aunt Jesse's loom. That's down to three looms. Those are the most important to me. I will keep my dye studio. If I find after 3 years I guess, I can't use them,  the Shannock and AVL will go to.I have already given all my magazines to someone working on the COE-weaving.

it's really been a great ride when I think about it ! It doesn't have to end here. It's a matter of being open to change, letting go (!), using what you've learned from one discipline and applying what you can to the next. There's a huge world to explore :)

Cathie

Sat, 07/30/2016 - 21:59

theresasc

that those of you who have a family connection to weaving and have those looms are so lucky.  It was just serendipity that I ever started weaving and since I do not have children, I have no idea who will get my looms and stuff.

Cathie,  I am sorry to hear that you have to change your creative medium, but I am glad that you will still be able to express color through an art form.  I am hoping that you will still hang out here, you always have a great point of view.

 

Tue, 08/02/2016 - 14:15

Artistry

Thank you Thereasc ' actually Francine has been in contact with me ( hope you don't mind Francine) giving me all sorts of possibilities to overcome the limits of an injury. One of which is , is to start working with an OT when I get back home, with excercises. Then the other is just plain inventivness, out of necessity, and being willing to adapt.

i'm finding embroidery quite a bit of fun, but such a long way to go before I can get all those stitches under my belt and doing them straight, lol! But it's keeping me sane!

i will see the hand surgeon when I get home hopefully just for OT recommendentations:)

Cathie

Tue, 08/02/2016 - 14:26

Artistry

P.s.  I have been saving books , old looms and such for brand new weavers, or people who are working seriously on something. For instance one baby wolf I've had for maybe 20 + years 8 S will go to a new weaver at ridiculous low price. Because I want this person to weave! The 8 shaft good condition, I'm not sure yet. The AVL, I ask every summer someone from the guild if they woulf like to learn on a 24 shaft compudobby , I always get a taker. Eventhough it's 20+ years old, I figure I will sell it cheap because there are so many people in the guild who want to do the complex weaves, and my loom is old. The books will go to a serious weaver. Someone who really studies. So I kind of have it figure out.

my 3 kids say, you are going to do something with this someday aren't you?

when the time is right!

Cathie

Wed, 08/03/2016 - 01:32

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Loom controlled embroidery (aka Penny Drooker) may turn out to be good for perfectionist of weaver in you using different muscles and hand positions (somewhere between tapestry and damask or inlay).  You are welcome to share any of what I wrote to you. 

Francine

Sun, 08/28/2016 - 03:34

loomyladi (not verified)

Each of my looms has a story to tell, and while I WISH I could limit myself I find that each loom is a part of my weaving story.  The first loom I ever bought (LeClerc Fanny) for $50 at my first ever MD S&W is sitting and will most likely find a new home soon.  I'm blessed to use the 20" Purrington, 36" Mira, and 40" 8S Gilmore of an amazing weaver that I never met.  My collection of Purrington looms has grown over the last couple of years, one built for me and 2 that I acquired.  I share the craft at fairs & festivals with these lovelies.  About a year ago I acquired a AVL PDL and it is still not set up, but most recently I purchased a Purrington Drawloom (circa 1957).  I'm smitten.  Perhaps the greatest weaving tool that has been shared with me is my SO.  Bruce began weaving before I was born, his mother instilled in him a respect for and love of the craft.  He never questions a new piece of equipment, or fiber.  He helps me to appreciate the legacy that weavers can leave for the next generation through their equipment, their papers, and their students.  Yes, he's an enabler.  I may someday be persuaded to part with my looms, but he's one piece of weaving equipment that I'll keep around.  (I mean how cool is it that my boyfriend builds looms, weaves, & spins!)