Three Little Lessons

Jessica Brousseau with twill alpaca scarf

 How can I not be a happy teacher when I see the smiling faces of my  students who seem oblivious to all the technical challenges of weaving,  embrace the entire process  and plod along, sometimes not so stoically. The challenges that do come up, though at first are discouraging and disheartening, are buoyed by the great moral support we get from others, enabling each of us to rise to the new weaving challenge they have taken on. This week so much has been going on in the weaving classes that my head is spinning -  many projects finished, cut off the loom, and started as we wind down for this session of classes and restart in mid - January 2014.

Knitters Loom shawl made with assorted yarns by Jane Richmond

Experienced and less experienced weavers at the Toronto Weaving School classes have been sharing their insights and are the basis of our three little (weaving) lessons that may well apply to life as well.

tapestry woven rug from Bulgaria, brought to the class by Lana Grigorovitch.

The first maxim is from Marion Kirkwood - who has been weaving for 20 years-  proclaimed that she still always make mistakes in  weaving projects -  which only tells us that making mistakes is part of the weaving process - no matter how experienced. We've been observing Judite Vagners, a weaver well respected and regarded by all the students in the class, spend a few classes correcting the threading on her current project. Expect that you will be making mistakes.  In another discussion with another student,  we concluded that one should never point out the mistakes we've made in our weaving to others. Most of the time, only you see the flaw(s). Although it's good to be aware of the mistakes you've made, it's best to accept that we are not meant to make anything perfectly, and this keeps us humble, and grateful when things do go well!

Twill diamond scarf by Jane Richmond....this scarf was intended to be a runner but Jane decided today, it made a better scarf!

The second is a statement made by Karen Bota who said: "Weaving is not something you learn overnight!" Good observation! All one can do is build on one's weaving knowledge and experience....and keep practicing!

Herringbone alpaca mohair scarf , felted after woven by Jane Richmond. 

And the final lesson, as I observe the students reaction's to their projects, that often, things don't work out exactly the way you thought they would, planned for them to be or the way one envisioned it in the mind's eye. Sometimes it's better than one thought, sometimes not.  At these times it's best to focus and remember the joy of making and of weaving, and not raise that self critical bar too high!

A Christmas Runner for the dining room table by Andrea Kristoff in a huck pattern. 

Carla Duncan is wearing her own painted warp twill block scarf and she helped in taking off the group tapestry for the Fate, Destiny and Self Determination project. Below, Carla has just finished this beautiful black and gray 18/2 merino shawl, the pattern taken from Marguerite Davidson's book, The Handweavers Pattern Book. 

Weaving resources, links, exhibitions

Two inspiring weaving stories that were in the news:
[] How weaving is transforming people's lives: http://www.artsatl.com/2013/11/weaving-story-rebirth-re-use-reloom/
[] Old and new join to battle child killer: High-tech and ancient craft blend in Indian project aided by Canadian money by Jennifer Yang (Toronto Star, Thursday Nov 21 2013 - http://www.thestar.com/news/world/2013/11/21/indian_company_canadian_money_team_up_to_develop_unique_virus_detection_plan.html.

Wearable Technology Course II , OCADU
Erin Lewis, https://continuingstudies.ocad.ca/class_details.jsp?offeringId=355&show_past=false

This weekend check out Burr House in Richmond Hill. They are having their Pottery Sale that runs Friday, Saturday and Sunday. At the same time at the gallery next door, a collaboration between the potters and weavers where they collaborated and created work together.This exhibition will continue until December 22 2013. http://burrhousew.blogspot.ca/

Looking for something 'weaving' related to do over the holidays or maybe you'll be in the Ottawa area over the holidays? Bambi Rutledge sends this along - the Mississippi Valley Textile Museum. http://mvtm.ca/mvtm/. She also sent this wooly link along: http://www.wool.ca/

Giving, volunteering and donating

We are not only blessed and fortunate  to  have the weaving class environment to come to, where joy and enthusiasm for weaving runs rampant, but we are also very fortunate to have the means and the time to weave. Not only is it an investment in terms of time, but also  financial. This week I am inspired by how generous and supportive people are at the Toronto Weaving School aka TDSB weaving classes without which we might not be here as life 'on the outside' of our weaving sanctuary gets leaner and meaner. I am inspired by people's kindness, understanding, patience....and this generates only more of the same. This kindness and generosity also manifests in other parts of people's lives and as you look over the blog, you'll see that there are others who have undertaken initiatives to help make the city a better place to live in (despite certain recent political events!)

Avril Loreti on the left, Jessica Brousseau on right....they are elated because they have just completed their projects and you can see the video below. Avril created a doubleweave blanket and Jess wove 2 beautiful alpaca scarves which they are both wearing like an umbilical cord! So cute! Avril will be at the One of Kind Show.http://www.oneofakindshow.com/toronto/index.php...be sure to check out her booth at P4. While your are there you'll also want to see other weavers: Silo Weavers (G10), String Theory (V4) and Lucille Crighton (G4)

Julia Pelenyi volunteers for the Out of the Cold initiative and needs your donated woven and knit scarves, hats, mitts, gloves, socks and blankets to donate to the homeless who use the resources provided by Out of the Cold.  It is a volunteer initiative by Toronto area synagogues, churches and faith communities who provide host sites that will offer shelter, hospitality and refuge to the marginalized and people who are homeless in the city of Toronto. We'll accept your donations at the Toronto Weaving School during regularly scheduled classes.

Avril Loreti with her blanket

Wanting to sew your woven fabric? At $7 per hour, someone will assist you in doing that, providing you with all the technical assistance you need at The Workroom in Toronto. If you don't want to sew it, ask Rosalyn ....who has been taking our weaving classes and works there, and she'll sew your woven cloth into whatever garment you want (for a fee of course!) Go to http://www.theworkroom.ca/ or contact Rosalyn Faustino at rosalyn.faustina@gmail.com.

Recent projects cut off looms by Jessica Brousseau and Avril Loretti. 

Recently Toronto Weaving School received a yarn balance (shown below), a donation from Sylvia Ptak. A yarn balance is useful when you have a yarn for which you have no information i.e.no idea how many yards per lb, a number which is required when planning out weaving projects.  Rebecca Mezoff writes a humourous account of how to use it complete with pictures. http://rebeccamezoff.blogspot.ca/2013/10/yarn-balance.html. 

A yarn balance, photo credit, Rebecca Mezoff

Weaving resources, links and happenings

Textile Museum of Canada: How to make a carpet November 20-24 2013
http://www.thestar.com/life/2013/11/19/how_to_make_a_carpet.html

Rosalyn Faustino sends this  inspiring link to an American weaving resource: http://weavinghand.org/

26 knitters loom scarves in this ebook resource:
http://nls.interweave.com/t/bffbbJ0-qQAZTvIU4eCUxaBIbaaaCUxBIb?p=6%40w736&Z=yVuZxowtqdsZ_xtrkfonXt.Xf&Zj=ofkjnym3gnij_n3huVydhj.hV&q=88l&2=&m=%23

Monday morning class. 

Connection

Jane Tucker, hand dyed Alpaca scarves woven in a variegated twill. 

"Resistance is futile" I proclaimed (one of my favorite quotes from Star Trek ) as one of my weaving students said that she was 'socializing'! Why did I get it in my head that we should get so serious anyways? Must have been that teacher training I took at the University of Toronto that drilled me about what teaching is. There is a momentum in our weaving classes that is very energizing and keeps us all excited about weaving. The environment is more like a studio and less formal than the conventional course and this is how participants want it. They want the social component,  they want to interact together. Like many weaving groups, such as guilds, weavers are very helpful to others. They can never seem to do enough to help you out ...not just in weaving but what ever other challenges you might be facing. This kind of real human connection, where we feel unjudged, accepted and even embraced for who we are, is what makes our weaving classes a pleasure to be in. All of the participants contribute to making this a great place to be weaving together. What, you might ask, is my role in all this. Definitely not a traditional definition of teacher. Perhaps my role is more about making sure all that you need is there to make what you want to weave happen. My experience in weaving is also necessary in realizing the many projects people accomplish.

Conrad Dueck wove this cotton runner. The pattern was taken from Best of Weavers: Huck Lace page 12, by Ruth Morrison. 

And so,  I've learned while teaching the classes, that real connection with others comes in the physicality of doing, in materiality, in actions, interactions, processes and events shared by an assortment of individuals. Weaving is an appropriate metaphor for engagement and activity with others. Both can be described as a means of producing a coherent united whole or collaboration through the combining and interlacement of various elements. All these individuals are like threads  woven into a community fabric through this one shared activity a permanent reminder of our shared history and values. This was really driven home to me in my recent Community Threads tapestries project where everyone had skills, abilities and resources to contribute to making the project a successful one. It wasn't about one individual getting all the acclaim or having to do all the work. Great things can happen when we pull together, are cohesive and put aside our differences. 

Marion Kirkwood, wove this merino scarf in a twill variation. 

 This was our first week of selling student work and it was much more successful than we had anticiapted. We put up a display outside our class and the products attracted passerbys to purchase quite a large number of items. If you are participating in the class you are welcome to bring your items. Please tag them with your name and price and whatever other info you'd like. Remember that 10% goes to the Toronto Weaving School fund for purchasing necessary supplies and equipment. 

Leslie Wynn wove this subtle but startling and complicated 8 shaft pattern taken from A Weaver's Book of  8-Shaft Patterns by the Friends of Handwoven. 

All people, registered in the weaving class or not, can enter the draw to win a Jane Louet  8 harness loom. Tickets are $25 each or 3 for $50. This is the cadillac of table looms and retails normally for $1100. The draw will take place November 27 2013. 

Maureen Krinicic wove this rag rug runner made with ripped sheets. I think it's about 12' long, maybe more! That's a lot of ripping sheets!

This twill baby blanket was Andrew Winter's first project, which he did on his own loom at home without my help! Way to go Andrew! 

It's also that time of year to register for the winter session of the weaving classes. Go to www.learn4life.ca. Look under Craft and select weaving.  A new session begins January 13 and 15 and runs for 9 weeks. 

Judite Vagners needed more light to correct her threading pattern. Here she is working on the Macomber loom, a donation to the weaving classes. Judite is a very experienced weaver and is very helpful to all the weavers in the class.  She is presently obtaining her Canadian Master Weaver certification. 

Blue is the theme

Some of the evening weaving students say hello to all of you! From left to right Sanya Lascic, Andrea Kristof and Lana Gregorovitch. 

 At this time of year many people feel blue. Apart from the challenges that life presents to us, perhaps the diminished amount of sun and light seems to affect people's mood and perhaps their energy. This picture from this past week was cheerful, much needed as light diminishes and the cold sets in for the next several weeks and months. According to Wikipedia,   ".... Surveys in the U.S. and Europe show that blue is the colour most commonly associated with harmony, faithfulness, and confidence. In U.S. and European public opinion polls it is overwhelmingly the most popular colour, chosen by almost half of both men and women as their favourite colour. It is also commonly associated with the sky, the sea, ice, cold, and sometimes with sadness. While blue was an expensive and prestigious colour in European painting, it became a common colour for clothing during the Renaissance. The rise of the colour blue in fashion in the 12th and 13th centuries led to the creation of a thriving blue dye industry in several European cities, notably Amiens, Toulouse and Erfurt. They made a dye called pastel from woad, a plant common in Europe, which had been used to make blue dye by the Celts and German tribes. Blue became a colour worn by domestics and artisans, not just nobles. In 1570, when Pope Pius V listed the colours that could be used for ecclesiastical dress and for altar decoration, he excluded blue, because he considered it too common.

The process of making blue with woad (shown above) was particularly long and noxious- it involved soaking the leaves of the plant for from three days to a week in human urine, ideally urine from men who had been drinking a great deal of alcohol, which was said to improve the colour. The fabric was then soaked for a day in the urine, then put out in the sun, where as it dried it turned blue. 

The pastel industry was threatened in the 15th century by the arrival from India of new blue dye, indigo (shown above), made from a shrub widely grown in Asia.Indigo blue had the same chemical composition as woad, but it was more concentrated and produced a richer and more stable blue. In 1498, Vasco de Gama opened a trade route to import indigo from India to Europe. In India, the indigo leaves were soaked in water, fermented, pressed into cakes, dried into bricks, then carried to the ports London, Marseille, Genoa and Bruges. Later, in the 17th century, the British, Spanish and Dutch established indigo plantations in Jamaica, South Carolina, the Virgin Islands and South America, and began to import American indigo to Europe

A bamboo woven twill variation scarf by Louise Granahan. 

Marion Kirkwood wove this tencel and beige scarf. 

Interesting how both scarves shown above have an irridescent effect. Perhaps I didn't capture it as well as I'd like in the photograph. 

Happenings:
This Sunday Cedar Ridge in Scarborough is have a show and sale from 12 to 5pm. 225 Confederation Drive. Some talented weavers will have work for sale there.

Inspiration: 
Noelle Hamlyn works in Toronto  http://www.worldofthreadsfestival.com/artist_interviews/101_noelle_hamlyn_13.html

Rose Ruffolo sent me this link about a great beaded art project honouring the large numbers of indigenous girls and women who go missing. I'm looking forward to seeing the exhibit.
http://www.beadingdaily.com/blogs/daily/archive/2013/10/28/walking-with-our-sisters-native-american-beadwork-to-honor-the-lives-of-women.aspx?a=br131102&mid=311901&rid=15269043

Resources
Both Karen Bota and Kate Kitchen sent along this link for a free ebook on knitters loom weaving (technically a rigid heddle loom).
http://nls.interweave.com/t/bfdbbJS3aQAY4eIOD6CUxaP2vaaaCUxP2v?r=4%40y9036&h=hdqhhlqfehk_vvpmdqlZr.Zd&bh=hdqhhlqfehk_vvpmdqlZr.Zd&i=E0t&u=&u=%23

Karen Bota also sent this suggestion: http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?llr=dqkvrgcab&v=001xWuk4iGwEaJFgQt_46eMBT2shK9jzyea1xj2jSdvtpvPEJXwxmnolAJEkQ6d91itkZ5OLrbbXqkxL49G77nSyTS3TzQZgf6yFekQYBwcuM-S3LPPP6zKK1WVvwFJt6qV59bTkbIfGC-2LKNEOgbdaSZcGDxZnJ-622n1y1w88W0%3D