On Beginners

sample weaving

This past year we have welcomed a number of new guild members.  Some are avid yarn enthusiasts who have recently moved to our area.  Some have a history of weaving or spinning and now have the time to pursue it.  Others are looking to expand their fiber arts skills.  What ever the reason we are happy that interest in weaving and spinning is on the rise.
Every group needs new members with new skills and ideas to keep it vibrant.

Gitte's scarf

A number of the new members are also new to weaving and in need of some support.  We have a great weaving teacher in our guild and those that have taken her classes are off to a good start but it takes more to help them gain experience and confidence.  We all had to overcome our fear of "bad edges" and tangled warps at some point. It took a lot of time before we could produce a scarf like Gitte's.

treadling variations with 4 harnesses

Our recent group projects were intended to help new members gain experience without having to dress a loom.  They have been very popular with the more experienced weavers as well.   Novice weavers get to practice weaving skills while the more experienced get to sample new ideas.  It is interesting how experience can shed new light on basic weaving and use it in ways we never dreamed about in our early years.    

unbalanced twill and basket weave

There is no better way to learn something that to agree to teach it. First you have to relearn the subject yourself and that often leads to an "aha moment" when something glossed over years ago becomes crystal clear.  Then there are the questions a neophyte might ask that make you rethink  your assumptions.  Why do I do that????  What would happen if I didn't???????

detail Anita's throw

We have all gotten ourselves into a project that may be just a bit beyond our skill level.  What better way to learn than to take a risk on something grand.  That is when we could all use a little one on one coaching.  The throw pictured in the photo is an example of a collaborative project.

So, embrace those beginners when they appear.  They will make you a better artisan as you learn along with them.  They may also become life long friends.