Several of our (previously) non-weaving members who were interested in learning the skill are getting started, with help from the weavers upstairs. They are learning how to set up and weave on a 4-shaft loom. It takes quite a lot of work before you actually start making fabric.
You wind the warp
and chain it ready for sleying through the reed.
After that’s done you thread the heddles – Lib is concentrating hard.
Next the warp is ready to beam (wind on)
and here it is beamed on and ready to start weaving.
Thank you to Liz for sorting out the various stages for me, as well as for our intrepid learners, and also to Caroline for several of the photos above.
Meanwhile something interesting is beginning to take shape on Doug’s big upright loom.
Jutta has been working on something exquisite.
Helen has been making an interesting scarf
which is now off the loom, though not yet finished or washed which will make it even more attractive. There is a handy slit towards one end to slip the other end through – it won’t blow off in winds like the ones we’ve been having lately!
She’s made another one, too – this one is completed but not yet washed.
Finally, one last picture from our pop-up shop – Lorraine helping a young man get started with one of our little braiding kits.
We were very happy with the success of the shop.
Wairarapa Spinners & Weavers Guild 