Good Morning,
It is Saturday morning, my favorite morning of the week. This morning, my time will be filled with preparations for my first weaving lesson. It is all very exciting.
The loom came to me in an unexpected way. A friend needed a home for her loom because her current living situation didn’t afford her the space to house such a large loom. She asked if I might be interested in becoming a foster parent for her loom until she moves to a larger place. What fantastic luck! Weaving is not something I had ever considered, but once it was proposed, I realized that it is a good fit for me. I love textiles.
I am very grateful that my mother taught me to sew at an early age. In learning to make my own clothing, I was introduced to the joy of spending time in fabric stores. I love how fabric excites all of the senses. The colors, textures, and even the scent of new fabric would hold me hostage for hours. I enjoyed perusing the pattern catalogs and imagining a new dress done up in a variety of fabrics, then choosing the one that I thought would work best. Laying out the fabric and pinning the paper pattern pieces to it, was always a bit like putting together the pieces of a puzzle.
The dramatic moment of holding the scissors and making the first cut, never failed to take my breath away. I prayed that I hadn’t made an error in my calculations. It could mean a costly mistake. Somehow, I always managed to gather my courage before executing the first cut.
Watching, as the garment grew into something recognizable, was such a rewarding process. There were times when I was convinced that the directions were incorrect, but of course, they weren’t, and the garment would eventually reveal itself. I remember taking on an ambitious project that was way beyond my skill level. It was a dress I loved and wanted to wear to a junior high school dance. It had a tailored collar and cuffs, in a crisp, contrasting, white, oxford cloth. It required a great deal of attention to the directions and some assistance from my mother. The worst part was that there was a deadline. It had to be ready in time for the dance. In the end, I did finish it, but not without a bit of drama.
These creative projects challenge us in the best of ways. Today, I will face the challenge of learning to think about fabric in a new and different way. For me, the words warp and weft have always been just words. In a few hours, they will come to life in a practical way. I will gain a new understanding and appreciation for how fabric comes into being.
It is my hope that these weaving lessons will give birth to a new passion. Wish me luck. I feel sure that I will need it.
September 27, 2014
