Weaving
I entered this scarf Into the Big E and won 3 awards!
When I was around 12, my grandmother started weaving. Being the curious child that I was, I was fascinated by the idea of being able to make my own fabrics, with just thread! My grandma had joined The Weavers Guild of Springfield and my grandfather took me and my brother and sister to visit one of the guilds booths at a small fair. They had a miniature display loom that people could experiment with. I stepped up to that loom, tried it out, then I was hooked. My grandma got my loom, through the guild, and she taught me how to weave. I remember the first piece I made was a purple scarf made out of velvet yarn. Then I made another but this time with some green stripes. I loved weaving so much I joined the guild with my grandma. Once a month, on a Saturday, I would accompany my grandma to the meetings. The meetings would start with a “show and tell” of pieces they had made since the last meeting. Then they would have a special guest come in and teach us all a new craft. I loved that part.
This is one of the first pieces I wove. It’s a shawl/blanket made out of velvet yarn.
Every time I went to my Grandparents house I would weave. I was always determined to get a substantial amount done before I had to go back home. I made many scarfs, these little coasters out of recycled fabric scraps called “mug rugs”, and a blanket. Come the summer of 2017 I got the opportunity to do a summer program, at Smith College, called NEWS. During that program I learned everything I would need to know about dressing a loom, making things on a loom, and taking pieces off the loom. After that course I was confident in my skills, so next time I went to my grandparents my grandma helped me find a pattern and get me the materials I needed to start my most ambitious piece. I dressed the loom, wove the scarf and then decided it was good enough to win a prize. I entered my scarf into the Big E’s award show. My scarf won three awards, a second place award, a first place and the big one, the Best of Youth. My scarf was showcased in the special glass case for the pieces that won the most awards. I was thrilled.
This thread used to make this scarf was hand dyed by me!
An important part of creating things is experimenting and trying new things, widening the possibilities of what I create. When I learned to weave it felt like such a rewording craft. I had been sewing since I was 5 and the fabric I would use to sew always amazed me. When I learned I could make my own fabrics I was so in love with the idea.
