Way back in Maryland, I was walking around all the barns full of equipment, and fibery goodness with Jenn, repeating, “I will not learn to weave, I don’t need to learn to weave, I will not!”
It appears I am a liar.
I started classes on Saturday. I’m excited to learn to weave, although at this point I can’t see myself having a great love for it. I’m just curious about how it all works, so I looked into some art centers around here for classes, and found a good one, reasonably priced, over 9 saturdays.
Classes are at The Pittsburgh Center for the Arts
a fun place, I’ve only been to once before. The studio is not all that little, but it’s so crammed with floor looms, you’d never know it. There is stuff everywhere. Cones of yarn here, warped looms there, it’s nuts.
There are 5 of us, one lady has already had the beginning class, so she’s working on what she had started, then there’s me, then there’s 3 guys about my age. I had no idea what to expect, demographically speaking. So I was a little surprised that these particular guys would be spending all these saturday mornings learning to weave. Turns out they’re all going for a masters in art education, and are taking this to fill a requirement. I think the instructor’s happy to have at least one fiber nut, with a good background for all things fiberly. She’s cool, and has that scattered, “loves what she does, hard not to have everything she knows pour out all at once, while trying to teach basics” way about her. I can relate. So, I wound my warp, but didn’t have time to get it on the loom, and by the looks of all the little wirey thingys each strand of warp as to be threaded though, is no light feat.
There are so many options and combinations to decide about. I worked out a nice asymetrical pattern of stripey warp. In tweeds. mmmm.
The idea is to have 3 to 4 squares of woven fabric, as a sampler of patterns and fiber combinations. So I’m excited for the next saturday, but don’t worry, I won’t be dropping any loot on any looms any time soon!
Bwahahaha! You knew it was only a matter of time! Wait, I shouldn’t be laughing at you about this, I was saying the same thing. And we all know how bad I am at willpower. Nooooooo!!!!!
OH, and have fun, lady!
Yowza! I was fascinated with weaving before knitting was even a gleam in my eye, so I’ll be looking forward to your updates from class!
weaving is the new yoga, it seems! there’s been a few knitbloggers mentioning it lately. i got a small loom last week and am looking for a place to take classes. i love the idea of a stripey, tweedy warp – looking forward to seeing how it turns out!
COngratulations, you caved in before I did! You don’t NEED to learn to weave. But you WANT to. I WANT to. I’ve been saving up all my handspun yarn, and I think it will go towards weaving. I’m looking forward to your future escapades. And photos. Take lots of photos.
ooh love those tweeds. i think its awesome you’re learning something new, i’ll enjoy seeing how it goes!
HAHAHAHAHA! I’ve been repeating those words to myself for about a month — when I ordered my spinning wheel, I happened to see the Ashford “knitter’s loom” on a website and haven’t been able to get it out of my mind.
I can’t wait to see where you go with it, and by the way if I start weaving or anything after seeing it on your site, I will totally blame you!! 🙂
Just looking at all those lovely cones of yarn, all those colors, heck, I would have given it too!! ; )
Wow, what a great chance to experiment with colour and textures.
My “hahahahahaha” comes from remembering that’s what I said about spinning and wheels. You are such a cooked puppy now.
Those looms look like fun. I love trying new stuff. Good for you, even if you don’t LOVE it, it’s a new experience.
I shall live vicariously through you!! How fun!!
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