New kit: Circular loom weaving
Introdction to Circular Loom Weaving
12th October 2020
Another month flies by and once again I’ve found the very best crafts for you using no plastic and lovely natural materials! I feel like I’ve really struck gold with this one! Here’s the story behind the kit…
Find inspiration everywhere!
You know those days when you don’t really have much planned but you just take yourself on a mini adventure? Don’t you find that they’re always the best ones? The one’s you remember and the days that give you the biggest boost.
Last month, my girlfriend Emma and I met up for a countryside walk. We pretty much just picked the spot that was between us on the map and that had free parking. We ended up on Overton in Hampshire. Actually really lovely! Super coffee and a nice walk!
We drove around for a bit after the walk to find a picnic spot and by complete chance, and slight hungry desperation on my part, stopped at Whitchurch Silk Mill. Aside from being absolutely stunning outside, I loved having a look around the looms and other machinery, which would have originally all been powered by water wheel.
Inside the mill
I left feeling really inspired to have a go at some basic loom weaving and I’m so pleased to be bringing this craft to you!
History of loom weaving
Humans have been weaving since the Palaeolithic era. Flax weavings are found in Fayum, Egypt, dating from around 5000 BC so we’ve been weaving for a very long time to produce fabric for all kinds of uses. The process has undergone several stages of improvement and industrialisation over history including during the Industrial revolution when weaving switched from hand to machine. John Kay invented the flying shuttle in 1733 and enabled weaving of wider fabric as well as made it faster. The first factories for weaving were built in 1785. The Jacquard loom was invented in about 1803. It could be programmed with punch cards which enabled faster weaving of more complicated patterns.
merino wool
I want to take you back to hand weaving and help you get to grips with these wonderful materials shown below. This kit includes merino wool from Yorkshire which is one of the most sustainable materials. The wool comes from Merino sheep which is prized for it’s soft feel and it’s strength among many other qualities. If you’d like to find out more about it then I can seriously recommend watching this film!
Beautiful merino wool
Go Get creative
I really hope you enjoy this kit!
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