Special Announcement: The winner of the signed book BLACKMAIL AND BIBINGKA by Mia P. Manansala is...Gillian B!!!
Congratulations, Gillian! To claim your prize, you can email Mia at:
JENN McKINLAY: If you know me at all, you know that I'm a crafter. You name it, I've done it from basketweaving to scrapbooking to woodworking - been there and done that.
The only craft that seems to stick is the fiber arts. I started with crochet and then moved on to knitting. I've been very content, knitting at the end of the day as my wind down from the word smithing.
And then I was in Canada at my favorite yarn shop (it's in a barn on a sheep farm - Gaspereau Valley Fibres) and I got sidetracked by these amazing scarves and wraps and whatnot that they had draped all over the place so I spoke with the woman in the shop that day and she explained that she taught weaving and these were some of her creations. WEAVING! I was entranced.
The next thing I knew I was doing a deep dive into weaving books, videos, and debating buying a rigid heddle loom.
Screeeeeeeeech!!!!
That would be me, slamming the brakes on before I was $1K into a new hobby I wasn't even certain I'd enjoy.
Instead, when I got home I checked around and noted that my local yarn shop Tempe Yarn and Fiber also has a weaving class. So this is how I spent my morning yesterday, learning the art of warp and weft with my first run at weaving.
So, how did it go? Well...
OMG - I love it so much! It's complicated and fussy in the beginning (the warping) and then super duper cool (the weaving). I was in class with three other ladies and we encouraged each other as we went along - a newly forged sisterhood in fiber :)
So, I think II have a new hobby! But first, I'm going to baby step my way in with a book (natch) and study up before I go full on weaver immersion. But, seriously, it was the BEST!
While in class, our lovely teacher Amanda told us it was National Spin and Weave Week -- Oct 3-9.
I didn't even know there was such a thing, but it felt very appropriate for me to be in this class at this time. You can find out more info on all sorts of fiber arts here: Handweavers Guild of America.
What about you, Reds and Readers, if you could take up a hobby right now, what would it be?
Jenn, my aunt, now gone, was a master weaver who taught spinning and weaving all over the world. I am SO sorry I didn't learn from her when I could have! But I did have my first ukulele lesson this week:). Go you!!!
ReplyDeleteI love the ukelele - everyone in my house plays - except for me :( Go you, too!
DeleteWeaving sounds both complicated and fun, Jenn. If I were taking up a new hobby, I think I'd give embroidery a try . . . .
ReplyDeleteI embroidery of my grandmother’s that I cherish. I’ve always been intimidated by it!
DeleteI have never done any weaving, other than a h.s. art project but I can see how satisfying it would be. I think I've done a lot of the other needlecrafts, embroidered 2 tablecloths with napkins, and a set of placemats, while I was in college. My eyes and fine motor skills are no longer good enough for that. I do knit, though. Hmm. Maybe I'll just read a book!
ReplyDeleteKnitting is my happy place - second to reading.
DeleteSo cool. At summer camp (Camp Namanu sure to shine, all of the time!), I did weaving as a kid, so fun! I have a friend who has a loom, but no longer weaves. She's moved on to water colors, which she also does very well. I've done counted cross stitch projects for a long time, and really like it. I'm excited about winning Mia's book!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations, Gillian! I used to do cross-stitch and now I want to do a sampler :)
DeleteOh. I remember weaving potholders with those little stretchy loops of fiber. Very addictive. And simple. Not sure what my mother did with the surplus of potholders though.
ReplyDeleteI do some beading - off loom bead stitches, bead embroidery. Last year I finally made one of those wrap bracelets that Chan Luu popularized. If I tried something new I'd like to make my own pewter beads - carve the molds, melt the pewter, pour it into the mold. Maybe one day.
Yes, I made so many of those potholders! I am writing at a Quaker retreat cottage this week, and two fairly new potholders like that are in the drawer next to the stove.
DeleteI remember those pot holders! Oh, wow - you had me at pewter molds!
DeleteHow fun, Jenn! You can always ask author Dana Cameron for tips - she weaves for relaxation after her word count is done. She is currently weaving me a scarf after I was the high bidder for a custom scarf on the recent Mystery Loves Democracy auction. It's a very expensive scarf, LOL, but it was for a good cause, and I got to pick out the colors (blues and turquoises, of course!).
ReplyDeleteHand and shoulder don't like fine craft work any more, but I do still design and machine-piece together quilts when a new baby in my life comes along. Although water colors are alluring. Or maybe a life drawing class. I've always loved naked bodies. ;^)
And may I say, Spinning and Weaving Week could also be for martial arts. That's what first came to mind for me.
Congratulations on the win! Oh, I will have to reach out to Dana. I have soooo many questions!
DeleteYes, I was going to mention Dana--she is so brilliant!
DeleteEdith, you beat me to it on Dana Cameron. I love the photos of her loom readied to start weaving, with a glass of adult refreshment nearby.
ReplyDeleteIn my 20s I took a class at University of Cincinnati's Communiversity program, that explored 12 different kinds of fiberwork: rya rugs, punchneedle embroidery, hardanger, bargello needlepoint, counted cross-stitch, and I can't remember what else. I started many projects, and actually finished some. I made a needlepoint chessboard once. Never did any weaving, though. Oh, and I gave every relative a potholder when I was a kid. Jewelrymaking, beading, puffy painting, all long abandoned pursuits.
Learned to crochet and knit when I was a kid, but I never enjoyed either as much as sewing. You name it, I've probably made it, including wedding gowns, swimsuits, men's suits, tents, slipcovers, drapes, quilts. I used to sew every single day, but haven't now for the last five years. Time to get back to it!
My sister is 69, and she is teaching herself to paint by watching YouTube videos. It's so fun to see her progress.
So many hobbies! I’ve tried an abundance as well. I just love learning something new! How long it will last…we’ll see!
DeleteKnitting, embroidery, needlepoint, sewing, painting, drawing, small weaving ( for an art project) - I've taken classes but crocheting is what stuck the best and I have the yarn and hooks and books to prove it. There are two incomplete quilts my great grandmother started in grandmother's old trunk, I would like to finish them. If I ever retire from my office job, I would like to tackle quilting.
ReplyDeleteYaaaasss! Quilting has always been on my radar.
DeleteI do simple quilting, crochet, knitting. The weaving looks fabulous and I think it would be very meditative. No room for a loom and too many quilting projects waiting to be finished.
ReplyDeleteI hear that! I’m looking at my little house, thinking I really need a barn. Then I’ll get some sheep, start shearing and spinning…LOL!
DeleteAnd for help with the sheep, you can ask Sarah Stewart Taylor, Jenn!
DeleteJENN: This brings back wonderful memories of my Catholic school education. I remember when my classmates and I at the age of 4 weaved potholders to give as Christmas gifts. When I was at University, I had a roomate who was knitting a big blanket because she wanted to give her father a blanket for Christmas.
ReplyDeleteShe taught me how to knit. I know how to knit and purt the basics. When I was knitting a sweater for a man I was dating, I recall going to the knitting shop for help with my project. I recently bought this beautiful knitting book from Norway (with the help of a Norwegian friend since they do not ship overseas). I am currently teaching myself Norwegian so that I can knit more cute sutff.
Love crafts. My voice teacher loves to scrapbook and one time we put together a scrapbook for a family member's 60th birthday. No idea where I got that from because I love crafting. It is a visual thing for me and I like creating things with my hands.
Can baking be included in crafting? Not sure. I am learning to cook and bake too.
Diana
You are absolutely incredible! Brilliant. I give you a standing ovation! I can knit and crochet, and I used to be really diligent about it, as long as it wasn’t complicated, very relaxing. and I have made countless countless baby blankets.
ReplyDeleteBut I haven’t done it for years. How do you possibly possibly possibly have the time to do this? My jaw is on the floor!
I thought about this for a minute, really wondering about what I’d like to learn to do. And I fear, and I hesitate to say this, but I fear I am so uncrafty it would just be an utter failure.
But I so much love the joy in this post! You are brilliant
I also wondered how in the hell Jenn has time. But she makes it happen!
DeleteWeaving! Decades a go I took a short detour into weaving, after a deep dive into crocheting and a dip into macrame. It was the 70s. Loved the weaving part, but putting together the warp? So essential and picky picky picky and so not suited to my GET IT DONE personality. Pottery (on a wheel) might tempt me. Remember that sexy scene in GHOST?
ReplyDeleteVery cool, Jenn. Here we have Foxfire ( some of you may have read the books). They do amazing demonstrations of things like weaving & dyeing.
ReplyDeleteI used to make bead jewelry but haven’t had time in ages. Wish I had learned crochet from my Nany.
Thanks for the reminder, Jenn, I need to wind some yarn. I crochet, but how many afghans do you need? So I decided to try my hand at making a sweater.
ReplyDeleteWeaving is on my bucket list - I do know how to spin. Learned how when the Girl Scouts took us to the local historical museum. One of the docents taught me. I had the softest hands. Lambs wool is so high in lanolin. Doubt I remember enough to do it today, but it would be a fun craft to revisit!
Rhys: Jenn you are a force of nature. When do you have the time between kittens and twenty books a year!
ReplyDeleteI learned to weave in school. I have my mother’s old loom but haven’t used it in years. I tried hand spinning once. I wasn’t very good at it but it was relaxing. During Covid I’ve been doing a piece of embroidery. I can’t say I’m enthused.
I’ve done different crafts over the years. I was okay at some of them and a little above average at others. For years and years, I have wanted to learn to crochet. I have the hardest time following written directions, though. A few months ago, an art teacher I know offered to teach me to crochet. Her eventual goal is to open a studio and teach various crafts, We meet for an hour once a week at the library. For a small amount of money, I have her full attention for the entire time. When she explains the directions, they make so much sense! I’ve completed a scarf and a matching hat, and I’m working on a baby afghan. I love it, and find it to be so relaxing! In the beginning I did a refrigerator magnet and a potholder. This week I’m starting on a new hat. I’m having minor surgery on Thursday and will be laid up for a couple of weeks. I can crochet as much as I want, without feeling guilty about not doing something else!
ReplyDeleteDebRo
Jenn, My father, who was the king of hobbies, spent several years passionately involved in weaving. He turned what had been my younger brother's bedroom into his loom room, and had, yes, a full size wooden loom set up there. It was amazing, and even as a bystander, watching him thread the loom was a marvel.
ReplyDeleteDad wove one thing and one thing only; tartan scarves and throws. Like all his hobbies, he wound up going semi-pro, and selling his work at Craft fairs.
He made enough so that all the children and grandchildren have a homemade scarf from Grampy. Crafts can make a wonderful legacy to pass along.
I can barely find a needle in my house, never mind yarn for making anything. Actually, that's not true. I bought yarn and needles to make myself a 'pussy hat' after the 2016 US election, but I just couldn't get the hang of it. At all. The pink yarn on my shelf is a bright reminder of that effort -- and that's where crafts end with me.
ReplyDeleteAmanda, that's so funny. My husband was asking for a needle the other day, and I had no idea where to look for one.
DeleteI wouldn't mind learning how to knit but I don't think that's going to happen! One needs only so many scarves. I did learn how to crochet with a friend years ago. She stuck with it. I abandoned it after my infamously droopy afghan was finished. I do pick up needlepoint and cross stitch from time to time but it has been a long time since my last session.
ReplyDeleteJenn, My cousin is a master weaver. She has had her weaving displayed in gallery shows and has won many awards. It is unbelievable some of the items she creates. An entire woman’s suit and many coats.?She is now based in Asheville, North Carolina. She is a journalist but now teaches at the college there and weaves full time. She teaches and displays at conferences all over the world, if you have a chance to just observe one of her demonstrations, they are amazing!
ReplyDeleteSide note I do not weave. Your first attempt tells me this will be one of your passions.
Her name is Karen Hurt Donde.
ReplyDeleteJenn, you are a wonder! Finding time for weaving and any hobby makes you the most productive person I know. I think I know how you do it though. The other day I was remarking to a friend that if I could only read in my sleep, I could get caught up a bit. So, I think you are writing your books while you sleep. Hahaha!
ReplyDeleteHonestly, it took me years and years to overcome the guilt of not sewing or wanting to. The guilt wasn't as bad for knitting and crocheting. I am not a craft person. I'm thinking about starting a club for non-crafters. Maybe we can stand outside of a yarn store or craft fair and hold signs saying, "We do not craft!" Now, having said all that, I do love the work of people who do different crafts and have bought much of it.
Oh, I should add that I did try macrame back in the day. A friend of mine was doing it, and I decided to try with her. I made a beautiful green Christmas tree, and I still hang it out as a decoration each Christmas (around 40 now). But, I lost interest. You know I do read, and that's a major passion.
ReplyDeleteI used to do cross stitch. Since I was dumb and didn’t know there was an easy way to start, the first thing that I did was a picture of my kids on 22 count Aida – nope not a beginner’s kit. Something like 50 colours – took a year. Did several more after that and even bought a few kits – they were boring. My mother and I designed one for my daughter, one time when I visited. There was lots of brown paper stretched out on the floor as we marked X, no X, to make a pattern. Unfortunately, my eyes are not good enough to do it anymore, but I treasure the ones that I have done.
ReplyDeleteIn other notes, we survived Fiona the hurricane. 10 days no power and even worse, no water – but we kept sending butterflies out into the world. The last one left yesterday – bon voyage!
Jenn, I am so not crafty, but a few years ago I became entrance with weaving (I had a weaver in a book, of course) and I signed up for a weaving class. I loved the weaving and the yarns, but not the warping! That was a dyslexia NO for me, but I still have the throw I made somewhere.
ReplyDeleteWhat I really want to do it sketch and watercolor, for journals, and every year that goes on my goals list, but sigh... Maybe this year!
Good for you! I worked at a museum where we demonstrated pre-Industrial weaving on a huge 18th century loom AND we taught the school groups how to weave on a "toy" wooden upright loom. It's harder than it looks and we were just doing rows. If you ever move back to New England, I can point you in the right direction of the professional weaving teacher who used to teach adult weaving classes at the museum. It seems very zen once you get into it but the set up look difficult.
ReplyDeleteMy hobbies are READING and BAKING of course!
QNPoohBear, longtime fan