Month: October 2015

Weaving for Beginners for Cotswold Conservation Board

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Stroudwater Textile Trust loaned this four shaft table loom for use on the course
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My four shaft counter balance floor loom, relocated to the visitors centre at the Old Prison, Northleach.

I have just taught my first course, Weaving for Beginners, as part of the Rural Skills Program that Cotswold Conservation Board/AONB offer to ensure that country skills survive.

The course offers hands-on experiences on a range of looms, from the simple rigid heddle and back strap, to a floor loom.

My floor loom has been relocated to the visitors centre where it will be on display and used in the weaving courses. The next course will take place on Saturday, 28th November.

Wool Week at Adam Henson’s Cotswold Farm Park

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Drop-in weaving sessions for children proved popular. They enjoyed being tied in into the simple back strap loom using a rigid heddle.
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This is where my Shetland wool comes from. This real character was happy to have his photo taken!
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This big beast is a Cotswold breed sheep by the name of Claudius. He did not want to look up or interact with me, perhaps that’s why the use of Cotswold wool has declined!
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This little girl stayed for ages and as it was the end of the day she was given the weaving to take home.

I was approached by the Cotswold Farm Park to come and weave with the public during Wool Week. I took several rigid heddle and back strap looms, ready warped up. Within minutes the children were weaving cheerfully and well. I also took a four shaft table loom on loan from Stroudwater Textile Trust for adults that wanted to explore ‘proper’ weaving.

Cambrian Wool Collection in London for Fashion Week

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Sian Lloyd and Jane Ashley at the launch of the Cambrian Wool Collection at London Welsh Centre for London Fashion Week 2015
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The launch of the Cambrian Wool Collection at London Welsh Centre for London Fashion Week 2015

The bench upholstered with my hand-woven fabric travelled to London with the collection. I met lots of lovely people at the launch, and everybody loved my bench!