Woven Textile Designer, Handweaver
After six years of learning and hard labour(!) my degree show has now been installed. The show opens to the public on Saturday 6th June, with the private view the night before.
My pieces form two collections, inspired by Urban and Natural Iceland; volcanic rock greys, lichen yellows and paintbox red, blue and white.
To see more images, look here
The Standard sent a photographer to cover the event and my photo ended up in the paper, as well as in the article on their web site.
I was demonstrating weaving to everybody, but the children were so desperate to have a go themselves (under supervision!) I had to press the pedals for them as their legs weren’t long enough!
I was invited to take part in the first Sheep and Wool Day at Cotswold AONB, which is based at the Old Prison, Northleach.
I took my ‘Portaloom’, a four-shaft floor loom, threaded with a warp, the wool for which was donated by Abbey Home Farm. They keep a flock of Organically-reared Lleyn sheep whose fleece is spun into yarn by the Natural Fibre Company in Launceston, Cornwall. The weft was hand-spun provided by the Northleach Weavers and Spinners group.
I demonstrated weaving different patterns, explaining how the loom worked, and displayed samples of my weaving. I brought a simple home made micro-loom to give Children the chance to try weaving for themselves!
My commendation was in the British Wool Section, for which I entered a Geometric design in monochrome, with two additional development designs. This is the third time I have entered this prestigious competition, which gives students an opportunity to experience a range of types of British Wool. Last year I was an award-winner which led to valuable experiences and opportunities.
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I received my yarn on cones, wound it onto hanks and sent it off to Triskelion to be dyed. I kept back a tiny amount, dyed half with some odd blue dye and did this sampling. I made adjustments to the pattern and tried different setts to produce a good upholstery cloth weight.
I then sent a test piece to Mick Sheridan of M.S. Upholstery for his OK. The plan is for him to use the final fabric to upholster a bench, which will be our collaborative piece for the collection.
This trio of woven pieces, has been successfully nominated for the Campaign for Wool’s online gallery. They are made from British Wool, dyed with natural dyes inspired by the colours of Welsh slate. The weave structure is two layer double-cloth and they have been subjected to ‘controlled’ felting. They were exhibited in conjunction with the International Felt Makers Conference held in Bath.
I have been selected as one of the 25 designer/makers for this fantastic opportunity to showcase the use of Welsh Wool. Specially commissioned wool fabric, yarn and ‘tops’ are supplied to participants to produce woven, knitted or felted ‘products’.
I am aiming to design and weave the largest piece of cloth I have attempted. Each warp end and weft pick is 3 strands of woollen yarn. Tension is a challenge as I am using 3 different yarns, each with its own ‘character’ as well as colour.
Warp number 2 in this project. Using multiple strands as one end (warp thread) and as one pick (weft pass).
I used 3 strands instead of one thicker one, all going through one heddle and in one dent in the reed. Although the white yarn appeared quite fluffy, it wove without problem to my relief. For a single cloth (as opposed to double-cloth) it was interesting to observe the different feel of the various weave structures; the hopsack giving a thicker and more robust cloth.
rebecca connolly design 