A-Crafting We Will Go

Having realised I haven't written any blogs last year i will start this year with 2 in quick succession!

After taking a year off the previous year i got back into needle felting woolly wallies but my main focus was on wall hangings as i realised i was more fulfilled and got more joy from creating art, than churning out little things production line style.

Ive carried on weaving on my hand looms but i was keen to learn about using more industrial production- cloth looms like those used to make Harris Tweed.

And so it was that I found a weaver who was looking to start hosting weaving workshops during the winter and by November i was booked on their first Weaving Retreat.

The Weaving Shed (https://www.westernislesdesigns.co.uk/) is a business south of Stornaway on the Outer Hebrides that is a family affair- three sisters work in weaving, manufacturing of products from the woven cloth, as well as art, ceramics and, well, they are pretty much adept at all sorts of crafts!

And so it was on a cold November day that i set off from my wee island in Orkney to travel to another wee scottish island- only this time surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean not the North Sea.

Miriam Hamilton arranged for me to be met by tour guide John (a Harris Weaver of course) who transferred me to my accommodation for the duration of the Retreat.

I was staying a few days shorter than the actual course length because of issues with plane availability at weekends and my desire not to be away from home and my animals too long (although they were being well cared for by my friend and neighbour Louis and his family).

The Weavers Cottage (https://www.theweaverscottage.co.uk/) was a few miles from the weaving studio and as available to rent outside of weaving retreats. It was immaculately renovated by Miriam's husband and furnished inside by the sisters and their creative output. It was so comfy and quiet it was tempting to stay longer!

you don't have to be a weaver to stay at the weavers cottage!

After settling in and trying out the self catering facilities the course was due to start the next morning. I was to be sharing with 3 other weaving enthusiasts but one had to pull out at short notice and the other 2 were delayed due to flight issues (both were coming from the US so made my journey seem like a local trip!)

So i got one to one training on day one which, since we were the guinea-pigs for the hosts, turned out to have been fortuitous. I was collected by Miriam and introduced to her sister Martha who would demonstrate warping on their mahoooosive warping board. It was here they/ we realised that not everyone is nearly 6ft and might not be able to reach the top of the board. Luckily Paul, Miriams hubby is the builder of the family and sorted the board so there was a "short person option" - which turned out to be very useful as all three of us were under 5ft 4!!

it's a bit big.....

Martha showed me how to make a long warp using 6 threads at a time which speeds up the process no end and is something i will try back home on my own wee warping board as it will make multi coloured warps so much quicker to set up.

I had a go, learning the specific way to hold the warps, how to maintain the threads in the correct order, how to make the cross at each end and finally, once wound, how to chain it off the board to prepare to put it on the loom.

All participants get to choose the colours of warp they wish to work with and how long a warp they want to make. Given limitations on space back home i opted for a 4m warp but one of the other attendees made a 20m one! I haven't put it on a loom yet but aim to set to soon.

Lunches were provided either at Miriam's or Martha's houses (which were only a short walk across the sheep fields and families vegetable gardens apart) and were able to cater for my vegan requirements with ease.

Day one finished with a short amount of daylight available to take a quick walk and survey my surroundings- a wee village on the side of a loch on the east side of the island, before taking to my lodgings and meeting the next attendee who had arrived that afternoon

The next day Sandra was shown how to make her own unique warp and i was introduced to the rug loom and started making a rug out of selvedges- the strips of woven yarn cut off the loom during weaving by Harris tweed weavers.

does this loom make me look small...?

The next few days allowed Beverly (the last to arrive) to make a warp, Sandra to make her rug and for us all to learn together how to warp the Hattersley Loom- which i had a soecific interest in.

clickety clack

Along with visits to meet Miriam's sheep (mostly Gotlands who are a lovely friendly breed) we each were able to produce a warp to take home, a selvedge rug, and a length of tweed made on the Hattersley.

gotlands!

As a group we chose the colours for the warp and then selected the colours for our own length to weave with. I chose blue and green

In between individual loom time there was opportunity to do other activities like spinning and sewing. I chose sewing as i am less skilled in that,

my rug

my length of tweed

Within the retreat were excursion days and one was included before i was due to leave. Sadly the weather was dreadful: it rained all day, but that didn't stop tour guide John from showing us all Harris has to offer. We visited the Callanish Stones and while there happened upon a group of guys the other 2 ladies recognised as the Band who had played at the Christmas Lights switch on the night before (i didn't attend). They asked us to leave as they were filmed a music video so i cheekily took the opportunity to request a photo in return, which they grudgingly obliged!

a rather wet Clann An Drumma and new groupies

John then took us to an ancient round house, and then to a village made up of traditional Blackhouses. This is another place that can be booked to stay in and would be amazing to do in future.

Blackhouses are traditionally Herbidean

The blackhouses are not dis-similar to my own home on North Ronaldsay in set up at least. They comprise a living space, divided into a sleeping area with box bed and a living area with fire, and directly attached is the livestock barn. Interestingly the blackhouses floors have a really steep incline which was done to prevent animal excreta running into the living areas! It felt very weird navigating the space while leaning!!

John had been involved in the renovation and upkeep of the historic site and after an unexpected lunch courtesy of the museum guardians he gave us an impromptu demonstration on their Hattersley Loom which now resides in the animal barn of one of the houses.

Because of our specific interests we were also treated to a visit to Carloway Mill, which is currently not in production but is full to brimming of beautiful tweeds waiting to be turned into things. We were given a guided tour by the hilarious owner and then bought some treats from the wee shop attached to the mill.

I didnt get any pictures at that point as i forgot my phone but Sandra kindly sent me some pics of the area, although none of this mill.

Scottish Blackface out on the machair

We drove past the huge machine that is the Harris Tweed Company Mill and given a bit of background of the history of its rise, fall and rise (and possibly fall again).

Despite the weather we all enjoyed Johns tour and were grateful for his personal knowledge of the weaving industry.

View from the weaving shed

I departed the next day, having purchased extra suitcases from the Hospice Shop in Stornoway to carry my new haul of woven work and wool to weave with, but the other ladies had a few extra days to enjoy a further trip out to the other end of Harris, and to complete some sewn projects they had started including a cushion and a lamp shade in their choice of Miriam's tweeds (the Aurora tweed was a favouite!) I had begun a wrap but that was more a learning piece not a "take home" one! Nonetheless i feel more confident to approach clothing with my textiles in future.

All in all this was a fun, inspiring and productive week and i thoroughly recommend it to anyone with a passion for sheep and weaving (although i'm sure non interested partners would enjoy the Cottage and surroundings should they wish to come along)

If i get the chance i would love to return one day.

Sandra, Martha, Miriam and Beverly outside the weaving shed.

For information about Weaving Retreats check out their website and follow them on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheWeavingShedCrossbost

and of course stay tooned with me to find out how my journey will progress with this new found information!