The Importance of Spontaneity in Weaving
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- Опубліковано 26 лип 2024
- Hi, I'm Chris Acton. I've been a weaver since 2005 and over the years, I have tried SO many things in order to stretch my weaving and my creativity muscles.
This presentation is my personal argument for why play and spontaneity are important for weavers everywhere.
Take it all with a grain of salt. Whatever you'd like to try, keep with you, and feel free to discard the rest.
My hope is that you will bravely become the amazing weaver (and artist) you were born to be - whatever that looks like for you. Happy Weaving! - Chris
Want more? Check out the Acton Creative website at actoncreative.net/! There you'll find an online shop, lots of blog posts, more about me (Chris), and some great weaving freebies!
Want even more? Join the Acton Creative Insiders! This monthly membership, hosted by Patreon, is a fabulous way to support and be in "know" for all things Acton Creative. Click here to become a member - / actoncreative . I can't wait for you to join us! - Розваги
First of all, I want to say that your last weave-along (the waffle weave) inspired me to create a draft I've never seen published. I miscounted when I was measuring warp, and instead of having a six-thread colour repeat, I counted seven. In other words, I had six of one colour, and an accent of a different colour. As it turned out, I loved the weave I developed from that mistake and will be using it in the future.
I never have "noise" on in the background. I love the song the loom sings, the heddles rattling, the shafts rising and falling. You used the word "meditative." That's how I have described it to many friends. And my greatest joy in weaving is weaving just for the sake of it. I have often woven a length of fabric just because I wanted to be weaving. In fact, I still have about four yards of a blue/green "UFO" (Unidentified Fiber Object) which I wove about 45 years ago and still haven't settled on how to use it. Okay, most of the time I find homes for my work, but that one is special and needs to find its perfect niche.
Crow, thank you so much for the note! I love the sound of your unique draft - how wonderful! Keep up the great work!!
That was a beautiful description your gave of the loom!
I am very right brained. Mom mom looked it up once, the qualities in a right brained person and she said "it's you!" But I love weaving and enjoyed this video. I will def try to apply it more as I learn weaving
It's Thursday, 9:44 in the mornin, and I'm looking at the last yard of a 9yd green & cream warp...so I pulled out red, blue, pink, coral, and lavender...I'm going to play!
Veronica, that's amazing!! Have fun!!!
I really enjoyed the Importance of Spontaneity!! At the end of a weaving lesson I practiced with different size threads and a variety of colors. The Twill patterns were marvelous and I loved playing! It is now hanging on my studio wall!!
How fabulous, BJ!!
My mom and I weave for the process and the creativity we dont start with a plan or purpose we weave it to weave it and if we find a purpose great. We play and have fun and it's the best
Sounds carefree & wonderful! Keep up the great work!
Saori weaving is quite a bit like what u are saying. Totally free form. I love it.
You're exactly right!! Thank you!!
I always say it's so methodical!
Right? And it is! But maybe it can be other things, too!
Chris! Thank you so much for this video, your timing was perfect. As a newer weaver, mostly self taught, if watching You Tube counts as self taught, I didn’t have all the rules. My weaving journey began so I could be a beginner. Now, I find myself on a journey between the right and left brain. As an example,Jennifer Moore’s double weave was a great learning project. At a certain point, I realized, I do not like the process of counting 4 rows to get a line done. At that point, the project was completed. The warp was advanced. And the next 48” became a sheer joy of play! Now, it covers my cedar chest and I love it!
You are so right, taking time to play has to be incorporated in to the world of weaving. Thank you for encouraging the balanced brain and being present in the moment to support intuition. You have taught so much and now the capstone of a weaver’s education!
PS: Did you ever get your MFA or did you do all of your weaving education through classes with other weavers?❤😊
Hi Nancy! I love your pivot! Brilliant! Good for you!!
Turns out, I really love weaving and found that I have no interest in all the other things included in an MFA. It's funny what you learn about yourself!
I took at least 3 years of classes to get me started and then, just kept going! Thanks for asking!!
I just received this book a couple of weeks ago. I am challenging myself with the Double Weave process. I have taken a weaving course after I had started weaving first on a 8 shaft table loom. The weaving course killed my weaving mojo for a bit. The instructor had zero patience and had slapped my hand when I had reached to adjust the cord under the lamm. I felt I was in the 1950's!
Anyway instructors like Chris here are an asset to the wave of newbie weavers and experienced weavers who love this craft so much. Her infectious is a bright light!
Nancy I wish I could connect with you to learn how you navigated your way. I feel like I need a weaving buddy in my life who is also a DIY learner.
@@FirstnameLastname-je5dt Thank you for the kind words, Lori! I'm so sorry you had such a bad experience - that's dreadful! Hopefully we can provide plenty of love & support to keep you going!!
Well that was terrifying! 😆 I was grateful when you got to the "science" reference. I can do that! I have a Masters in science. I work as a policy analyst. My jobs have all been planning and organizing and analysing. I still think of weaving as a creative outlet . . . and the bonus is that I still get to plan things! Now, though, I feel like I need to consider some spontaneity. . . I suppose, as long as I can plan for it, maybe I can pull it off 😉
Dawn, this is such a great answer! I totally appreciate the challenge, I promise! Thankfully, you can take itty bitty tiny baby steps and still feel a difference! You've got this!!
I was channeling you *before* I watched the video this morning! I was planning to participate in a WAL and finally had time to warp my RHL yesterday. I was already changing up the pattern, using a different cotton, making napkins instead of towels. I'm about 20 threads into the warping and I think, "hey, lets make this a wide striped warp." Insert some math here. Warp is on, I start weaving and think, "hey, let's go for color blocks and use all the warp stripe colors in the weft." Insert more math here. And I'm thinking as I do this, "I should watch Chris's video on spontaneity. I'm pretty sure this isn't what she talked about, but..." Hoping to join you for the April WAL, on my RHL as always. I already have the yarns sampled and in stash, so it's the needed push to make the project I need. Thanks for another great video!
Michele, I'm so tickled!! That's amazing!!! Thank you so much for sharing! I cannot wait for you to join us in the Weave Along!!
Loved this pep talk. And yes it really does show you a different perspective on things. Than you so much for this talk. ❤😊
I'm so glad you enjoyed it!! Thank you for the feedback!
MUSIC PERFORMANCE!!! Me too
Wow!!! No kidding?!
This was a fun and inspirational video, thanks!❤
I'm so glad you enjoyed it!!
Good morning Chris! I am listening to you as I am making mushroom and spinach quiche, and when you said 'Some of you are breaking out in hives.' lol lol I burst out laughing. My left eye was already starting to twitch as I am only a new floor loom weaver, and every step is planned and purposeful lol lol Thanks for making the time to share your knowledge. Bless ya! Monica (South Australia)
Well hello, Monica! Your story just made my day! So funny!!
It's true that as a new weaver, you're still learning the ropes and the rules. But what a great time to start incorporating the habit of playing! At least a little bit... maybe in a fiercely organized fashion...
I see you, my friend! You can do it!
Great video Chris! I’m finally catching up on these.
I’ve followed your friends philosophy of being imperfect for decades, I first heard it as knitter, like you it has a huge influence on my life.
Spontaneity is not a word I associate with weavers. Meditative is a word I associate with weaving, winding warp and putting it on the loom, slaying, threading, winding warp, and weaving. My very first weavings were “spontaneous”, I had no idea what I was doing 😂
Susan, thank you so much for the great comment! I love hearing about your story and your philosophy!
Loved your presentation. Very inspiring. Yes… am excited to warp up my loom with no expectations…. I think this will be good for me in my free time as I am about to move house and may be under a little stress and being over organising with everything 😅
I'm so glad you enjoyed it! Best of luck with the move!!!
I really loved this. I was quite left-brain in my corporate finance life. After serious illness that resulted in neurological issues, my right brain has taken over like a "undomesticated ADD horse".
I am using weaving not only as my work but as my physical rehabilitative therapy. After watching this video, I do not feel so awful about how my brain works. Thank you! I just need to build more confidence in the methodical approach.
It is amazing how information hits you at the time you need it. Chris your intuition is working!
I have been pondering the idea of silence. I am usually listening to 70's classic rock music or a weaving podcast. I think I will just enjoy the silence to see what happens.
Thank you for these tips.
Lori, I'm so glad you enjoyed this!! The brain is a fascinating thing, isn't it? You're doing great, my friend! Keep up the amazing job!!
Interesting video. I am very very new to weaving. I would call myself very right brained and would describe myself as an artist as weaving is not my only creative activity. Interestingly I have just read something that says the concept of right and left brained has been debunked lol Anyway, I paint portraits, knit, crochet and sometimes make jewellery (just to name a few), so I sometimes find it a little challenging to get my head around the maths involved in weaving lol I would rather just jump right into a weaving project, I am not a big planner either. I bought a rigid heddle loom as it was more in my price range but have yet to get my head around how to understand the setting up of the heddles/reeds to do more than just plain weave. But recently I have been thinking I might find it easier to use a shaft loom but the cost is putting me off, so I am trying to stick with my rigid heddle loom as I am not sure if I am just avoiding learning how to use my rigid heddle loom properly lol. T x
Thank you so much for the great comment! Everyone is different, right? I hope you thoroughly enjoy your weaving journey!!
@@ActonCreative No worries, I enjoy a good conversation ;) lol and thanks, so far I am enjoying my weaving adventure. I just need to stop procrastinating and get my next project on my loom. It is always such a thought to warp it I struggle to decide which project I am going to do next, what is worthy of taking the time to warp my loom. Though I am purchasing a warping board with the view that it might make it easier to warp. Its the faffing back and forth from the loom that feels such a chore. I don't mind the slaying just the actual walking back and forth from the warping peg lol T x
I use my leftover yarn that I have on spools as the hems of my projects, and if there is a lot, I make hot pads. Any yarn will do on these.
Lovely! Great idea, Sandra!
Loved the video. I'm new to weaving. I am learning from books and you. Broke 3 bones in my ankle last Oct.just starting to walk. Have been spinning to use in weaving. check-in Harry (Harrisville design 40 inch 4 shaft and 6. Do you answer any of our post?
Hi Joyce! I'm so glad you are on the mend! Feel better soon!!
Make something funky.... Maybe keep it for the front of a shirt or top... And then u can make something that matches it for the rest of the shirt. I luv clothes! Funky!
Absolutely!