Saturday was my community weaving project in Angelica. Although I will change some things next time around, the project was reasonably successful. This is a story told mostly in pictures, with just a few words.
As I expected, it took only about 5 minutes for me to complete the loom frame assembly.
What I didn’t expect was that the tent frame would be substantially lower than my tent, so the milk jug weights were resting on the ground. I should have made the weaving frame only 4′ high and wide instead of 5′, both to deal with this problem and account for the time it took to do the weaving.
Regardless, I started warping the loom.
My guesstimate was right – it took me about an hour to get the loom all warped.
I put in just a bit of one color so people got the basic idea, then solicited my first weavers.
It didn’t take long before some younger weavers joined in.
They drew in others.
The frame is large, so it takes a lot of time to build up color.
Time is passing really quickly and the crowd is thinning, so I work quickly trying to fill in around the shapes the community wove in. Wish there was more time, more people, and a smaller frame.
I asked people at the end to fill in sections, too. Kids were happy to oblige.
Just in time, the weaving is done.
I think it’s going to be about a week before it’s fully installed on Main Street. I’ll go back then and take a photo, too.
All in all, it was fun. I plan to improve on this process and do more community weaving.
I think this is a terrific community project! Almost everyone has had experience with weaving those little potholders, now they see the same weaving principles ( over one under one) on a large scale producing a piece of art together! It must of been fun to do and I think will generate lots of interest at it’s next venue. Great idea!
Thanks, Cathie – it was lots of fun! And you are correct – I often used an assumption that people had made potholders as a strategy to draw them in and convince them they could do this. I also thanked everyone for helping. I hope the woman ‘in charge’ of the Farmer’s Market gets it hanging up downtown soon – I think people need that to close the circle. In terms of over one-under one, that was my goal. Some people, particularly the kids, didn’t exactly do that, and I was often too busy to work with them. Still, everything worked fine.
What a GREAT community project. I don’t believe I have ever seen so much involvement at an
event. Sure do hope you do more of these, and that it is rewarding in every way for you.
Thanks, Anne. I do hope to do more, and to involve the community in even greater ways.
Thanks, Alma & Judy. To answer your questions, Alma, I had 12 rolls of tulle. People would choose their color and I’d cut them a length of 1-2 yards – I learned that longer lengths were harder to work with.
I think the people who chose to be involved enjoyed it. In its next iteration the loom will be smaller, the warp closer together, and I’d find a way to spend a bit more time with each person.
And yes, Red did enjoy it. He met some nice dogs and people.
What a good group project. What were they weaving in? Scarves? Chiffon? Tulle? What a good ice-breaking team-building motivator exercise! You should rent yourself out to corporations!
Hmmm… thought I already left a comment… anyway – VERY cool!!!! Great idea! Great project! Great community involvement!
(and it looks like Red likes it too : )