Each student produces a few of their own projects but we also make a project that stays in their classroom. This is last week's piece woven from yarn that we dyed in class. They do the weaving and I tie it off after the week is finished. I've mounted their weaving on an old mill quill from one of our local textile mills. I'd acquired a case of these lovely oak quills several years ago and continue to find special uses for them. I also gave them a little extra bit of local history as I warped their class loom with a lovely local cotton yarn. About ten years ago a dear friend called me from an antique store to tell me she'd found some neat wooden spools for only $2 each. She said she thought I'd like to wrap my handspun yarn on them for display but first I'd have to take the old yarn off of them. The "old yarn" turned out to be awesome and I have treasured it, using it for special school projects where I thought the students would enjoy the history behind it. I've used up all but three of the original spools of yarn.
I have got to go to antique stores more often!
ReplyDeleteI was thrilled with these! The friend who found them for me died of cancer a few years ago which makes them even more special. But it has given me great joy to share the yarn with the many school children I teach.
ReplyDeleteHooray for these students getting a taste of fiber arts, especially weaving. Dyeing is so much for and for them to take the dyed yarn to a woven project is all the better for them to see the process of our art.
ReplyDeleteI do have some time constraints so each day's class does the dyeing that the next day's class will use. They get to see their finished color but the next day it is dry enough to use. I also throw in a few feathers as well as some acrylic and cotton yarn to show them how acid dyes are for protein fibers. They are always stunned to see the dye just wash right off of the acrylic & cotton ;-)
ReplyDeleteDeb--What a wonderful way to spread 'fiber love' into the next generation!!
ReplyDeleteEach student does an individual weaving as well. I love how they are all different and the fact that the boys really enjoy it. With some of these fellows it helps that I have some yarns that can be put together to look like camo but, hey, whatever works!
ReplyDeleteThat's a nice piece of weaving. I love how rustic it looks. I'm a bit jealous of your bobbins, they are beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ally. They are a real treasure!
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