Handwoven Textiles in The New Forest
About me
The Studio
About me
Since graduating form Central School of Art and later UCA Farnham, I have continued to develop my weaving practice alongside teaching and running textile workshops.
I look to traditional weaves for ideas, then try to recreate them in a contemporary way. I work on a sturdy, heavyweight Swedish countermarche loom which is perfect for weavin
Since graduating form Central School of Art and later UCA Farnham, I have continued to develop my weaving practice alongside teaching and running textile workshops.
I look to traditional weaves for ideas, then try to recreate them in a contemporary way. I work on a sturdy, heavyweight Swedish countermarche loom which is perfect for weaving my Scandinavian-inspired rugs.
I love most to immerse myself in the rhythm of weaving. It's a whole body experience from the feet on the treadles to passing the shuttle from hand to hand. I like the physicality of weaving a rug. If it's a large rug I need to extend my arms fully either side using a long shuttle called a ‘ski shuttle’. It can be quite hard work.
I start with the material, its intrinsic qualities, the feel of it in my hand, the design and concept stem from there. Colour is upmost and that is quite intuitive; I work with colours that somehow resonate for me at the time.
Wool
The Studio
About me
I use natural fibres such as wool, linen, and some cotton. Handspun wool is my favourite for rugs but I am not really a spinner (yet) and so dependent on others to spin for me which does make the process longer and ultimately more costly. However, the result is worth it, creating a very special rug that feels sublimely warm and cushioned
I use natural fibres such as wool, linen, and some cotton. Handspun wool is my favourite for rugs but I am not really a spinner (yet) and so dependent on others to spin for me which does make the process longer and ultimately more costly. However, the result is worth it, creating a very special rug that feels sublimely warm and cushioned underfoot.
My favourite material would have to be Gotland wool. Gotland are a Swedish breed of sheep that have beautiful, curly, grey fleece and they are friendly little creatures. Amazingly, there is a farmer in the village of Minstead, right here in the New Forest who has a substantial flock. It’s a delight to visit and collect the fleece direct from the farm.
The Studio
The Studio
The Studio
The studio houses my rug loom and four table-top looms which I use for sampling and teaching. There's a woodburning stove for cold days and though nesting under a beautiful copper beech there is plenty of natural light. There is an outside tap and old butlers sink for natural dyeing.
Krokbragd
Handwoven Belts
The Studio
My techniques include the Norwegian krokbragd (literally ‘crooked path’), where the front is intricately patterned but any colour you’re not using ‘floats’ across the back, creating a thickly cushioned layer – lovely under bare feet, and traditionally hung over
doors for warmth.
Handwoven Belts
Handwoven Belts
Handwoven Belts
Woven on a small portable loom, called an inkle loom, these handwoven straps can be used as belts, bag handles, guitar straps or curtain tie-backs. I run weekend workshops teaching the inkle loom technique. This is enough time to design and weave your own belts or straps up to 2m long.
T-shirt Rugs
Handwoven Belts
Handwoven Belts
These rugs are woven with narrow strips of cotton t-shirt fabric. The promotional t-shirts (advertising for a multi-national company that I won't mention) were destined for landfill but our eldest son intervened and asked if I could make use of them - the next day 200 t-shirts arrived from London by courier.