Starting a Communal Loom
Recently I have become interested in weaving. I have been inspired by the amazing Maryanne Moodie, who is an Australian artist now based in New York.
While Maryanne was still in Australia, I had the opportunity to work with her and was inspired by her communal loom, which was set up in a florist shop in Melbourne. See images here, here, and here. Isn’t it the most beautiful form of building a community that you can ever imagine? I just want them to pop up everywhere.
I decided to set about creating a communal loom for my home and my school. I am so pleased to be able to share with you the completed loom and the beginning stages of creativity, at the all girls school in which I work.
The loom was created very easily by using the frame of an old painting easel as our base.
Nails were added across the top and the bottom of the frame 10mm apart. Onto the nails I was able to string up my loom, or the warp, and voila! the loom ready for weaving was born.
The easel makes it portable and easy to set up in the garden, classroom, or even to take home.
I have introduced the girls to the basic tabby stitch and have added a few rya stitches in just for me. The loom is set up on both sides and we use it in the gardens at school, where all are welcome to weave.
The loom welcomes children before school on the front veranda and pops up throughout the day in the garden, library, or even classrooms. It is a communal activity that I have encouraged the girls to bring family members along to, as well as their own yarn. I can not wait to see the final product. We are, however, focusing on the process, rather that what we will do with the final piece.
Here are some You Tube links to a few stitches that will get you started…
