In my last post, I wrote about mistakes. This time, I want to explore why I choose to make the things I do.
At its heart, I think I make because I need something for my hands to do. My family laugh because I can rarely sit down, whether alone or with other people, without pulling a project bag onto my lap. I like to joke that if my hands are busy with yarn then I can’t be eating biscuits, although we all know that isn’t entirely true.
My patterns tend to focus on functional items using simple shapes with plenty of texture because those are the projects I most enjoy making: scarves, shawls, cushions, hats and bags. I’m always drawn to pieces that are practical but still interesting to work on.
To reach a finished design, I usually create a collection of small samples to test stitches, textures and colour combinations. Some makers unravel their swatches and reuse the yarn immediately, but I prefer to keep mine until the project is complete. Afterwards, because I try to work with as little waste as possible, the samples often find their way into a freeform crochet piece instead.
During the lockdowns, I also began exploring weaving, starting with an inkle loom that my husband made for me from scraps of wood found in his shed. Originally, I simply wanted to weave sturdy straps for bags, and the inkle loom does that beautifully. I use mercerised cotton almost exclusively because the colours are vibrant and the fibre stands up well to the tension of weaving.
Once I had been bitten by the weaving bug, I moved on to a rigid heddle loom. This is where I allow myself even more freedom to experiment. I like working with the fibres I already have available and seeing where they lead me. Most of the time I sit down to weave without a fixed plan and simply enjoy the process. Sometimes that results in a beautiful scarf or shawl — still keeping to those simple shapes I love — and sometimes it produces an uneven piece of cloth that ends up cut apart and reused elsewhere.
Then there is spinning. I began with a drop spindle and eventually progressed to an Ashford Traveller 3 spinning wheel. Spinning has opened up another layer of creativity for me. I choose fibres and colours simply because they appeal to me, even though they often transform completely once spun. I’m still learning constantly, but I can now produce a yarn that is not only usable, but genuinely enjoyable to crochet and weave with.
In the end, everything comes back to the same simple thing: keeping my hands busy. The difference now is that I can do that using yarns I have spun myself, textures I have chosen deliberately, and fabrics that have evolved through exploration and play.
Whatever you decide to make, happy crafting
Sue
Pearson Handmade 