Somewhere, somehow, behind the scenes, I’ve been weaving late into the night and stealing away minutes here and there to work on drawdowns and documentation… and now, it’s finally done. This past fall, since about October, I’ve been weaving samples and cloth for Unit 1 of the Ontario Handweavers & Spinners Weaving Certificate – a step-by-step learning and testing program. My binders of samples and drawdowns have been shipped to the unit leader for evaluation and now, I just wait and rest. It’s been an intense study and I feel like I’ve learned invaluable habits and practices.
This week at my Wednesday weaving video, Lo Meets Loom series on the SweetGeorgia YouTube channel, I’m talking about my OHS experience and my epic binder.
Thank you to Rachel Smith of Welford Purls for encouraging me to join this study in the first place. And I just have to thank the wonderfully supportive weavers in the virtual study group who showed up week after week to share progress and challenges. Thank you also to Kawartha Weaving and Ontario Handweavers and Spinners for all your support.
I’m curious to hear if you’ve completed, or are currently working through, the OHS Weaving Certificate program yourself. I’d love to hear about your experience in the comments!
IN THIS EPISODE:
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- what I mention in today’s video: Here are links to items from today’s video…
- For more information to the programs mentioned, visit: GCW Master Weaver Certificate and OHS Weaving Certificate Program (on Instagram at @ontariohandweaversandspinners)
- Follow along more of Rachel Smith’s weaving projects and study on Instagram at @welfordpurls_weaves.
- The Wall of Troy Runner design by Laura Fry can be found in The Intentional Weaver course, taught by Laura, over at the School of SweetGeorgia.
- Here is the iWeaveIt app.
- The loom in the video is my Louet Spring floor loom.
- The twill gamp shown, woven on the Leclerc Mira II floor loom, was woven as part of the Weaving Study Group: Twills on 4-Shafts over at the School.
- Follow along with more of my weaving projects over on Instagram at @lomeetsloom!
- want to learn more about weaving and the fibre arts? I encourage you to come and visit us over at the School of SweetGeorgia (SOS). You can browse through all of the weaving content, with courses available for all levels of weavers. We hope to see you there!
- what I mention in today’s video: Here are links to items from today’s video…
Thank you Felicia for sharing your experience doing Unit 1 of the OHS certificate with the weaving community. I have signed up to do it too but haven’t started. I was wondering which wool you chose to weave with from the options given? I was thinking of using Briggs and Little. It is interesting to note your interpretation for the final project is that we have to use the same wool but can use any colours on the colour wheel. That would help open options. Also I notice you acknowledge the Kawartha Weavers. How were they helpful? My brother lives close by so was wondering if I should visit Bobcagnon.
Thanks
Anita
Hi Anita! For sure, I wove my samples with the Harrisville Shetland because I had many cones on hand, but Briggs & Little is much more accessible right now, I believe. You might want to check out what Rachel Smith has done with her OHS weaving as well (https://youtu.be/6MeE3bgxzkI?t=1937) since she wove all of her Unit 1 with Briggs & Little single ply as well. In terms of weaving the final project, I can’t remember the exact guidance from the guild leaders, but I believe the idea of weaving all of the twill samples is really to work with the yarn and get to know it really well. This allows you learn how it behaves and how you might design something with the yarn to use it to the best effect. Opening up to other hues on the colour wheel helps with your design.
And yes, Lisa Graves of Kawartha Weaving is the Vice-President of the Ontario Handweavers & Spinners (OHS) Guild, so she joined all of the study group meetings on Zoom to provide support and guidance for us. She also showed us her own Unit 1 submission binder which was very helpful to see. Lisa has a full teaching/weaving studio that you can explore here https://www.kawarthaweaving.ca/
Good luck in your submission!