The loom and its parts have been with me for years now but I could not make any sense of any of it until yesterday when I took my first weaving class. What a great day! I learned what a heddle and shuttle was and how my loom works. I made a pretty, southwestern wall hanging that I finished last night and hung from an interesting stick. I cannot wait to start the next project!

Doug thought it would be a good idea for me to learn a new skill that would take me through the winter and hopefully bypass those winter blues. The ladies of old spent their winters in front of the fire spinning, weaving, and creating clothes, bedspreads, quilts, towels, socks, shawls, and pants. Lots of work to do and those women started with the sheep themselves and ended with a wardrobe. From fleece to fabric. It all amazes me. I wonder if the folks two or three generations ago knew how sacred their many crafts and skills were and how lost they would become.

I have had two spinning wheels, carders, a drop spindle, and had sheep and alpacas- all for brief times. We would move, I would feel like I couldn’t get the skill down, and I would sell them. (Not the sheep, I didn’t want to give up the sheep!) We plan on getting sheep next spring. I plan on getting a spinning wheel. And I plan on making a beautiful garment from fleece, to washing, to natural dying, to spinning, to weaving.

Our local yarn store in the next town over (which my husband always jokes is aptly named, “Yarned and Dangerous”) offers classes and that is how I found Diane. She is a great teacher. She plans on taking spinning classes at the shop. I would like to as well. I love fiber arts and have always been fascinated. Find yourself a local place that does classes and learn a new skill! Not only does it feel great to learn something new, you can also help revive lost arts.