Braiding Workshop with Colin Squire

Yesterday we went to Weaving, Spinning and Dyeing Guild for a days workshop.  The workshop was 'Braiding with Colin Squires'.  Colin has been teaching weaving for many years.  The above 'Inkle Loom' was in search of a new home almost a year ago.  Of course I had a loving home for it!  In my parents garage, where much of my junk treasures end up.  I had absolutely no idea how an Inkle Loom works.  My Dad managed to 'warp' it after watching a 'Youtube' tutorial.  I take my hat off to him as warping is not an easy task to me.  Unfortunately Dad's maiden voyage with the 'Inkle Loom' was with handspun yarn and it cause all sorts of bovver.  It stuck to itself and wanted to felt.  The 'Inkle' found itself disgraced and back in the garage until yesterday.
              Colin's workshop was not just about 'Inkle Weaving' guild members had the chance to try many different forms of braiding.  Using sticks, fingers, looms and patience.  I got stuck for a couple of hours trying to 'warp' this baby!  Me and warping just do not get on!  I realised I had not taken any photographs so I delegated the photography to my Mom.  She has never used my camera before.

Here is a great shot of me doing battle with the loom!  I had several breakages and found this to be the most frustrating of 'workshops'.  I am an instant gratification kind of gal!  I am rather pleased that my mission was accomplished though.  I warped the loom and have started to weave a braid.  I finally understand how an Inkle loom works at the most basic level.

Here is my braid in progress.  There is 'bubbling' at each end where I am not pulling my 'weft' thread tight enough. . . but believe me I am trying!  I chose to work with cotton as I felt it would be smooth and strong enough not to break!  'Wrong'!  Now it is warped and in progress though I hope not to encounter any more problems.

This was a lovely big 'Driad' Inkle loom and the lady working on it was given it by her mother.  Until yesterday she did not know how to use it.  She seemed to make fantastic progress and was making a beautiful braid from dishcloth cotton and some baby blue yarn.

Lovely loom - too big for garage!

This makes very strong 'straps' that can have many uses.  You can get some beautiful intricate designs from an Inkle Loom but I do not think I will ever be that clever.  Unfortunately I did not mange to get photographs of some of those designs.  It is the 'Guild's' exhibition next month so I will see what I can photograph then.

This was a lovely braid in progress.  The method was 'finger weaving'.  I was too busy Inkle Looming to learn anything else.  That would make a lovely belt though wouldn't it?  I am sure there are 'Youtube' videos out there for clever folk!
Another very interesting day.  Have you ever tried braiding, or stick weaving or do you have any good links to tutorials?  I wrote a post a while ago about Kumihimo Japanese-Braiding that is a fun way to explore braiding and is a brilliant craft for children.
XXX