Pointless Rambling: No Pictures

I've been working on this post for several days, and for some reason could not seem to find the time to download, re-size and upload the pictures. This has prevented actual posting.

I went to knitting this morning, knowing full well that Lindsey and Patricia would comment on my lack of posts. I wanted to post it this morning just before leaving, so when they so kindly mentioned my online silence, I could blink and say "But I posted this morning, didn't you read it?"

Such was not to be. They did comment. I believe it was Patricia who first brought it up, but Lindsey jumped right in, so to speak. So herewith, post with no pictures, fresh out of the draft stage, much delayed:

Knitters often complain about being belittled, an object of jokes, being compared to grannies in rockers. It is annoying, irritating and untrue.

But try being a weaver in our culture.

We are invisible. Not there.

I took up knitting so I could at least be outraged at the lack of sensitivity in the general population. It's better than being invisible (Sometimes. Wouldn't you like to be invisible on occasion?).

People don't even know what weaving is, have never seen a loom, think nothing of weaving, in the truest sense.

Few consider where their clothing, sheets and towels, carpets and blankets come from, who might have made that fabric and how they might have accomplished such a task.

Weaving was once ubiquitous. Weavers were everywhere, if not in your own home, then in your village or town, itinerant or permanent. Textiles, once valued, cared for and even bequeathed, are now hardly considered: throw-away objects costing little to nothing, given little regard beyond the fashion of the day, wearing out only to be replaced, or (gasp) being replaced long before they wear out.

Why would anyone spend their time making such transitory objects? Why indeed?

Could it be an interesting process? Could it be fascinating, mind-boggling, endlessly entertaining, and yet useful? Might it require a few brain cells to understand, accomplish and then do it well enough to supersede commercial fabric?

Weavers do enjoy a certain status among textile enthusiasts, I'll grant you that. Cloth is the basis of many other textile crafts, a necessary first step.

It is also the end result of a fascinating journey from raising animals, spinning yarn, dyeing it all up and gulp, yes, weaving fabric.

(imagine several photos here)
I have spent a week with friends at Tahoe, and then another week in Virginia City at a fiber retreat. All of the women I have recently spent time with are people I consider true friends. I would not know them but for weaving, spinning, dyeing and other fiber pursuits, and they totally get the fascination with spinning dyeing and even weaving.

I was able to encourage two weavers into trying out knotted pile. Sue and Eileen worked on their bags diligently each morning in Virginia City (imagine photos here).

It was very gratifying to find them up early and eager to get to work each morning. Apparently they liked weaving too.

This is all kinda-sorta why I started this blog: so weaving would be more visible. I know, photos would help.


All this recent gadding about has left me moving slowly. I mostly sit and stare. The local air quality is not helping either: smoke from the fires has made it look foggy around here, for days on end.

Sitting and staring is conducive to warping though, which I am doing: (imagine photo here).

Soon. Silk fabric (let us hope there will be photos).