Weaving Workhop at The Vauxhall Centre, Norwich - 11 June 2013

The Saori Shed took a Saori weaving loom and lots of 'lap looms' along to the Vauxhall centre for a morning of freestyle weaving with no restrictions!
We had a group of 20 ladies wildly weaving all morning. Many found it joyfull, one lady found it stressfull but great, as it gave her something different to be frustrated with - away from the other stresses in life.

There was lots of quiet concentration for a while as the weavings took their shape.
The Vauxhall Centre is a day centre for people with physical disabilities in the centre of Norwich. They have regular 'ladies' mornings where all the ladies get a chance to catch up and try new things - crafts, games etc. 
Thanks for a fanastic weaving, morning.

Faraway Tree Festival - 18 May 2013

A fantastic, festival at Ringsfield Hall, Suffolk.
Enchanted woods with magical things around every corner. Great fun for all :) More info about The Faraway Tree is at https://www.facebook.com/events/205384879600696/?fref=ts

We were in the Woolly tent for the day, showing the joyfull art of Saori weaving on the Piccolo loom. 



 
The giant crochet hooks and 
knitting needles were out so 
everyone could have a go at 
some extreme crafting! 


 Giant yarns by WoollenWood.

Sakiori weaving workshop for Slowmakers - 15 May 2013

“Sakiori” (Saki = split or to tear, Ori = weaving)

This is a traditional Japanese technique where old kimonos are split into strips to create a new cloth. Otherwise known as rag weaving.
Sakiori gives new life into old worn-out fabric which would have otherwise been thrown away or abandoned. It is devised from the spirit of “Mottainai” which treasures and respects all resources and to not be wastefull.

It is an extremely creative technique that can be used in other textiles art – 'Sakiknitting, Sakicrochet and more! Yarns, fleece and fibres can be added to the fabric strips to make wild, textured cloth.

The clever people at Saori have developed the fanastic Sakiori cutter-

A brilliant little box that you feed your fabric through, which then shreds it into useable strips. You can get different blade widths so that your fabric is shredded into strips of 4mm, 5mm, 8mm or 15mm. Having spent many evenings cutting up strips of fabric for knitting and weaving the Sakiori cutter satisfyingly saves all that effort!

Two members of Slowmakers Norwich came to the studio to experience Sakiori weaving on the Saori looms. A morning of fabric shredding fun!

New Saori Weaving Studio In Diss, Norfolk

Excitng new venue opening in Diss, Norolk

The old Albrights shop has been transformed into craftists studios. We are opening on Friday 10th May and Saturday 11th May 10 - 4pm with wine and music.
We will be open to the public every Friday 10 - 4 and by appointment.
The Saori Shed has a sunny space offering Saori weaving sessions - Saori weaving looms are set up ready for you to start weaving, there is a 'wall of wool' with exciting yarns to choose from and boxes of treasures to incorporate into your weavings. We offer sesions in Saori clothes making techniques. There are Saori looms, equipment and fibres for sale. Feel free to drop in to see what its all about or contact info@thesaorished.co.uk  to book a session. The Saori Shed studio in the Showmans wagon is still open for textile retreats in the heart of the Norfolk countryside, booking is essential.
Wishing you joyfull weaving

Norfolk Textile Artists Saori workshop

A great Saori weaving workshop with the Norfolk Textile Artists - a really dynamic group with lots of very knowledgabe and talented people. We had a lovely morning trying out freestyle weaving techniques on the Saori looms and on The Saori Sheds' lap looms. We experimented with the FANTASTIC Sakiori cutter - which was a big hit! using old saris and fabric cut into strips and incorporated into the weaving. An inspiring morning thankyou to all :)

Thetford Ancient House Textile Day 3 April 2013

The Ancient House musuem in Thetford - A beautifull Grade I listed Tudor merchant's house, see website-  http://www.museums.norfolk.gov.uk/Visit_Us/Ancient_House/index.htm for more information.
As part of Textiles day I took the Saori Piccolo weaving loom along for the morning to give visitors the chance to weave on a modern weaving loom in ancient surroundings. What fun!
Mary and Sheila from the Diss Weavers, spinners and dyers guild were demonstrating spinning on Ashford wheels and people had a go at spinning a yarn.

A really inspiring place to weave for the morning and well worth a visit!

Weaving at the Denny Centre, 22 March

Afternoon weaving session at the Denny Centre, a specialist day service run by Age Concern, Norfolk. 
I took the Saori Piccolo loom and lots of yarn and fibres to play with. It was an enlightnening session, while weaving on the loom, we heard stories from when people were younger, about the mills in Manchester, the sheep in the next door field and how England used to be. It was amazing to hear what stories the simple act of weaving brought up and how a traditional craft can bring to light distant memories that have not been thought about for years. Thank you all for your stories.