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.

World eco-fiber and textile (weft) art exhibition

At the Brunei Gallery - University of London
Fascinating exhibition promoting natural fibres and natural dyestuff in textile art from around the world. Featuring handwoven, handprinted, hand painted, hand embroidered and hand dyed textiles, handmade felt and fibre and textile jewelry.
Also, really interesting 'crossovers' mixing traditional techniques and crosing cultures. For example - 'batikat' - the overlap of batik over hand-woven ikat.

What to do with a loofah!

 Yum! crochet jewelry :)

The Wool House - Somerset House

Excitedly, early Monday morning Kally of WoollenWood and I went on the bus to London to see...
The most amazing exhibition ALL ABOUT WOOL!! Complete heaven :)
I can not put into words how exciting and inspiring it was! Here follows quite a few photos of my favourite bits.

Remember - its ALL made from glorious wool!

I'd LOOOVE one of these :)

Each room in Somerset house was designed to show how wool can inhabit a space. This was my favourite room, I could quite happily move straight in! 
'Natural room' by Josephine Ryan. The arm chairs are upholstered with aran jumpers, gorgeous woven pieces on the walls and floors, wool and fleece everywhere and onions! 

Tapestry by Claudy Jongstra

What Wool House said:
Wool is all about comfort and beauty. It is a fibre grown, not manmade, with an origin and integrity that has yet to be matched. Natural, renewable and sustainable it offers the most timeless and enduring quality to materials for many different lifestyle products for interiors, fashion, build and craft.
Diverse in use, colour and texture, wool truly shows its creative edge.

And a wool matress :)
Happy woolly dreams