10,000 hours

On Saturday I hosted the first of my new weaving workshops with a couple of lovely ladies, Sally and Jackie. I’d met both of these ladies during h.Art week last year and was so pleased to be able to welcome them back to the studio to teach them some new skills. Both were keen to embrace this new hobby, so much so that they had both purchased second hand looms in an eagerness to explore the craft. Jackie had visited me earlier this year to learn how to set her loom up and it was great to be able to catch up on her progress. She had really got the weaving ‘bug’ and that was such a pleasure to see. I was reminded of my years teaching in Universities. The joy of seeing students as they conquered something and were proud to share with me the results of their latest warp.

It is said that it takes 10,000 hours to become a master at something, which is roughly equivalent to about 6-10 years depending on how many hours you can put in per day. Weaving is definitely a skill that takes time, patience and determination. It is by no means fast! That for me has always been the pleasure in the process. It forces you to pause, to contemplate, to plan, to be methodical. You can switch off from the rest of the world and concentrate on the task at hand. For me, it is like a form of meditation.

I will have done my 10,000 hours of weaving by now, having first taken to a loom just over 15 years ago. Despite the time there are still many techniques I have never experimented with. There are still new yarns to play with. There are still new colour combinations to be explored. The possibilities are endless. How exciting is that! So while I may have reached master status, I still get the buzz of a student when I try something new on the loom.

If you would like to have a try your hand at weaving and explore this fantastic craft, then why not consider enrolling on a workshop. I have just realised the next round of dates (see below). You never know, maybe you will catch the weaving ‘bug’ too and start your own journey to 10,000 hours!

1/2 day beginners tapestry workshop - 24th August

1 day beginners 4 shaft weaving workshop - 20th July / 28th September / 2nd November

2 day scarf weaving workshop - 16th-17th November

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