Slow progress

Slow progress is better than no progress as they say (or so I have to keep reminding myself). I’m trying not to feel disheartened that even my low expectations of what I could achieve post-baby have so far had to be lowered further still. It has taken me a couple of weeks to do (in many short bursts) but I have made a warp (whoop!). I have even wound a few sections of it onto the loom (whoop whoop!). But I know it’s going to take at least another couple of weeks before I’m actually weaving. Probably more because I have all the threading to do and it’s not a standard drafting (sigh).

Unfortunately the little one is not a great sleeper and even 10 months in she wakes me up every couple of hours at night. I’m tired and that doesn’t translate well into productivity. Activities in the day are done slowly and while my partner fires on all cylinders in the office below me I’m lucky if I get one post on Instagram done (another sigh). I am definitely not feeling as sharp as I used to!

I’m fortunate to have one day a week when my parents come over and look after Flora so I can get a few things done. I’m so glad that during this lockdown we have at least been able to form a childcare bubble. I’d be absolutely climbing the walls with nothing at all. Then from December Matt’s mum is generously stepping in to do childcare two days a week for the foreseeable future. Maybe then I will achieve greater levels of productivity?!

I’ve also changed my plans for what’s next on the loom. My first warp in the new studio will now be a large bolt of fabric instead of creating the proposed ‘Malvern Collection’. I’ll save those plans for a later date when I can get them out in good time for the beginning of a winter scarf season and hopefully at a time they can be launched at a real life show. Instead this bolt of cloth will allow me to do a number of tasks. Firstly, I get to make some cushions for our new lounge. Secondly, I get to make some cushions that you could put in your lounge. And thirdly, I get to pass some big pieces of fabric over to the fabulous Sue Bradley, who is a fellow Gloucestershire Guild member, for some collaborative work (thats a project that I hope to share with you at a later date). And any leftovers can be saved for making small products.

It may be taking me a lot longer to get all of the processes completed than it would have done before baby but when I do get a chance to do something it feels fantastic. I love weaving so much. I love the problem solving. I love all the number crunching. I even love those moments I have to sit in the back of the loom and tie hundreds of knots. And I love it all because weaving has been the most perfect craft for me to explore my creativity. I’ve tried other things and they just don’t align the same. So I will keep on plodding on, and little by little I know it will all be worth it in the end.

H x