In the summer of 2023 I was invited to weave a rug for the theatre production Crystal’s Vardo. Here is a post about the making process and the inspiration I used in spinning the yarns;
It was a lovely experience to be able to contribute to Crystal’s Vardo by spinning and weaving a rug to compliment the set design.
Inspiration; Lilo Loveridge painted by Dame Laura Knight
I selected British wools that were traditionally pot-dyed by my colleague Sarah, using roots, leaves, bark, berries and flowers in colours that felt right for the vardo and other GRTSB crafts traditions.
Sampling yarns and traditional pot-dyed wools by Sarah Matthess
I took this beautiful wool and hand-blended it by combing together different colours to create a unique yarn that I could weave with, and I added wild silk and linen fibres to create an interesting texture.
Spinning the combed batt on my e-spinner wheel
Inspiration via Kerri Williams IG
Some of the colours include botanical dyes from madder root, logwood, elderberry, indigo, buckthorn, onion skins and silver birch.
Spinning the yarn, single ply (then chain ply)
After spinning the yarn, soaking it and hanging the skeins with weights to balance the spin, I put the yarn onto wooden weaving stick-shuttles, and went to the loom.
Spinning a large bobbin so there is enough yarn to weave with
The loom was warped-up with a linen and wild silk blend yarn, that is strong and good for rugs. I woven the yarn into the warp on the loom, creating the rug one row at a time.
Weaving on the loom
Once the weaving was done, I cut and finished the rug, knotted the fringe and washed it to bring the whole work together. Then I let it dry and checked the measurements were right after the shrinking process, which thankfully they were; weavers always need to weave extra because washing tightens the work up by about 10cm in the length and 5cm in the width.
The finished rug
I look forward to seeing the rug in Crystal’s Vardo!
Imogen Bright Moon, 2023
c. Patrin Foundation 2022-2024
Patrin Foundation 