Learning From a Sense of Wonder

The world of weaving is vast. So many fibers, structures, colors. So much to explore and so much to learn.

Today is a day that I have zoom meetings set up with three different groups. I am thinking about what I want to offer. Some of the time will be spent with questions and answers. Tension issues, mechanics, ergonomics, understanding the pattern more fully. This is the third kit that the clubs are working on and I think it’s time to start diving just a bit deeper.

I am fascinated with the word “wonder”. What is it that you wonder about? It has at least two different meanings. As a verb, ”I wonder what will happen if…”, and as a noun, “I am filled with wonder”. They feel different, but I also believe that they are intimately connected.

Let’s start with the verb. I wonder what will happen if. I believe that the impulse for learning in children starts with this question. Some of us are lucky enough to have held on to our natural ability to wonder. For others, it is not as accessible and needs a bit of coaxing to come out. But for all of us, it is still exists. I promise.

Here are some ways to coax it along:

Before you start on a piece, pay attention to what’s pulling you.  Write about why you’re drawn to this particular warp. If you are working on a project that I designed, also pay attention to the places where you have some resistance. What are your questions?  Are they about color, structure, texture?

Watch your process.  Leave room on your warp for sampling.  When you try different wefts, what are your questions, what are you looking for, what did you learn?

When you finish a warp, spend some time thinking and writing about what you learned.  Did it do what you expected?  Would you use a looser sett?  A tighter one?  Different colors or different yarns?  What are your new questions?

If you were going to use your questions to create a new warp, what would it be?  Occasionally spend some time following an idea through several warps, keep records from warp to warp about why you’re choosing to move forward, what your questions are and whether or not things do what you hoped for and expected.

For weavers who are part of the Learning clubs, let’s wonder together. You are welcome to help guide our journey. What questions does a pattern or color lead you to? When you ask yourself, “what would happen if…”, what information do you need to help you explore the answer?

While I have done a lot of exploration over the years, I have barely scratched the surface. I have many tools to share, but I learn as much from you as you learn from me. Challenge me. Let’s learn together.

Let’s lead each other to a sense of wonder about all that is possible.