The allure of tapestry weaving has been tickling at my toes for several years now. Each time I pick up a small frame loom to begin weaving an image or words, I have a sense that the two things I love most to create (drawings and yarny things) finally get to dance on the same stage together.

I weave small. At least compared to many tapestry weavers who have been at this craft for most of their lives. Their work can be quite large while my tapestries range in sizes smaller than 18″ x 24″. I have come to not only accept this, as my time does not allow for the larger works, but to also relish in being able to weave more images in small formats than I would if I only wove one image on a large scale. That being said…someday…someday…I will weave a large work. And I will relish that too.

I spin daily. Or almost daily. Sitting at my spinning wheel or standing with a spindle and wool in hand is one of the most soothing things I know to do. That is saying something when knitting, crocheting, drawing and painting, even collage, are all ways of sorting out so much of what life brings my way. Creative endeavors have always been a balm to my oft-troubled heart. As I spin wool and other fibers that I have blended on my blending board, the chaos of life is somehow sorted and organized into a useful and beautiful “yarn” or story.

I rarely spin specifically for a woven image. I spin the colors and fibers that bring me joy and then I place them in my stash for possible use in a future tapestry. I also dip into my stash of mill spun yarns when I need a color or texture not available in my hand spun collection.

I also draw daily. Or almost. 🙂 Places I go, people I’m with, gardens and trees, flower bouquets, really anything and everything is drawn in my sketchbooks. Drawing with a variety of pens and then adding color with watercolor, colored pencils and pastels is a delightful practice I’ve been doing for over 25 years. A few of these drawings beg to be woven into tapestries.

Sometimes the smallest of sketches will be a good candidate for a tapestry. The above sketch, a mere 4″ square, whispered that I could try bringing into woven form. Other drawings in my sketchbook which have somehow eluded having color added, shout to be woven as their lines offer perfect “cartoon” worthy images. *In tapestry, a drawing is often placed behind the warp threads as a guide while weaving. It is called a “cartoon”.

Weaving an image into yarn wrapped around warps continually presents many challenges. These challenges are quite exciting as I try to wrap my head and hands around how to achieve what I want to happen on the loom. My curiosity is endlessly peaked as I make forays into the breathtaking and enchanting world of tapestry weaving. In tapestry I am always learning and discovering as each new challenge presents itself.

There is so much to say on the topics of tapestry, spinning, drawing and more…I can barely touch the surface here. If you are interested in reading more about my drawn and woven life, please subscribe to my Substack. Follow me on Instagram as I offer in-process photos and news on other creative adventures.

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Jennifer Edwards

I live in Kernersville, NC with my pastor/poet/linocut artist husband. We have three incredible children and two magical grandgirls. I am a member of American Tapestry Alliance and Tapestry Weavers South. I am also an active member of the Almond Tree Artist Collective based in the Piedmont of NC. I teach monthly sketching workshops at the Paul J. Ciener Botanical Gardens. Life is rich and full, with more inspiration for drawings and weavings than I can possibly create! I am grateful for this artist life with family and friends!

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