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If you feel you are in need of weaving inspiration, sometimes you need to look no further than your surroundings. Nature is a wonderful organizer of color and design, and translating scenery into weaving can create stunning projects. But you don’t need to weave en plein air, a simple photograph is the only tool you need, and one I frequently use when creating my bespoke pieces.
Photographs simplify the source of inspiration, such as landscapes, by making them two-dimensional. Looking at a photograph can be easier than taking in your entire surroundings, and forces you to focus on a few elements, such as shape and color.
Find a connection to a place and take a few pictures, or search through old photographs to see if anything catches your eye. Look for tones and lines that you want to see in your weaving.
Gather a selection of yarns, from the colors in the photograph. Perhaps the beautiful muted tones of Array Wool Yarn, or the bright and bold Beam Organic Cotton hues will suit your project. Then, take a strip of cardboard the same width as your intended warp and stick a line of double-sided tape to the back of it, to hold the yarns in place. If you do not have tape, you could tie a knot at the back, each time you change yarn.
Calculate your EPI and space out your yarn according to your EPI on the card. Therefore, if your EPI is tightly sett, the ends are close together on the card, or leave them spaced out on the card if your EPI is less dense.
Looking at the shapes in the photograph, whether they be geometric buildings or the mottled effect of leaves on trees, think about how to use the light and dark tones of each color. Working across the photo, wind the yarns in the color order onto the cardboard strip. You might be winding large blocks of color or individual lines of overlapping shades.
When you are ready to wind the warp, refer to your cardboard strip. Each thread counts for each end of yarn on the warp. For example, if the winding begins with five lines of white yarn, then your warp would start with five white ends.
Once your project is on the loom you can create your weft in a similar fashion, taking inspiration from the shapes and colors and small details in the photograph, making a truly unique piece.
This technique can be used on any type of loom, including a Rigid Heddle Loom. Experiment and have fun!
Bella Nunn is a textiles designer, living in Norfolk, UK, specialising in weave and natural dyes. Her studio practice includes weaving tactile cloth, using a rigid heddle loom and a 16-shaft Harris loom. In addition to weaving, she has experience in digital print designs, screen print and knitting, taking inspiration from her expressive drawings and landscape photography. With a First Class BA (hons) degree in Textile Design at Norwich University of the Arts, she displays her current work in exhibitions and at craft markets.
