Artist Statement – āFiber Friendā
This piece started as a simple weaving project and slowly turned into a fuzzy little creature with a personality of its own.
Step one was building my loom board. I cut a 9×11 piece of cardboard and added 8 slits across the top and bottom, each about 2.5 cm apart and cut 1 inch deep. Then I used white cotton yarn and looped it up and down through the slits to create my working area (warp). I made sure the tension was just right by giving the strings a little snapping test against the board, tight, but not bending the cardboard. Very official quality-control moment.
From there, I started weaving using acrylic yarn and thick blanket yarn. I loved mixing the textures. The smoothness of the acrylic is complemented by the fluffy, chunky blanket yarn that adds bold, wavy stripes. I alternated black, brown, and white to create strong contrast and rhythm. The thicker yarn naturally bubbled and curved, giving the piece movement and softness instead of perfectly straight lines. I leaned into that organic look rather than fighting it.
Once the weaving was long enough, I carefully removed it from the loom, tied off the warp threads tightly, and trimmed everything neatly. Thatās when the personality appeared. I had these oversized eyes from previous creations just ākicking aroundā the house and chose to add them. Suddenly, the weaving stopped being just a textile sample and became a character. Curious, slightly goofy, and full of charm.
Mounted on a natural stick, the final piece feels playful and alive. Itās a reminder that art doesnāt always have to be serious. Sometimes it just needs texture, contrast, a little experimentation, and a pair of unexpected eyes to bring it to life.
Self Assessment Checklist
- My weaving is at least 6 inches long (Complete)
- My thread tension is correct (no holes from very loose thread/yarn) (Complete)
- Loose ends are trimmed neatly (Complete)
- Work was carefully removed from loom, warp threads pulled tightly and tied neatly (Complete)
- Extension: Added a stick to hang the piece and glitter eyes for a fun, whimsical finish.