Just like folk music and secret family recipes, weaving is an art form that gets passed from generation to generation. New generations are keeping the art of weaving alive while at the same time adapting traditional weaves into modern forms. One new generation weaver is Kim Nemeth who runs Woven, a one-woman-weaving company based in Walla Walla, Washington.
I spent some time with Kim in her Walla Walla home and she explained how she got started weaving. We sat in her living room accompanied by two large looms and her dogs happily snoozing on the floor. Kim was first introduced to the world of weaving when she hosted a sheep shearing and weaving event at a museum where she was curator. Inspired by this art, she bought a small loom and began learning from books and through pure trial and error. She strives to make traditional American patterns which you can see on the pillows she has around her house.
Weaving is an art form practically as old as time because there are some indications that there were woven items in the Paleolithic era. But, weaving isn’t your grandma’s knitting project! It takes time and concentration and can be quite physical. Long hours are spent leaning over the loom and the movement of the foot pedals and the actual weaving is tiring.
Setting up the loom is time-consuming because you measure the yarn and then thread it through the heddles, metal pieces that have an eye in the middle. This process of warping gets the structure set up and then you can start weaving. This is where the concentration comes in as each pattern requires different use of the foot pedals and weaving patterns.
Kim has been weaving since 2008 and makes beautifully crafted traditional designs that are 100% American handmade. She specializes in wearables like scarves, cowls, and shrugs, but also makes home accents. You can check her out on FB at https://www.facebook.com/wovenbyhand or her website http://www.wovenbyhand.com.