At my internship with Nantucket Looms, I was assigned to be a hand weaver. I would be given projects every week and a half and would wind on different yardages of yarn according to the item I was weaving. (for example 20 yards for 12, for a 50 inch long baby blankets) I was taught how to wind on for sectional warp beams using a tension box. I observed the master weaver Becky Peraner as she showed and explained to me the correct tension, pattern, color, and the tightness of the weave structure in each project I wove. This internship taught me patience and precision while being able to become a fast production weaver. I learned about different color ways and how they would work in different interiors such as colorways for a blanket, dishcloths, rugs, etc.
Another part of the internship had to do a lot with customer service. The weaving studio was open to the public and many people would come upstairs and ask about what we, the weavers, were doing. I learned about the pricing of each textile piece sold in the store, so I could assist in custom orders and answer questions, in person or on the phone, about colors and fiber differences. Towards the end of the internship I got to experiment with weaving different colors that I personally chose and thought would sell, rather than producing textiles with colors that the store needed. I learned a lot about running a small but popular business and quite a few weaving tips and tricks that will help me greatly in my own work.
Another part of the internship had to do a lot with customer service. The weaving studio was open to the public and many people would come upstairs and ask about what we, the weavers, were doing. I learned about the pricing of each textile piece sold in the store, so I could assist in custom orders and answer questions, in person or on the phone, about colors and fiber differences. Towards the end of the internship I got to experiment with weaving different colors that I personally chose and thought would sell, rather than producing textiles with colors that the store needed. I learned a lot about running a small but popular business and quite a few weaving tips and tricks that will help me greatly in my own work.
My own design of:
Cotton, Silk, and lapis blue Alpaca scarf
Cotton, Silk, and lapis blue Alpaca scarf
Mohair Stoles
Silk Scarves
Alpaca Blankets
Silk, Cotton, Alpaca, Wool Blankets
Cotton Rugs
Baby Blankets
Process:
Finished.
(Hillary Clinton in Nantucket Looms 1993: pictured to the right)
(Hillary Clinton in Nantucket Looms 1993: pictured to the right)
Thank you!
