Sponsored by TWIST - Tablet Weavers International Studies & Techniques
Isn't one of the reasons why Ply-Splitting classes are full, and TW ones not, the relative newness of PS on the world stage? Everyone wants to have a go; try the new technique. I can remember when macram� was suddenly all the rage... Classes abounded, books came out... I imagined a resulting Macram� Mountain of all these efforts. Also PS has this wonderful inbuilt ability to produce 3D objects, which is not so easy with the warp/weft system in TW. So baskets, hats, jewellery, dishes, free-form sculptures, even full length dresses can be and are being made, much to the surprise of the Indian girth-makers. Whereas TW I think appeals mostly to those intrigued by technical and structural possibilities, pushing these to the limits; maybe with no real interest in making things for use, But a recent example of a really functional TW is found in the 'sazygo', bands woven to wrap around scriptures in Burma and bearing complex motifs and inscriptions; see latest number of TWIST. I think it is hard to "plan" the survival or spread of any textile type. There will always be a few people who are attracted to it and carry it on, maybe adding to its possibilities, exploring past masterpieces. TW has lasted two millennia so is pretty sure to survive. Maybe this sounds heretical, but I am not sure that I fully understand this desire to increase the number of people TW-ing. OK. its very nice for them to be making something with their hands, which is a positive thing in itself. But if it only succeeds in bringing into the world many copies of patterns found in instruction books, I am on a different wave-length. Though the accompanying book sales are pleasing! peter collingwood Send private reply to "peter collingwood" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> ----------------------------------------------------------- To stop receiving tabletweaving (not tabletweaving-digest), send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the message: unsubscribe tabletweaving. To stop receiving tabletweaving-digest, see the end of a digest.
