Project leader: Barbara Louie
Raw Wool-Weaving project
Introduction to Salish wool weaving and how I had learnt from my late mother “Anna Billy” and elders. She is the one who taught me at a young age about the protocol and process of raw wool. The wool weaving family group would leave for weeks to gather the hair where the mountain sheep had slept. They were the ones who made ceremonial capes for heads of family, and head bands, and blankets for family.
Planning and being in tune with nature was very important for this wool-weaving project. The gathering of materials necessary for the preperation of raw wool. A weekly schedule from Monday to Friday was introduced to community participants with expectations and outcomes to complete each project. The learning was hands on, with each participant gathering materials (wild berries, roots, and barks) to dye the wool.
Firstly, wool weaving groups gather raw wool to wash in a pot of soapy water, heat to boiling and soak while cooling. After rinsing, the wool is hung on drying racks hand made by the group with gathered branches and sticks. The next day we walk through the land to pick wild berries, roots, and barks to dye the wool. The dry washed wool from the drying racks is put into a pot half full of water and berries, and brought to a boil on an open fire. This sits in the pot to cool before draining and hanging back on drying racks.
Once dyed wool is dried use “Carders” to brush and soften fibres while being pulled apart, making the wool ready to be spun on a whorl to make yarn to weave on a “Salish Loom”. Usage of the carders and whorl takes time and patience so this procedure is done again the next day to ensure there is enough spun wool to weave.
Lastly, the participants warp the Salish looms with twine then start weaving from left to right by going behind each warp until the wool weaving is complete on loom. Participants enjoy this procedure thanks to the serenity of calming repetitive wool weaving. While reflecting on all natural materials that were collected and involved in making this project complete. Learning the ways of the “Salish” people wool weaving family group and the preparation and usages of materials gathered from nature to dye wool to complete beautiful wool weaving projects, and pass the knowledge learnt about raw-wool weaving to the next generations to come.
Materials
- raw wool
- drying rack
- natural dyes
- carder
- whorl
- salish loom
- twine
