Sometimes a little doodle on the loom is all you need to find your weaving momentum again. I had completely forgotten about this little tapestry until last night. I have a very large pile of small and large tapestries that need finishing work. I hate to say it, but that pile has been growing since 2020. I know because virtually all the tapestries I wove on Change the Shed over the last three years are on that pile.
Last night when I was feeling weary and just wanted to relax on the couch and watch TV, I decided it was the day to tackle that pile. Instead of knitting while watching, I would finish those tapestries. And indeed I did the finishing on two small ones in an hour. One of the ones on the top of the pile was this little guy.
I don’t think this tapestry was ever on Change the Shed. I needed a small tapestry for an ad placement in a couple magazines which offered a holiday discount (Little Looms and Handwoven) last fall and this is what I made with Gist’s Array tapestry wool.
Rebecca Mezoff, Indigo Lines, 3.75 x 3 inches, wool, cotton
I would call this a woven doodle. I guess I’d classify it that way because I didn’t really have an inspiration for it, I just wanted to weave a bit of gradation with some contrast and this tapestry was born. I believe Kennita Tully came up with the practice of weaving doodles she calls them Woodles. Other tapestry weavers have picked up the practice. Mary Lane has some of them on her website HERE.
It is a concept that I find very attractive. It goes right along with my practice of sketch tapestry.* Plus what could be better than combining the words Weaving and Doodle? Doodling takes the pressure off, doesn’t it? If we call it a doodle instead of a drawing or a tapestry, then we don’t have to be too attached to the outcome. And my goodness but that helps make the process fun again.
My pile of little tapestries next to my couch is quite large at the moment. I hope by this time next month it will be much smaller. From there I’ll have to mount them and that is not something that is going to happen while watching the newest episode of Ted Lasso.
*It is possible that tapestry weavers like Kennita and myself just like to make up words! Sketch Tapestry is what I call my practice of weaving small things in response to something I’ve experienced. They’re usually quite small, quick, and simple. I now teach online courses (especially Summer of Tapestry) and retreats on the subject and I find that they’re my most popular classes.