{17-10-2016 ………Since I moved my last website handmade-and-marina.wordpress.com to my current one handmadeandmarina.com.au, I’ve reblogged some of my old posts and this is one of them. I’m expecting a few more of my mother’s handwoven scarves in the near future and they should be available through my stalls and online shop. }
This post is a continuation of what I put out on my Facebook page just recently. It has been wonderful to come across many other people who also share an interest and passion for the way some cloth is produced. My focus continues to be on the “basics” of cloth production – from sourcing raw fleece/natural yarn to being involved in spinning, dyeing & weaving fabric on a back-strap loom.
I grew up exposed to the intricate detailed work produced in a loom such as this. However, I only saw synthetic dyes and yarn being used to produce colour that is synonymous with my tribal background and culture. Perhaps partly as a reaction to this, I continue to gravitate to what has been lost to instant and mass production. Simple and slow cloth holds the greater fascination for me these days. Maybe the intricate designs will come later. Maybe not.
It has been a great pleasure for me to introduce people to the provenance of cloth being showcased in my stall.
The following write-up is what I have next to the scarves.
an undyed eri yarn with others dyed naturally with plant and vegetable dyes
eri silk scarves woven by Chano Murry
eri silk scarves woven by Chano Murry
eri silk scarves woven by Chano Murry
THESE SCARVES/STOLES ARE MADE OF PURE ERI SILK – A SPECIAL SILK RESEMBLING LINEN MADE FROM THE COCOON OF THE SILKWORM SAMIA RICINI, WHICH FEEDS ON THE CASTOR OIL PLANT.
THEY HAVE BEEN HANDWOVEN ON A BACK-STRAP LOOM BY MRS CHANO MURRY, MY MOTHER.
SHE HAS USED PLANT DYES (COCONUT & BEETROOT IN IRON OR ALUMINIUM POTS) TO DYE AND WEAVE SOME OF THE SCARVES.
THUS YOU CAN SEE SUBTLE SHADES OF COLOUR PRODUCED BY NATURE IN THE WOVEN FABRIC.
THE BACK-STRAP LOOM IS ONE OF THE EARLIEST TYPES OF LOOMS. IT IS ONE THAT IS TRADITIONALLY USED IN SOME PARTS OF THE WORLD. MY MOTHER STILL CONTINUES TO WEAVE ON THESE LOOMS AND HAS BEEN PASSING ON HER KNOWLEDGE TO MY SISTERS AND I.
PLEASE CHERISH THESE PIECES OF CLOTH. HANDWASH THEM IN WARM WATER WITH GENTLE DETERGENT. LOOKED AFTER THEM AND THEY SHOULD OUTLAST YOU.
