A New Weave In The Strand

Editor's note: I asked for permission to republish this article because I think this is a wonderful enterprise and use of an historic building that should give us pride and prompt our support.
A new weaving method is invented in Carolina Village.

By Marylou Butler, Republished with permission from South Kingston Patch.com.

The weaving of words and fiber, through text and textiles, is reaping big benefits at the Carolina Fiber and Fiction Center in Richmond.

Albert S. Potter House on Rt 112 in Carolina -  Credit: Marylou Butler

The center, which opened last fall in the historic Albert S. Potter House, also known as the “Octagon House” for its distinctive shape, was started by weaver Jan Doyle of Wakefield and writer Grace Farrell of Charlestown. Their home in the Octagon House was facilitated by John Quinn, the former editor of USA Today, who owns and currently resides in the old Carolina Mill complex in Richmond. Quinn is a member of the Carolina Preservation and Band Society, which owns the Octagon House.

Doyle and Farrell envisioned a place to teach new generations of weavers to carry on the cloth weaving history of the Carolina area, as well as room for aspiring writers to gather. The combination has been inspiring to both sets of artists. After some Saturday workshops, Farrell has some of the weavers stay when their session is finished and gets them writing.

“They are producing some fantastic poetry” Farrell said. “I think if I catch them when their synapses are already firing the creativity just comes out.”

Weaver and writer Grace Farrell at the loom Credit: Marylou Butler

Farrell, who is also a weaver, has been collaborating with Doyle and tuning into the creative energy around them. They recently introduced a new method of weaving that they invented and named “Octachrome” in honor of the building in which they work.

“It is said that weavers come in two varieties: pattern weavers and color weavers” she said. “I consider myself a color weaver.” Until now she usually used the Saoiri method of weaving, which doesn’t result in a real pattern but rather a randomness of color. Saoiri is improv, as opposed to following a set pattern. In polychrome weaving many different shuttles carrying different colored threads dive in and out of the warp.

For octachrome, Doyle and Farrell decided to try introducing color using only one shuttle and picking up the other color from the full spool sitting on the floor. “ I like to play” said Farrell. “Octachrome is a new way of doing polychrome. It takes a traditional pattern and smashes it to smithereens.”

“I didn't know I could do that” Farrell said. Jan Doyle said that is her teaching method. “If you don't think it is hard then it is not.”

The Carolina Fiber and Fiction Center is a real community affair and everyone feeds everyone else through their creative energy. “The goal is invention, not perfection” Doyle said. “The movements that we perform in the process weaving are in of themselves beautiful and meditative. There are parameters in weaving and to go beyond those you cannot create cloth, but its really fun getting to that point.”

Writing classes and workshops will resume in the fall. Weaving and spinning classes are running at full capacity but the Center may add more. Contact Jan Doyle at vavlkyrie@cox.net or connect on Facebook.