How it all started
From a small workshop, to a project that has taken over my heart. I’ve been playing with textiles since my Abuelita Alicia taught me how to knit when I was seven. The tactile pleasures of the world of textiles have always fascinated me. Though I was never too interested in fashion per se, I love sewing.
Alterations borne of necessity were my gateway into sewing. The tansformation of something from ill fitting from the thrift store into something I could love was electrifying. From there, it was quick hop to starting to make clothes for my children to then starting to build my own wardrobe.
With so much sewing, came lots of scraps. When I signed up for a workshop on how to weave scraps with cardboard, I was hooked. In that workshop I made what basically looked like a fancy potholder.
That same week, I broke my ankle and quit my job. Summer was coming, and I was not looking forward to spending summer days stuck inside with my foot propped up. Worse, it was time to rotate the children’s clothing.
With every season, I have to rotate their clothing. Inspect each item. Will this fit next time it is cold? If it doesn’t, is it worth keeping for the youngest? If it is not, what to do with it? Inspecting my youngest’s clothing is even more emotionally intense. Anything that doesn’t fit my oldest kid can be saved for my youngest. What doesn’t fit my youngest is by then so charged with moments and memories, filling it with sentimental value.
Generally, the higher the sentimental value, the rattier the piece of clothing is by the time it’s getting taken out of rotation.
What to do with these items? They are generally not in good enough shape to pass down or donate. They are too beloved to the be turned into rags. Keeping them in a closet just makes me sad, particularly when they are so full of joy and memories.
It was then, with my ankle bruised and my heart contemplating what to do with holey long sleeve pajamas that it struck me: I could transform these items and keep them by weaving them, and the rest is history!
