JANE ALLARD
After a lifetime of dabbling in a range of textile crafts – patchwork, quilting, hand embroidery, knitting, lacemaking etc. – Jane Allard unexpectedly fell into weaving when she was gifted a small linen loom. After a couple of weaving workshops, she became hooked. Her collection of looms has expanded from the original loom to a 4-foot floor loom, narrower rigid heddle looms, right down to tiny hand-held frame looms. She prefers to use natural fibres such as wool, cotton or silk and occasionally linen. Her work relies on the colours and textures of the yarns, rather than fancy patterns, and as well as weaving on a loom she likes to explore other ways of weaving – on a picture frame for example. She makes rugs and wall hangings as well as scarves, hats and smaller items to sell. She will also be demonstrating basic weaving.