Looms looms looms

Image from http://www.jordanjubilee.com/gallery/bedouin.htm

The core of Weaving Stories is the loom - it is the foundation for all of the inspiration this project draws on. The sadu weaving of Kuwait is unique because of their particular loom, which literally shaped the cloth that continues to inspire. Historically, these looms were a direct part of the nomadic Bedouin culture. They had to be transportable, easy to set up, and able to weave meters upon meters of cloth for the tents and other household objects needed for life in the desert. They were originally simple structures, made of steel rods, sticks, and rocks. The rods were pounded into the desert floor and the sticks were placed on the outside of these rods to hold the fibers under tension. There are few photos of these looms, so you can imagine what it looked like to have the oranges, reds, browns, and cream of the warp and cloth stretched out on the desert floor.



Now, the nomadic life of the Bedouin has transferred to one more stationary, so these looms have evolved. Sadu House has several versions that the weavers use today, the most common and liked is one of steel, welded together. It has the same function, position on the floor, but limits the weaver on the length they are able to weave.

Weavers from the Sadu House

Weaving was a part of the community, and the weaving of elaborate and large scale cloth was one not solely done by an individual, but several women coming together. With this vision in mind, we are taking the inspiration from the looms, creating two unique and interactive works.













Here are sneak peeks at what is in the works!

Some inspiration for the large scale "Woven" Tent Divider

A new approach to the loom that will give you a chance to weave!