Weavers' Knot 2019

A gathering of past recipients of a Theo Moorman grant at the Silk Museum and Paradise Mill, Maccesfield, in March 2019.

Attendee and previous Award recipient LLio James has written an article about our gathering below

I was fortunate enough to receive a Theo Moorman grant in 2018. At that time I was unaware of the ‘Weavers Knot’ event that happens every few years. When the invitation came through the post I made sure to clear the day in my diary. Not only a chance to visit Macclesfield Silk Museum, (which had been on to my to-do list for years!) but a chance to meet up with fellow weavers and artists I’ve admired for years.

After a welcomed cup of tea and an introduction to the fellow weavers who’d travelled from each corner of the UK to Macclesfield, the 18 of us were split into two groups. One was to visit Paradise Mill and one was to stay in the museum.

The Silk Museum gives you a detailed background into the silk story and it’s anchored history within Macclesfield. An insightful exhibition into Marianne Brocklehurst’s Egyptian collection, which includes Tutankhamun’s ring and a preserved mummy case. Who’d have thought! What really caught my eye were the machines, located at the back of the museum. A rare chance to see mechanised smith loom, rapier loom and a ribbon loom, which we were fortunate enough to see in action. As we wandered around the former art school you slowly feel the importance of this heritage site within Macclesfield, and I must say if you were ever to visit, seeing the museum first built up the excitement before heading to Paradise Mill which is 500 yards from the Museum.

Weaving our way up the stairwell of the Mill you reach the open space that houses 26 jacquard hand weaving looms. It’s hard not gasp and consider the level of noise and business that would have been here in the 1930s. We had a tremendous guide that talked through every aspect of the process, from cocoon to tie making. We saw and heard the jacquard hand weaving looms in action, and as we were all weavers, some of us were even allowed to have a go! Seeing the card duplicator and the drawing of the design process was extraordinary. A truly fascinating experience which I encourage you all to visit, weavers or not.

Following interesting conversations over lunch, we had a chance to finger and view the most intricate and beautiful pattern books. We were lucky to see a handful of the museums collection (they have over a 1,000 in total!) The books date from 1840’s up to 1990’s with vibrant colour of paisleys designs, geometric shapes, abstract layering and flora’s. The amount of design possibilities within one book was astonishing.

I was ready for the train home to Aberystwyth not to leave in a hurry but to leave with a new sense of community, and newfound interest into the world of silk. A very big thank you to the Trustees and Julia Philips for arranging this wonderful day. I look forward to the next Weavers Knot event.

Llio James

Weavers gather around silk pattern books in the Silk Museum at the Weavers' Knot 2019.

https://macclesfieldmuseums.co.uk/venues/the-silk-museum