Weaver Stories-Allison
I believe that everyone of us has a “True Self”: the person we were created to be. When we discover who that is, and fully engage in it, we will thrive! For Allison, her caring nature led her to nursing, but as with many things, when we are stifled in one area, our whole self begins to suffer. I love how Allison’s nature shines as she continues to care for and nurture people (and herself!) in her fibre adventures.
Let’s hear Allison’s voice as she tells her weaving story.
My name is Allison, and I live in North Carolina. For as long as I can remember, I’ve been a maker. After starting a career in nursing over 20 years ago, I taught myself to knit and crochet to relieve stress. (I am always picking up new crafts…) And as you can imagine, I racked up quite the yarn stash over the years.
In 2022, after pouring heart and soul into my professional work, I began to suffer from burnout. I was spending very little time doing creative work; the absence of creative expression took its toll and really crippled my mental health. Toward the end of that year, I resigned from my job. I also did something else: I bought a rigid heddle loom.
I had no idea how much this purchase would change my life! Up until that day, I had only woven a scarf on my mother-in-law’s floor loom with a lot of help. It was a little intimidating. Also, I never had the space or money for a floor loom, but this rigid heddle loom looked like the answer to my yarn stash. It turned out to be much more than that.
After completing a few projects on my own, I joined Heritage Weavers and Fiber Artists in Hendersonville, NC. Hoping to learn more about weaving, I quickly fell into a fiber black hole. I learned more about rigid heddle weaving, learned to weave on a floor loom, and how to prepare and spin wool. And I finally found the space and a little extra money for that floor loom… While I do love to make projects with my looms, I am a huge fan of playing and sampling. But most of all, I love to teach. This year, I began teaching my own rigid heddle weaving classes, as well as leading a monthly study group.
In the aftermath of what felt like a complete identity crisis, I have found something that fulfills me as an adult educator, a nurturer, and an artist: teaching and making fiber craft. As of this writing, I am in my first year in the Professional Craft – Fiber program at Haywood Community College (Clyde, NC). I’m not sure what’s next for me in the great big world of fiber, but I’m excited, nonetheless! I know now that where one door closes, another opens.
PS, I love this Towel!
Thank you so much for the opportunity to share my story!
Allison, thank you so much for your story. Thank you for being brave enough to step back from what was hurting you and stepping into what heals you. And thank you for continuing to care and nurture others. Best of luck at school!
