It all began with an idea in my head... Well, everything begins there, isn't it?
As an upcycler I wanted to do more than my current skill set then. All I knew was, I wanted to make yarns from waste. I had no clue what I'd do with it, but day and night, that's all I could think about. So I did everything I could to teach myself. The outcomes were great, but I wasn't exactly happy. I had something more in mind. In the process, I learnt a lot of things that wouldn't work at all and yet to learn what would work out just right for me.
So I put spinning yarns (now I know exactly what it is, back then I was chasing how to make ropes) on hold for the time being.
I then started experimenting with weaving fabric scraps. Again it was something that wouldn’t let me sleep. I just knew, it was something I wanted to explore. Everything I could teach myself, I tried. After a point, I felt a bit stranded once more.
It is around this time, I was researching for a way to efficiently cut the scrap fabrics into strips. After spending hours on screen, I stumbled upon a loom and it was love at first sight. Turns out, it was a Japanese loom. I delved further and that led me to Shuttles and Needles. It was closer home and it was worth taking a shot, I thought to myself.
"Why weaving? " was the first question I was asked. Just because I want to, I replied. After a few calls back and forth we mutually agreed, they will show me how to warp the loom and in turn I’ll get a small loom from them and voila, I’ll be done. Before I knew it, I was on the flight to Chennai.
I sat there thinking, really in 3 days I'll be done ? Little did I know what was in store for me. I learnt how to weave the basics and never came back with a loom, instead returned with hunger for more. When I realised the possibility to learn how to spin just about anything that the spinner can take in and where my imagination could take me. This was it! A realization hit me, everything that I was experimenting with for the last year and a half, wasn’t wasted. I finally could make yarns efficiently. Isn't that where everything really began? And yet, I didn't know what I'd do with the upcycled yarns.
I was introduced to Kalyani ma'am, who opened up another world of opportunities and ideas in my head. She has been an upcycler for over 3 decades now, even before it was a trend. Being in her studio, seeing her work as an upcycler, I felt extremely encouraged to further take my desire to learn how to spin. All I could see was the possibility to start my creativity before even getting to the loom. So even though I went back home without the loom, I knew I was coming back for more. And sure I did.
Under the mentorship of Naresh Sir and Kalyani Ma'am, I began my journey of spinning and weaving. After I understood the basics of spinning yarns, I started working with fabric, paper, plastic, all different kinds of materials, And to see how each reacted differently was such an important learning for me. At Shuttles and Needles, everyone became a part of this enriching experience in their own ways. I had so much freedom to try everything. We even tried deconstructing fabric and then spinning it into a yarn, just because we could. So much support as a learner, gave my wings a beautiful flight to start.
Days at end I was spinning and worried I'll never weave on this trip at all. But that's not true either. After I learnt the basics of Saori Weaving, I was ready to weave with my very own upcycled spun yarns. There was so much freedom to try anything, to make my mistakes while I was there, is an experience that gave me a lot of courage.
As I continued weaving each day, I could see a number of possibilities that I could explore. I am so grateful to each one at Shuttles and Needles, for imparting me with all of the skills that they could.
Today when I look back, Shuttles and Needles is not a craft studio alone. It's a space where you have to simply walk with an idea, and have the zeal to make it. And it will be done. Not to forget, the cups of coffee served with such love and joy. I have never felt so spoilt in my life. I also met many interesting people who came to the studio for different purposes, each one unique and inspiring.
I returned with so many experiences to cherish, and to continue on my journey forward.
