Day 8 - Tour de Fleece: The SLOW CRAFT Movement, Spinning and Weaving

Day 8: I thought I would spend some time mulling over the idea of 'slow craft' today. I get the generic understanding of the phrase--craft done slowly--but it's very complex and I'll bet that we all have a different understanding of the phrase. And there are many layers to the idea of slow craft, all potentially valid interpretations of the phrase. What I want to know is, what is your idea of 'slow craft' and whether you aligned with my interpretation or not.
I don't spend enough time on myself so this challenge will focus on me spinning for myself (mostly) and sharing some personal projects--and personal growth with y'all.
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[@ExpertlyDyed]

I want to know what YOU think of 'slow craft'. What does it mean to you? Did you agree with what I said, or disagree? I know that some people have more sharply defined interpretations of movements than others, so I genuinely want to hear what you have to say. Also, please stop by and see what's in my shop--all proceeds go towards feeding myself and my girls! Thanks for watching everyone.

[@cammacrae7959]

Thank you introducing me to this concept. Although I've heard the term "slow" as it relates to cooking and even living in general, I've never though about slow craft before. I suppose I've been practicing slow craft most of my life without realizing it. When I spin, or knit, or weave, I try to engage with the whole process, understanding the history and cultural associations of what I'm doing. I am probably the most process-oriented member of my small knitting group, and the slowest. 😊 I love wearing my handknitted socks, but if it takes me a month to knit a pair, it's been a month filled with thought, appreciation, and complete enjoyment of the process. If this is "slow craft," count me in!

[@kristalburns3490]

To me slow crafting is actually gaining knowledge of the the craft and answering the age old question of: How can I manipulate this to make it do what I want it to do? Or What happens if? A lot of rules in crafting are the result of what if? and if the answer produces consistant results for many it becomes a rule and many wont go beyond those rules. Learn the rules because they are a back bone , break them because the rules box you in. Side note I think we need to talk about compairing what we do to what machines do. That is a whole other long winded thought as well as the use of the terms chemically addicted people use.

[@jenniferbrighty5120]

Hi Jennifer, I like the idea of " slow craft". I think all crafts should be classed as "slow". For me it is. I've never been fast at any type of Crafting and I've done a few.!!! Happy Spinning, Weaving and TDF 🐏🐑🚲 Take care and stay safe Lots of love from one Fibre Friend to another ❤ 💕 Jen xx 🐏🐑❤❣

[@ExpertlyDyed]

I think there's a lot of marketing tied with 'slow craft' but it is both a way to market and emphasize that it takes a lot of time. I first remember when 'slow food' became a marketable phrase, mainly to emphasize that good food takes time--like quality sourdough and pho. It's a multifaceted term and I know how I use it, but it's good to know how others understand and situate the term personally too. You're right, all crafts probably should be classed as 'slow'. :) Happy spinning!

[@jenniferbrighty5120]

@@ExpertlyDyed I think it also depends on how others interpret as you say "slow craft" . I think if we had a room full of people each given the same thing to do, we'd all finish them in a different time scale. Happy Spinning to you too xxxx 💕 💙 🐑

[@keturahspencer]

I think of slow craft as encompassing different parts of producing something and understanding how it comes together. For example, processing wool, spinning, dyeing, designing, and kniting a project would be any extremely slow crafting project. I like to make things, and I like to understand them. Also, slow craft is meditative and can help with mental health.

[@clairerohrer3530]

When I think about slow craft, I think of it less as a measure of the time that it takes to complete a task in crafting, or the method in which the craft is made, but rather in making something outside of the confines of "efficient." I think of it more as choosing to craft for the joy and appreciation and respect of the method, regardless of the time and effort it takes, in a society where the first response to a handknit sweater is "Oh my god I could never do that it would take so long." I think using "slow" makes it easy to continue to frame it in the terms of production (ie. weaving this way takes longer vs. this way), but I think the intention for the crafting is what really defines something as "slow crafting."

[@ExpertlyDyed]

Very thoughtful, Claire. There's an excellent article I read (published in 1994 I think) that discusses efficiency in craft terms and that we can't think of craft transactionally in terms of time. I will need to revisit this article and talk about slow craft again, more fully. There are other dimensions I want to draw into this discussion, namely the frantic pace of today's world and how it may be destroying us from the inside out. It sounds doom and gloom, but it is potentially a serious problem that needs to be addressed. And what better way than making beautiful things? :)

[@sonjanordahl3158]

Slow Craft is a hard term to define. To me it is anything that is not made by complicated machines. The problem then is what is a complicated machine. To me a spinning wheel or a jack loom is not a complicated machine. Something used for mass production is a complicated machine. By the by that scarf you are weaving looks great.

[@pamyclark1263]

Stash is stash no matter what it is: money, yarn, drugs etc. I’m so tired of trying to be politically correct when everyone has a definition, and people can get triggered by anything! There’s a difference between hurting someone’s feelings with words because you’re a jerk, and people being overly sensitive: if they’re confused as to you commenting on “stash”, they should ask what you’re talking about! Geez!

[@ExpertlyDyed]

I thought it was an interesting point when I read about it from someone who became triggered by it. For some, addiction can be so strong that certain words can generate ideas, which leads back to engaging with their addiction when they don't want to. It's about being mindful and respecting others when they specifically ask you not to use certain words around them. I'm unlikely to change my use of stash to describe my hoard of wool and yarn, but if someone I'm talking to finds the word upsetting, I'll look for a suitable synonym. Growing up in the 80s/90s, there was still a lot of gendered language that I was taught. Actress/actor, waiter/waitress. Those words are still present in English and acceptable to use. Their use is diminished out of mindfulness for those who don't fit into a male/female dichotomy. I still occasionally use them but try to use gender neutral alternatives too. Throughout my studies in anthropology and archaeology, most societies recognize other genders and sometimes have different words to refer to them. In this video, I just wanted to pass along information in case this was important and at any rate, good to know. Furthermore, I've worked hard to create a safe place for people to join the fiberarts community. I was once refused food service in Korea because I was a (stupid) foreigner who couldn't read Korean. That experience solidified my desire to treat people respectfully even if it meant doing or saying something a bit differently on my part.