The Twelve Delays of Weaving

I was looking for something to cheer myself up this holiday season when everything seems to be upside down from the usual and came upon this. Hum along if you must and let's look forward to a new year! - Happy Holidays All! - Susan

We’ve written up a weaver’s carol instead of our usual newsletter fare. We think it’s a theme most of us can relate to: falling in love with a project only to find that before you can get started you need more shuttles, heddles, or (and especially!) yarn. This carol is for every weaver who thought they had everything they needed, only to fall in love with a project that required a 6-dent reed or that one back issue of Handwoven not in their collection.

(We also suggest you check out this video by Bonnie Tarses where she sings The Twelve Days of Weaving, a similar weaver’s carol that highlights our tendency to build yarn and equipment stashes even when (ok, especially when) we don’t have the room.

The Twelve Delays of Weaving

When I first started weaving, all I thought I’d need was a loom with a ten-dent reed.

Then I chose my second project, and now I also need two boat shuttles and a loom with a ten-dent reed.

Then I chose my third project, and now I also need three T-pins, two boat shuttles, and a loom with a ten-dent reed.

Then I chose my fourth project, and now I also need four more shafts, three T-pins, two boat shuttles, and a loom with a ten-dent reed.

Then I chose my fifth project, and now I also need five weaving books, four extra shafts, three T-pins, two boat shuttles, and a loom with a ten-dent reed.

Then I chose my sixth project, and now I also need six cones of cotton, five weaving books, four extra shafts, three T-pins, two boat shuttles, and a loom with a ten-dent reed.

Then I chose my seventh project, and now I also need seven trips to workshops, six cones of cotton, five weaving books, four extra shafts, three T-pins, two boat shuttles, and a loom with a ten-dent reed.

Then I chose my eighth project, and now I also need eight skeins of linen, seven trips to workshops, six cones of cotton, five weaving books, four extra shafts, three T-pins, two boat shuttles, and a loom with a ten-dent reed.

Then I chose my ninth project, and now I also need nine reference readings, eight skeins of linen, seven trips to workshops, six cones of cotton, five weaving books, four extra shafts, three T-pins, two boat shuttles, and a loom with a ten-dent reed.

Then I chose my tenth project, and now I also need ten cones of Tencel, nine reference readings, eight skeins of linen, seven trips to workshops, six cones of cotton, five weaving books, four extra shafts, three T-pins, two boat shuttles, and a loom with a ten-dent reed.

Then I chose my eleventh project, and now I also need eleven repair heddles (oops), ten cones of Tencel, nine reference readings, eight skeins of linen, seven trips to workshops, six cones of cotton, five weaving books, four extra shafts, three T-pins, two boat shuttles, and a loom with a ten-dent reed.

Then I chose my twelfth project, and now I also need twelve extra bobbins, eleven repair heddles (oops), ten cones of Tencel, nine reference readings, eight shafts for weaving, eight skeins of linen, six cones of cotton, five weaving books, four extra shafts, three T-pins, two boat shuttles, and a loom with a ten-dent reed.

And now I need more room!

(with help from Whitney Dorband and Anita Osterhaug)

Published November 24, 2015 Revised December 7, 2020