Handweaver

To know what a Handweaver is, you should first learn what weaving is. Weaving is the process by which everything from t-shirts to blankets to certain works of art is created. In this process, pieces of string or yarn are braided together to form textiles.

There are two different ways you can weave: by hand or by machine. Machine-weaving is fast, computerized, and used to mass-produce goods in factories. Handweaving is a little bit different. The process is slower, the results are more individual, and the motor powering the weaving is you, the Handweaver.

When you’re a Handweaver, the first thing you do is decide what you’re going to make and what pattern you’re going to follow. You might draw out the pattern yourself, or use a traditional pattern as a guide. You then use a loom, which is a wooden structure that holds pieces of yarn vertically and tightly while you weave other pieces of yarn through.

These days, handweaving is considered more as a hobby or craft than a trade. Although you can sell your wares, and usually for quite a bit since they’re handmade, you shouldn’t really expect to strike it rich. Often, Weavers supplement their income by teaching handweaving in colleges or community centers. You need a bit of business sense as you’ll be in charge of doing your own advertising and finding craft fairs to take part in.