| The Loom: Hands-On Approach Works Wonders | |||
| UPDATE : 31 May 2010 | |||
There’s really nothing better to beat a bout of restlessness than to get involved in a traditional form of art or craft, which can have a relaxing and calming effect. While opportunities to participate may generally be rather scarce in the capital, The Loom offers Bangkok residents the chance to try their hand at spinning some silk in a friendly and informal environment at its premises in Soi Thonglor. Urban Convenience Having learned all about silk through the family business, Pongtep Jaruckjanyanam and his partner Wiwan Lertphokanont perceived a pent up demand among Bangkok residents to get some actual hands-on experience, rather than simply observe a teacher. The couple established The Loom to provide such a facility in a central location, offering a good deal of convenience for city dwellers.
According to Wiwan, who is director of weaving, The Loom has created some special techniques and instruments that have been designed to assist participants who have absolutely no previous experience of weaving. The overall objective is to develop weaving as a form of hobby or interest that people can participate in as a leisure activity. Ease of Use The first thing you’ll notice on entering The Loom is that the looms used are about half the size of regular looms. The most common form of loom is quite heavy and rather unwieldy for a beginner. The Loom’s equipment is half the width (50 cm instead of one meter), which is easier to handle and helps to build a beginner’s confidence. The idea is that the activity should be fun and, if it seems more like a game, participants are more likely to enjoy the experience. On a practical level, the specially-adapted looms make it easier for an absolute beginner to master the important skill of controlling the shuttle when moving it from hand to hand.
The silk thread is also specially prepared for beginners since, according to Wiwan, the thread used by skilled weavers is as fine as human hair, so it required a good deal of training and previous experience to be able to manage the delicate material. To produce a single item from regular silk thread would take even an experienced weaver up to a day to produce. The Loom starts its beginners with kibiso, a thicker form of silk thread that can ensure that the learners produce an item within a period of four to six hours, which is far more manageable on a practical level. A two-hour introductory course (1,600 baht [US$48]) introduces students to the basics of weaving, which focuses on the operation of the loom and shuttle. Beginners start with a single thread, before working their way up to four threads. This aspect of the lesson helps develop the students’ coordination between hands and feet. If you become reasonably adept, it's possible that you may be able to create a simple pattern, such as a basic form of tartan. Once you get to this stage, you will be encouraged to try and create more patterns by combining various colors. Native Influences The Loom plans to develop its program to include the jok, a traditional, hand-stitched form of Thai patterned textile that is used to produce various garments. While the pattern is fairly complex, it really adds a special dimension to the fabric, according to Wiwan. “We try to adapt traditional patterns into forms more suitable for beginners. Nevertheless, the patterns should also appear fashionable so that the learners can also use what they produce during their day-to-day lives,” Wiwan says. Once you have picked up the basics, you can then produce your very own scarf or handbag. The Loom charges weavers between 1,500-4,000 baht (US$46-122) to help them develop the piece, the price depending on the degree of work required and the cost of the materials used to produce it. If you get a taste for weaving, you may even wish to purchase your own loom (cost – about 30,000 baht), so that you can produce items at home, although I doubt it would be as much fun as learning at The Loom, which provides personal support as well as a more sociable setting. For further information about The Loom’s activities, call Tel: +66 (0)2 712 7823. Transport Connections: Train: Take the BTS skytrain to Thonglor station. Disembark from Exit 3 and take a motorcycle taxi to Soi Thonglor 13. You’ll find The Loom about 50 meters down on the right-hand side of the street. [map] | |||
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
The Loom: Hands-On Approach Works Wonders
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