Rita Collins
I first learnt to weave at S2R in Huddersfield and eventually bought my own loom. My first solo project was my Covid19 tapestry, at the beginning of the first lockdown. I was inspired by a visit to the lakes which ended abruptly with the first lockdown. This was meant to be our first holiday since my mum passed away and a chance to focus on the future. Then tapestry is a depiction of my own personal journey.
I started this at S2R after the first lockdown. We were supposed to be travelling to Ireland in August 2020, with all my relations, to commemorate my mum and her sister who had both passed away before the pandemic. Having been there many times before, I was inspired by all the colours and textures and light in Connemara. I added embroidery to emphasise the thatched cottages, walls, and stones, with textural weave for plants and trees. This was a memory of my mums own home. Needless to say, we never made it to Ireland.
My sister sent me a “lockdown care package” to keep me going during our local lockdowns. This included a book on How to make Luna Lapin and all her beautiful outfits. I took it as a joke at first, but this has really kept me focussed in the last few months and the spectre of Christmas during lockdown. It was quite difficult to do but I really felt like I had achieved something and my sewing skills have improved greatly.
My second solo weaving project was to make a bag practising some of the techniques I learnt at S2R. I utilised a favourite old skirt for the lining and a strap from a bag I no longer used. I also made some bags based on a pattern from Luna Lapin, which I adapted and gave some as Christmas presents to friends.
Rita Collins
The weather was beautiful as we arrived in the Lake District and everything was budding. Spring had definitely arrived, with daffodils, new shoots and lambs everywhere. Then the thunderclouds rolled in as we were told to Stay Home, Save Lives. There were rainbows and teddy bears in windows and clapping on Thursdays.
I used all my existing materials to complete this project and it made me feel more positive and optimistic that we would come through this together.
I started making masks for myself and my partner, using existing materials. As friends requested them, I bought more material. This really helped fill my days and made me feel useful in the dark winter days, as I was no longer employed.
