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Jaine | Wearable Art | Handwoven Silk Scarves

@jainemahon

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@jainemahon
Feel fabulous wearing an exquisite handcrafted silk scarf as individual and special as you are. Hand dyed, handwoven, unique wearable art.

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Forty years ago, as an IT student yearning for something else, I climbed onto my bicycle and rode 20 miles through the rain to attend my first yarn spinning class.

I had no idea that rainy bike ride would shape the rest of my life

That first lesson was only a beginning – a small quiet opening into a world of thread and discovery, colour and texture, peace and satisfaction.

That teacher introduced me to the Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers and there for the first time, I encountered weaving.

It felt less like discovering something new and more like recognising something that had been waiting all along.

I spent my time outside my corporate life immersed in this new world, in the gentle rhythm of making, surrounded by colour, silken threads and the quiet pleasure of crafting something slowly, carefully, by hand.

Throughout my life weaving has been there for me, respite from the stresses of corporate life, a little ‘me’ time when submersed in family life and now as my full-time profession, bringing peace, joy and creative satisfaction to my days.

Looking back, that rainy bike ride still feels like the first thread in everything I make now, running through the hand dyed, handwoven silk scarves I love creating – for people who love one of a kind accessories with character and soul, joyful colour and a story, far from the sameness of the mass-produced.

Isn’t it wonderful how
One small step (or pedal) takes you to the place you didn’t know you needed to be
One class opens a door
One thread at a time builds a life

Save this for the day you need to remember that you just need to take that first small step

#creatorcollege #silkscarf #handwovenluxury #artisan #oneofakind by @jainemahon

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8 days ago

It's not just the weaving part that takes time.

Beforehand there is:
Making the warp and weft 3-6 hours
Dyeing the warp and weft 8-16 hours
Dressing the loom 8-16 hours
(this is per warp length of 12+scarves)

Afterwards there's is:
Burling, trimming fringes and weft threads, washing, ironing, labelling, packaging 1-2 hours per scarf

That's not including the designing, admin, purchasing, marketing, social media, website and having a cuppa!

Or the years of learning the craft and honing the skills of this heritage craft.

Why do I do it?
I love the whole process of this heritage craft and creating something unique with care and love

It takes hours, is it worth it?
Absolutely, I love the way someone's face lights up when they see that special piece waiting just for them and knowing it has gone from my handloom to become their heirloom.

#somethingspecial #crafttakestime #craftsayssomething taken in Dunvegan, Isle of Skye by @jainemahon

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a month ago

The Great Northern Contemporary Craft is open.

And the new double feather Arashi Shibori scarf is finished in time and on show.

Come along to Victoria Baths in Manchester for this fabulous event with over 200 selected, exceptiona makers in this incredible venue.

Find me on Pool B. stand B4

1 5-18 October, Preview Evening 1 5 October €victoriabaths. Manchester www.greatnorthernevents.co.uk

#GNCCFMCR26 #CraftSays Something #ContemporaryCraft taken in Victoria Baths by @jainemahon

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a day ago

A new silk Arashi Shibori double feather scarf to show at the Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair along with my colourful handwoven silk scarves.

Come along to Victoria Baths in Manchester for this fabulous event with over 200 selected, exceptional makers in this incredible venue.

Find me on Pool B, stand B4.

1 5-18 October, Preview Evening 1 5 October @victoriabaths, Manchester www.greatnorthernevents.co.uk

#GNCCFMCR26 #CraftSays Something #ContemporaryCraft taken in Victoria Baths by @jainemahon

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2 days ago

I create just one of each scarf, only one, each is different.

Wearable Art created with the ancient Arashi Shibori technique.

Hand dyed, hand pleated, unique, special, just for you. Created to bring joy to your soul.

Follow for behind the scenes looks at the process

#silkscarf #arashishibori #wearableart #creatorcollege taken in Dunvegan, Isle of Skye by @jainemahon

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4 days ago

✨ A beautiful scarf can bring so much to an outfit!

I’m wearing one of Jaine’s gorgeous handwoven silk scarves @jainemahon and I just love these soft blues and purples with a waterfall design, along with the way the silk catches the light and shimmers as you move

If you suit soft, muted colours, this colour combination could be a beautiful choice for you. It’s a lovely reminder that colour isn’t always about being bright or bold — softer shades can be just as beautiful

And then there’s the styling…

The length of this scarf falls below the waist without being too long
Worn loose, it creates a lovely flowing line, adding colour, texture and interest to a simple outfit.

It also offers a little extra coverage around the tummy area for anyone who might appreciate that…not because we need to hide any part of our bodies, but because having options that make us feel comfortable is always a good thing

Do you love soft, muted colours, or are you more drawn to bright, bold shades?

#ColoursAndCurves #ColourAndStyle #JaineMahon by @jainemahon

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7 days ago

Is it AI or weave magic?

The technique of shot silk uses one colour for the vertical warp threads and it's complimentary colour (opposite on the colour wheel) for the horizontal weft threads.

With movement of the cloth, light strikes the cloth at varying angles and it reflects off the two different coloured yarns simultaneously. This creates the shimmer of iridescence and the illusion of colour-shifting.

It is literally shining a light on colour theory in motion or in other words, Weave Magic.

If you need a woven magic scarf in your life, follow this link:

For any Weavers, just a note that this works best with complimentary colours, colours of equal strength, smooth yarns with sheen and weave structures with some floats that drape (think twills).
There is an excellent book by Bobbie Irwin called Woven Iridescence which will tell you all you need to know.

#weavemagic #silkscarf #handwovenluxury taken in Dunvegan, Isle of Skye by @jainemahon

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9 days ago

It may look messy, but this is how the hundreds of warp threads are held in order ready for threading.

When the warp is first wound, a 'cross' is made to keep the threads in order.

Here the cross sticks are holding that 'cross' in place in the loom so that the warp threads can be threaded in the order they were wound, one thread at a time.

Why is this important? The threads would get twisted and tangled without it and make it difficult (impossible?) to wind the warp on as I weave.
The tension would be uneven as some threads would be caught up.

It also keeps the colour order across the width of the cloth - although for this warp, the colours don't change.

Sometimes, what looks a muddle is actually super organised for a specific purpose in a really simple way.

So, what happens next, follow along and to find out 😀

#silkscarf #handwovenluxury #artisan taken in Dunvegan, Isle of Skye by @jainemahon

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10 days ago

The Artist, her studio, her tools, her work.

This is where it happens
where the ideas come together
the designs become
the work emerges.

My happy place
Welcome to my world.

Follow to see more of my world and my work taken in Dunvegan, Isle of Skye by @jainemahon

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12 days ago

Sometimes, it takes time to get to where you need to be, to work out who you are, what makes you happy and fulfilled and to work out how to get there.

All the time that I was working in my "proper" job, I was leaning my craft and honing my skills. Making handwoven, hand dyed and Arashi Shibori silk textiles, exhibiting them, teaching and selling my work.

Moving from what you think you should be doing to what you love doing while still earning a living, giving yourself permission to become who you are meant to be, is a journey with many highs and lows on the way.

Without all those steps, I wouldn't be who I am and where I am today, doing what I love, so every step has been important, no matter how hard some were.

My journey so far has taken a while and it hasn't finished yet.

How is your journey going? taken in Dunvegan, Isle of Skye by @jainemahon

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15 days ago

I create one of each scarf, just one.

Handwoven, hand dyed, unique, special, just for you. Created to bring joy to your soul.

Be first to see the new collection, join my mailing list for the preview.

#handwovenluxury #wearableart #creatorcollege taken in Dunvegan, Isle of Skye by @jainemahon

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16 days ago

Even before I throw the shuttle,
before my feet press a treadle,
the pattern of the cloth has been decided
----- by the "tie-up".

The tie-up controls which treadle lifts certain shafts and lowers the other shafts out of the way.

The lower lamms and horses lift shafts.
The upper lamms lower shafts.

Anyone confused yet?

The concept is simple (honest, it is really!!), but it looks complicated.

On my loom, there are 12 treadles and each treadle can connect to 8 shafts so that means 96 connections to tie-up! It can take a while.

One wrong peg and the weave pattern is wrong.

Perfect tie-up = happy weaver

Anyone fancy helping me change the tie up for the next pattern?

Follow me for more under-the-loom stories

#undertheloom #creatorcollege taken in Dunvegan, Isle of Skye by @jainemahon

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18 days ago