A participant at the Hartford Artisans Weaving Center

Weaving As a Skilled and Creative Handicraft

Weaving and caning are considered important art forms and skilled handicrafts. Most histories of the development of blindness services now acknowledge that blind people used to be relegated to a very limited number of employment-related occupations (formerly called the "blind trades"), including chair caning, piano tuning, broom making, and basket weaving.

This is no longer the case, however, and blind people are now gainfully employed in nearly every occupation.

Weaving and caning are creative handicrafts that can be enjoyed tactually through an appreciation of the infinite variety of woven textures and through the counting of patterns. If you have low vision, both crafts can also be visually stimulating through the use of contrasting colors and patterns.

Mayster Braille Loom

Craft Guilds for Weaving

A number of craft guilds that were started by organizations of and for the blind still exist today and can be excellent places to learn the arts of weaving or caning. The mission of the Hartford Artisans Weaving Center, for example, is to promote and teach the craft of handweaving in a supportive and creative community.

The Center encourages people who are blind or have low vision to develop their skills and interests in creating original hand-woven items. Their web site provides a good explanation of the process of weaving and includes helpful illustrations for many of the steps and adaptations.

The Mayster Braille Loom

The Mayster Braille Loom is strung with yarn of different colors and textures. Each color and texture corresponds to one of the six dots that comprise the braille cell. The weaver simultaneously pushes a combination of these levers, which lift different sets of strings and create textile patterns that are actually words. Blind persons can read these words by touch, and sighted persons may decipher the words by the color combination.

Adaptations To Help with Weaving and Caning

A weaving loom

• New weavers and crafters can use a "counter" to help learn and remember patterns. Simple counters include a string with knots, a string with beads, an abacus, or placing coins in a cup.
• Consider using a loom or frame which can help with counting and patterns, as well as contain the work for easier shaping.
• Label colors or textures with large print labels attached to the skein or bundle by a shipping tag. You can store the weaving material in a large Ziploc bag that can also be labeled in large print. For additional hints about labeling your weaving supplies, see Labeling and Marking for People who are Blind or Have Low Vision.
• For more information about organizing and setting up your crafting area, see How can I set up a craft area in my home?

Additional Resources for Weaving and Caning

• The Yahoo Blind Craft Discussion Group offers information and resources for a wide range of handicrafts.
• Copper Dots offers craft books and patterns in braille for knitting, crocheting, and cooking.
• The American Printing House for the Blind holds an annual art contest for children and adults.
• The Royal National Institute for Blind People in the UK offers advice, products, and links to a wide range of classes, including painting, photography, dance, and pottery.
• Recreational Activities, Sports Groups, and Cultural Events for People Who are Blind or Have Low Vision provides more information about a wide range of cultural and art resources, including weaving and painting.