Creative freedom
When Manchester went into lockdown, Bethany finally found her creativity again. She shares how she’s been experimenting with fibre art.
Hello, who are you?
Hi, I’m Beth from sunny Manchester! I live with five cats who love playing with my yarn when I am trying to weave. I am a kitchen designer by day and love to weave at night! I have a degree in design crafts which introduced me to a variety of different materials including textiles, metalwork, glass blowing, ceramics and woodwork. I love combining unlikely materials, so I think I will start incorporating enamelled metal into my weaving when I have established my style.
When did you start creating woven art pieces?
I started creating woven pieces at the start of the Covid-19 lockdown, so the end of March. I felt the urge to be creative again, which was weird as I turned my back on making during my masters course in jewellery design. I wasn’t enjoying the course and was making any old rubbish just to pass. I couldn’t wait to finish the degree, get a designing job and leaving making behind! I am so grateful for the time I had off work as it reignited my love for making! I was waking up every day excited to learn a new technique and find my own style. I still have a lot to learn but I am glad I am back on my creative journey!
Talk us through your creative process. I’ve noticed that you sketch your designs before making them?
Yes, when I have an idea in my head I always quickly sketch it out before I forget it. I love to create the same piece in several colours and find it interesting to see which combination other people like, as it usually differs from my own. Sometimes I don’t work off a sketch and work more organically. I choose a colour palette and then just go with the flow and see where the weave ends up. It never turns out how you expect it to, but that’s part of the fun. One thing my pieces have always got to have is lots and lots of texture. I see lots of amazing flat woven pieces that are technically beautiful, but every time I set out to do one, they somehow turn into a shaggy, fluffy weave!
You have such beautiful designs. What inspires your style?
Thank you so much! I would say I love vibrant colours and experimenting with exciting colour palettes! Also, nature was always the biggest inspiration behind my pieces throughout university. The organic lines and unpredictable nature of the natural world has definitely shaped my creative practice. I am very process lead and love learning new techniques and adapting them to suit my style. Before lockdown I admittedly wasn’t aware there was so many different yarns out there (I’m sorry!), but now that I do, I just want to buy them all! I am now a self-confessed yarn addict and count the days down to pay day when I can buy more pretty yarns! Sometimes the material is the only inspiration I need!
What puts you in the mood to create?
A good series to binge watch! There is nothing better than starting a weave surrounded by all my yarns and watching a good series. I am addicted to Glow Up on BBC3 at the minute, though I have just finished the second series so I need something new to watch. I can’t watch anything serious though as it’s hard to concentrate on both!
What is your creative space like?
Very messy! I am quite a messy person and when I am working I need to be surrounded by all my materials. I like to grab different yarns and use unexpected colours in different areas, so it’s safest having everything out! Though my boyfriend isn’t too pleased. I haven’t got a space dedicated to my weaving yet so it’s just the living room and my many baskets of wool. When I eventually move into a new house, the spare bedroom will be my weaving room which I am very excited about!
Follow along with Beth on Instagram – @peachyknots_designs
Location: Greater Manchester, United Kingdom
