weaversbazaar
Forest Row
weaversbazaar came out of a shared passion for tapestry weaving when Matty Smith
and Lin Squires met for the first time on the 2008 West Dean College Tapestry
Summer School. We had both been experimenting with art, craft and cloth weaving
and loved using yarns in creative ways. As we progressed through that hot summer
week, weaving and talking and talking and weaving, we not only discovered many
shared life experiences but also a common sense of fulfilment in the process and
outcomes of tapestry weaving. However, once away from West Dean, we faced a
serious challenge - how to find high-quality yarns in just the right colours
needed for the tapestries we wanted to weave. After much research, a supplier of
high-twist worsted yarn was found and then a dyer who was able to match-dye from
just a one-inch colour sample...and at that point, we began to think about
whether this would be a product and a service that other textile artists would
be interested in: weaversbazaar was launched! The products and services we offer
have grown in popularity: our original range of six colours have grown to over
200.The fine 18/2 yarn we started with has been complemented by two
medium-weight worsted yarns (7/2 & 9.5/2). In addition, we have extended the
range of yarns offered to include both dyed and undyed Nettle, Silk and Linen.
We commission the manufacture of equipment that cant be found else where and a
year ago took on a studio space in which we run workshops. In doing all these
things have establish relationships with diverse textile artists arounfd the
world and to communicate regularly with our growing community; sharing
information and news that we hope both interests and informs. And our own
weaving has continued to develop. Lin and Matty are both active members of the
British Tapestry Group, the American Tapestry Alliance and the Canadian Tapestry
Network and relish opportunities to get together with other tapestry weavers and
textile artists to share ideas. Everyone who contributes to weaversbazaar is a
textile maker. Matty retired from weaversbazaar in April 2020. But we continue
and Rachel Hanney has joined Lin to continue to develop weaversbazaar. Our
mission remains to be the place to find quality yarns and reliable, to provide a
personalised service and to facilitate creativity and especially Tapestry
Weaving as a contemporary art form.
