A journey to new skills: Weaving and Pétanque
Teviothead Weavers
The workshop was led by Cumbrian weaver Jan Beadle, who brought eight tabletop looms with her.
All participants completed a scarf length during the one-day course and enjoyed Jan’s expert instruction.
Following this success, word spread, and 15 local people expressed an interest in learning more about weaving.
A meeting was held about creating a weaving group and securing funding for portable tabletop looms.
In August 2022 a grant of £6,336 was awarded from Greencoat Langhope Rig Fund A to fund tutoring, the purchase of six looms, and materials.
In October 2022, Jan Beadle returned for a day to Teviothead Hall to give detailed instructions on how to set up a warp, dress a loom and prepare ready for weaving.
Since then, the group has been meeting regularly to experiment and share their skills, and have thoroughly enjoyed the sometimes-difficult process.
One group member said:
We have had a great deal of fun and a bit of head-scratching over the past few months. However, everyone is really enjoying the learning process and becoming more skilled at weaving. We are grateful … for granting us the funds to enable us to purchase the equipment required.
Jan Beadle returned for a further tutoring day in January 2023 to give further instruction, along with some troubleshooting that served to cement what had already been learned as well as further design and weaving skills. Since then, confidence in setting up the looms and weaving has greatly improved, and weavers are beginning to create more complex patterns. The group are looking forward to supporting others to experience the joys of weaving.
This project is ongoing, and it is hoped will encourage more people to come together to learn new skills, develop their awareness of the traditional craft of weaving but also, and perhaps more importantly, to interact with each other and share experiences in a safe and welcoming space which includes all ages and abilities.
Pétanque Piste
Greencoat Lanhope Rig Sub-Fund B for Denholm and District Community Council funded Denholm Feuars’ & Householders’ Council £323.30 to pay for a planning application for Petanque Piste on Denholm village green.
Pétanque is a sport, originating in France, in which players or teams play their boules/balls towards a target ball. Points are scored by having boules closer to the target than the opponent.
This is achieved by throwing or rolling boules closer to the small target ball, officially called a jack or by hitting the opponents' boules away from the target, while standing inside a circle with both feet on the ground.
The Pétanque Piste on Denholm village green will be available for all residents of the village to use, which is approximately 710 people.
It will support increased social interaction between residents and potentially increase footfall to local businesses.
These projects fit the Fund’s purposes of encouraging community activity and promoting community spirit as, well as developing community assets.