LARK Weaving

A WEAVING JOURNEY

By Talena Winters Photography by Melissa E. Earle

larkweaving.ca

E LARK Weaving

Q @larkweaving

Three years ago, Laurie Stavne, 47, of Northern Sunrise County picked up an eightshaft loom on a whim after seeing an ad on Facebook. She was already familiar with the fibre arts, having been taught how to sew, knit and crochet by her mother, but she’d never even seen a loom before.

A year later, she established LARK Weaving, under which Stavne produces handmade tea towels, cowls, bags and more. she owns with her husband, she raises and shears the sheep, spins and dyes the wool and weaves it into beautiful items to sell.

How did your weaving business get started? Our kids were getting ready to leave home, and I needed something creative to keep my mind busy. Buying that loom was a bit of a leap of faith, but my jump into the unknown opened up a wide new world of learning for me.

Since then, I’ve been doing a lot of reading, internet research and asking questions on various Facebook Groups. Each spring I attend Fibre Week at Olds College where I learn more tricks of the trade. I still have a lot to learn, but I’m enjoying the journey.

I now have 32 beautiful wool sheep, three looms, three spinning wheels and a lot more than “three bags full” of fleece waiting to go to the woolen mill to be spun into yarn.

What about your process is important to you? Fibre arts is so much more than a hobby. It’s not just something to keep your hands busy, it’s also a way to still your mind and calm your nerves when you’re overwhelmed from your day. Spinning and weaving are known to help those living with PTSD and other mental health challenges, giving them something soothing for their minds to focus on—a form of meditation, if you will.

For me, there is nothing like taking a handful of lovingly grown wool from my sheep and working it into a fibre that can be used to make beautiful works of art, functional household items and warm winter wear. Wool serves as an earth-friendly, sustainable option for all sorts of uses.

Most of my items are one-of-a-kind and take a while to get to their finished state. I tend not to repeat my projects, as I prefer to move on to something new after a while. I get bored easily.

What kinds of things do you make?

My handwoven products include items such as tea towels, cowls, decorative scarves and table runners.

I also make hand-spun yarn from my beautiful flock of Romney, Bluefaced Leicester and Rambouillet sheep. They have lots of land and green grass on which to graze and a warm barn to escape the elements, and their wool is warm, soft and strong. I shear, wash, comb and card my wool before finally spinning it into yarn. This fall for the first time, I’ll be sending some wool to the mill to be processed so I’ll have some available for sale.

Please tell us where people can purchase your products. LARK Weaving is on Instagram and Facebook. I feature pictures and stories of life on the farm. I add items to my website at larkweaving.ca during the busier shopping and gift-giving seasons.

Peace River Museum Archives and Mackenzie Centre hosts some of my work throughout the year, and I attend the Peace River Farmers’ Market in the fall and Christmas seasons. Thanks to all my LARK Weaving fans for their kind support and encouragement.