Pattern or Plain?
16th August
‘WEAVING THE SEASONS I’
Below the mackerel skies of spring,
Shonnie’s loom would shoal out herringbone.
When summer skies were flecked with rain,
he would weave four-by-four and plain.
There would be barley corn at harvest time
when others twisted knots round sheaves.
The grain within his broadcloth
like seeds wind cast around their fields,
and in the cold of winter,
his skin would take on tartan’s checks and shades
as he perched before the fireside,
thighs marked with patterns from the flames.
– Weaving Songs by Donald S Murray
Images from left to right:
Herringbone – Al Johnston
Four by Four – Janet Miles
Plain – Al Johnston
Barleycorn – Carloway Mill
Check – Al Johnston