29 Oct 2019
In the centre of our Edinburgh studio stand our pride and joy; our two handweaving looms. Both have come to us through other weavers, and while we previously didn’t know their full history, we have recently been contacted by their makers daughter, and we now have their full story to share with you!
Just like our signature pieces, these looms are hand made one-offs, created many years ago by a master craftsman. They were made by a man called George Wood, a textile engineer turned loom maker who was based in Shepshed, Leicestershire. His creations are considered the ‘Rolls Royces’ of the loom world, treasured by the weavers and art colleges lucky enough to possess one.
George Wood made 307 looms in his career, every loom was numbered and logged and his family still hold the full records. Here at Araminta Campbell we are privileged to own numbers 151 and 297 – so examples from the middle and end of his career.
Our 24 shaft peg dobby loom, number 151 made by George Wood sometime in the 1950s.
In 2012 Araminta bought her first George Wood loom, number 151 – which is a 24 shaft peg dobby floor loom. At the time Araminta had been invited to represent Great Britain at the International Triennial of Tapestry in Lodz, Poland, and was visiting Scottish weaver Kirsty Aitkin to ask for some advice. Kirsty mentioned at the end of their conversation that she had a George Wood loom for sale and asked if Araminta knew anyone who might be interested – and Araminta replied; “Yes – Me!”
Stored in a bothy (shed) beside Kirsty’s cottage in Loch Fyne, number 151 had been disused for years as she hadn’t found anyone she was ready to sell it to. Weavers are often very attached to their looms – they are much more than just a piece of machinery, and it feels important to pass them on to people who will appreciate and look after them. Thankfully although she was sad to say goodbye, Kirsty was happy to know that Araminta would be giving 151 a new lease of life and using it to continue the tradition of handweaving here in Scotland.
Our 16 shaft handweaving loom, number 297. Made by George Wood in 1985 when he was in his 80s.
Our second loom – number 297- is an 16 shaft peg dobby floor loom, and came to us from English weaver Sarah Tysson. She met Araminta at Handmade in Kew in 2015, and again buying a loom just happened organically! We recently got back in touch with Sarah and she remembers the occasion well:
“I was very reluctant to sell it, but the onset of rheumatoid arthritis forced me to look at other options. I kept putting off advertising it for sale…then during a conversation with Araminta at the Kew Garden show, she mentioned that she wanted to buy a 16 shaft George Wood, and had just missed out on a sale. I felt like it was meant to be…and I am absolutely thrilled that it is being loved and used again.”
We asked Sarah about how she came to own number 297 and found out that it had been made specially for her by George Wood himself!
“I bought the loom in about 1985, and went to his house & workshop in Shepshed to pick it up. He was a charming man, with a real twinkle in his eye.
It must have been one of the last looms he ever made, as he was then in his 80’s and starting to turn his hand to making clocks with wooden cog mechanisms…they were beautifully made. He joked that he was a bit too old to start another career!
His wife said if I asked him nicely, he would sign the loom for me!, which he did on the front of the beater; ‘Best wishes Sarah, George Wood’, but sadly it was only written in biro and has long since faded…”
George Wood looms are beautifully made and are renowned in the weaving world for their reliability.
George Wood looms are held in such high esteem in the hand weaving community, it was wonderful to hear Sarah’s story, and understand a little more about the master craftsman responsible for both our looms. It is obvious that every part of them is made with care and precision, and as long as they are looked after they should last for many more generations of weavers. They have such a rich history already, and every finished piece they produce adds to the legacy left behind by the master craftsman and engineer, George Wood.
We are proud to be continuing the tradition of handweaving here at Araminta Campbell, and love being part of the story of these historic looms. If you would like to see some of the products we create on them, check out our SIGNATURE Collection.
Originally published on 29th October 2019. Edited on 1st June 2021.
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We are guardians of people’s stories...
We ourselves are stories that weave and take shape through the thread, thanks to the gentle hands of the weavers.
The yarn, the loom, our and your stories, are the tools we have chosen to make what cannot be seen or touched, real and wearable. We give shape to the values in which we believe, we give voice to stories to be shared with those dearest to us, forever.
Not just exquisite works of art to wear, but ambassadors, ‘talking’ objects, timeless storytellers of meanings and values that we want to preserve and pass on.
Meet Isabelle, one of our talented handweavers!
Isabelle has long had an interest in textiles, ever since her grandmother taught her to sew.
She discovered weaving when visiting universities before applying to study. Immediately captivated by the woven textile displays at Loughborough University – the home of our George Wood looms – She became fascinated by how these complex woven structures could be created from just a few cones of yarn.
Isabelle enjoys the slow, hands-on process of weaving, appreciating how it demands your full and present focus, and is always excited to share the complexities of handweaving to our visitors.
Meet Helen, one of our talented handweavers!
As an advocate for sustainability and ethical production, handweaving appealed to Helen as the embodiment of slow, responsible craft.
She fell in love with the challenging yet meditative weave process during her textile degree at the Glasgow School of Art.
Helen adores that she can name the alpacas in the pieces that she weaves, as this level of provenance imbues the pieces with deeper meaning for both weaver and future owner.
We choose 100% undyed British alpaca fiber for our designs because it embodies the values we hold dear: sustainability, durability, and unparalleled luxury. Each fleece is sourced from carefully chosen UK farms where animal welfare is a top priority.
Our close relationships with breeders enable us to trace many of our yarns back to the individual alpacas, ensuring exceptional quality and transparency. The alpaca’s fleeces are left undyed, allowing the natural richness and unique tones of their coats to shine through in every piece.
In the UK, only 5–10% of alpacas produce fleece of the exceptional quality we require. Every fiber is meticulously selected for its fineness, crimp, luster, and colour, ensuring our pieces meet the highest standards of luxury and craftsmanship.
It has taken years for our weavers to attain the skill and knowledge required to create our handwoven items.
Handweaving takes precision and patience, with each warp prepared by hand and meticulously threaded through the shafts of the loom. Once weaving is complete there is a lengthy finishing process involving darning, stitching, washing and brushing – all by hand.
It can take our handweavers anywhere between 2 to 6 weeks to complete one of our Signature pieces.
Each piece in our Heritage handwoven collection has been inspired by Araminta’s deep love for the natural beauty of the Scottish landscape.
From the golden glow of the beech woodlands surrounding her family home in the Royal Deeside Corridor during autumn, to the ethereal light of the Scottish Highlands at dawn and dusk, the landscape is a constant source of inspiration for Araminta. The shifting interplay of colours, textures, and natural rhythms informs each handwoven piece, translating fleeting moments into timeless design.
Any moment in time could become Araminta’s next creation.
Meet Lisa, one of our talented handweavers!
Lisa studied weaving at Heriot Watt University, in the borders of Scotland – an area renowned for its textile production.
She always enjoyed creating things and was recommended to study textiles by her art teacher. When first starting out in her weave degree, she found the slow process of setting up challenging, yet today it’s her favourite part.
She finds peace whilst threading the loom, enjoying and embracing the flow.
Each piece has been lovingly handwoven and finished in our Edinburgh Atelier by our team of handweavers on vintage George Wood looms.
Araminta Campbell is one of the largest employers of handweavers in Scotland, fostering employment for talented craftspeople in Scotland plays a vital role in preserving the rich legacy of Scottish textile craftsmanship. Every thread woven in the Atelier carries with it the heritage and passion of centuries-old traditions, brought vividly to life through contemporary designs, and the work of our talented weavers.
It has taken years for our weavers to attain the skill and knowledge required to create our handwoven items.
Handweaving takes precision and patience, with each warp prepared by hand and meticulously threaded through the shafts of the loom. Once weaving is complete there is a lengthy finishing process involving darning, stitching, washing and brushing – all by hand.
When you choose one of our handwoven treasures, you’re not just owning a piece of Scotland’s rich textile heritage – you’re connecting with the hands that brought it to life.
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