In the basement of the East Side Freedom Library in St. Paul, the silence is broken every Wednesday by the rhythmic sound of the loom. An otherwise dull space is accented by bright rolls of yarn, ready to be knotted and woven into bags, tops, skirts and more.
Every week for the past 12 years, Karen master weavers and community members have gathered to create new pieces on traditional looms.
This summer, over five weeks, eight Karen teens who had enrolled in the Karen Organization of Minnesota’s annual weaving youth camp sat for hours on their looms weaving traditional shoulder bags. Most were beginners, while some had learned the basics of weaving in Thai refugee camps.
Program coordinator Hta Thi Yu Moo said that the goal of this weaving circle is to empower Karen weavers, showcase their work, help adults continue this practice in Minnesota, and connect youth with this important aspect of Karen culture.
Thesayla Bay, 14, was one of the students working on a loom on the last Monday of the youth camp in July. She didn’t initially want to attend. Her mother, who used to weave in Thailand, wanted her to learn, but eventually it was her friend Elleshana Htoo joining the camp that encouraged her to participate.
They sat side by side at two looms, weaving in a rhythm, and chatting away. “It’s chill with friends, but if I was alone I would’ve done it faster without talking so much,” Thesayla said, turning to smile at her friend. “But if she comes back next year, I will come back,” she added.
This is their first time weaving.
Elleshana’s grandmother and mother have been weaving for a long time, and wanted her to learn, too. Besides learning how to work on the loom, and navigate the frustrations that come with fixing mistakes, the 15-year-old said she has learnt “persistence and how to be patient with myself. I feel really proud of myself.” She wants to attempt more complicated patterns next year.
Thesayla said that having woven a bag by herself, she realizes the value of and worth of handwoven textiles. “It takes a lot of time and effort and labor to do this, and my body is sore!”
Posture is an important part of the weaving process. The loom’s tension is controlled with one’s body through a strap wrapped around the weaver who is sitting on the floor, a technique that’s called backstrap weaving. Most beginners weave one bag over the five weeks.
Some students however, come with a little more experience. Like Thaw Thaw Htoo, 13, who was taught to weave by her aunt at a refugee camp in Thailand. She wove a dress in the camp that she carried with her to Minnesota.
Even though it was also her first time at the youth camp, Thaw Thaw chose a harder design than the beginners. She had already finished making two bags and was working on her third. She kept her head down, eyes on the loom, a big smile on her face as she talked, clearly proud of her work. “I like weaving here. I also weave at home with my mom,” she said.
The students were taught by three master weavers who moved around the room supervising their work, occasionally fixing any mistakes in the weave. Paw Kaw Yee is one of them. She has been weaving since she was a teenager in the Noh Poe camp in Thailand.
She said that she feels passionately about teaching the younger generation so that they can “keep our heritage alive, just like how our parents kept it alive. I hope that they take this as a lesson to be able to work on their own and teach others when we get too old.”
