How to commission a hand woven textile
Choosing to have your own textile created is exciting.
There is a great joy in selecting a perfect blend to suit your needs. To carefully combine colours, fibres, patterns and embellishments. Commissioning a hand woven textile enables you to make choices from the very beginning.
Feather & Hay will take your creative vision from concept to bespoke textile. Getting to know the story behind your idea I will use illustrations and mood boards, suggest patterns and fibres to help create your textile.
The textiles you own should be loved through the years, to be handed on to new generations. I choose luxurious, natural fibres to create high quality textiles that also respect the planet. A hand woven textile is made to order, using heritage techniques meaning small runs of beautiful fabrics can be sustainably made.
Commissions and custom/semi-custom orders are subject to communications with Feather & Hay. There is limited availability across the year and bookings will need to be organised in advance (usually a minimum of 3 months).
Already know what you want?
How does a commission work?
- Book a commission
- Start with inspiration
- The design stage
- Obtaining yarns
- Weaving can begin
- Your new textile
Book a Textile Commission
Semi-Custom or Custom
A deposit is paid to secure a commission, client chooses available month (custom only) for their textile to be woven.
Booking a commission is either done via a listing on the website or through direct message to Feather & Hay.
Semi-customs can be booked via a listing on the website or a client can inquire during the weaving process.
Start with inspiration
The client chooses their inspiration: it could be a story, a photo, a painting or even a person/place.
The design stage
The client and weaver exchange ideas: colour sketches, IT weave drafts, samples shared until the weaver has enough information to design the client’s fabric. ,
Obtaining yarns
The weaver will need to obtain yarns for the project. Usually 50% of costs are due at this point.
Weaving can begin
Once yarns have arrived weaving can commence in the chosen month. Usually fabrics will be woven within 1 month
Your new textile
When the textile has been woven and taken off the loom it will be hand finished so that it is ready to use as soon as it arrives with the client. .
What is the difference between a semi-custom & a custom textile commission?
Choose a ‘Custom’ made piece: where the client has control over the design process from the beginning or a ‘Semi-custom’: where the client makes choices once a design is already on the loom.
Custom Commission
Input starts from the beginning the client will need to share inspiration photos and consider colours, weave drafts (patterns) etc. wanted.
Choose
- inspiration pictures/colours
higher/lower gsm (density/thickness of the wrap) - from a selection of weave drafts
- from a selection of warp (vertical) fibres in a range of colours
- from a selection of weft (horizontal) fibres in a range of colours
- the length of your wrap
- the way ends are finished (hemmed, straight fringe, knotted fringe or tassels)
Semi-Custom Commission
The client will be involved once the warp has been designed and added to the loom. Fibre/colour of the weft yarn can be chosen.
Choose
- from a selection of weft fibres in a range of colours
- the length of the wrap
- the way the ends are finished
- possibly choose the treadling order if applicable
How much will it cost?
The bespoke nature of hand weaving means it is hard to give a general price guide. A client choosing a complete custom fabric can pick the width, length, fibre content, weave pattern, weight of fabric and more. A deposit for booking a weaving slot is usually £100. Baby wrap width fabric (around 30″) begins at £110 per metre. There is a surcharge for orders under 3 metres.
What fibres can I choose?
There are many fibre choices. I keep some in stock but usually fibres are obtained during the design process. The choices will depend on availability at the time but take a look HERE to see the types available.
And the patterns?
I currently work on an 8 shaft floor loom. Combined with the fibres and density chosen the weave pattern can change the over all feel and behaviour of the fabric. Feather & Hay will suggest patterns based on the client’s needs during the design process.
Get in touch
Got an idea? Book a commission or just get in touch to discuss options
Need some inspiration?