Ashford Artist of the Month – March 25 – Sarah Finley
As we weave our way through 2025, with March already upon us! We are thrilled to introduce our latest Ashford Artist of the month – Sarah Finley, from the UK. I hope you enjoy reading about Sarah’s fibre art journey.
Kate
Where are you from, and what do you do as an artist?
I’m originally from Hertfordshire where I got married and then settled in a tiny little cottage in North Hertfordshire. 20 years ago, we moved to North Essex close to Maldon Estuary and not far from the village of Tiptree, home of the beautiful jams. I weave mostly oversized pure wool scarves on my 16 inch rigid heddle loom.
What was your background before you started creating fibre art?
Since leaving school, I’ve worked in a bank and an insurance firm. Not what you would call very exciting! However, I’ve always had a passion for wool craft. I even bought a natural dye kit for wool when I was first married, but with the severe lack of space and time, I sadly didn’t get to pursue it. Once we moved to North Essex, I had more time and space available to begin my fibre journey.
How did your fibre artist journey begin? What inspired you to start?
I began my fibre journey by going on a one-day introductory spinning course. I loved it. We sat in a barn with a spinning wheel and looked out at a few wandering sheep. This is what I wanted to do. From there, I invested in an Ashford Traveller spinning wheel. I chose this particular wheel because it’s fairly compact and easily fitted into the back of our car. Armed with some wool I began practising spinning. At first it felt disjointed, like I was battling with the wool and the wheel! However, over time, with lots and lots of practice I began to spin a balanced yarn, then moved onto plying. I also learned to spin thick and thin which I really enjoyed as you can knit fun scarves and hats with it. I read lots of books and watched loads of YouTube videos to broaden my knowledge and skills.
How has your creative process evolved over time?
Before long I invested in some dyes. I would hand dye multi coloured wool tops, then spin them, mostly thick and thin as I loved the effect. Once my skills developed, I opened an Etsy shop in 2012, selling hand spun skeins of yarn. In 2019, I set up my own website hand dyeing mill spun Shetland yarn. Shetland yarn loves the dye and I ended up offering over 50 different colours! This expanded into making yarn kits in conjunction with a pattern designer. After a few years and a personal a tragedy, I had to re-assess my work/life balance. I’d always had an interest in weaving, and I wanted to ‘create’. I knew I wanted a rigid heddle loom – something simple and straight forward. And since I had been very happy with my Ashford spinning wheel and carder, it was a no brainer to purchase an Ashford loom! I am fully self-taught with the help of some wonderful books and YouTube videos. I weave oversized scarves/wraps using my handspun yarn. Some of the yarns were carded first using my drum carder to blend colours. Other scarves are woven using gloriously colourful commercial Shetland yarns. Apart from plain weave, I now use written patterns to weave twill designs. This involves the use of 3 rigid heddles, or heddles and pick up sticks. This has been a great learning curve and so much fun.
What happens to your creations once they’re finished? Do you use, sell, or showcase them in any particular way?
All finished items I make are offered for sale. I still have a few skeins of hand dyed yarn available via my online shop. My weavings will be available for purchase at the Designer Makers Studio in Diss, Norfolk from May to July.
If you sell your work, where can people find it?
My hand dyed and hand spun yarns were offered for sale in my Etsy shop and then my own website. I use Instagram as a means to promote my work. Today my view point is changing. Whilst I’ve embraced social media for some years, I find it quite draining. Going forward, it’s my intention to offer my weavings for sale in a bricks and mortar establishment. I would like prospective buyers, and those who simply want to enjoy viewing anything arts and crafts to be able to physically see and feel my work in the flesh!
How do you find balance in your life as an artist?
At first, I just spun and hand dyed everything as and when I wanted. However, it wasn’t long before I realised this was simply not realistic and very counter productive. I needed a schedule, and I needed to stick to it. Working for yourself is hard work, especially with all of the admin involved! I got myself organised and with some solid ground rules put in place, I started to achieve a better work/life balance. It’s all too easy to work all the hours in the day which leads to burn out. By organising myself properly, I have the time to think, research and get outside to take photos for inspiration.
Where do you draw your inspiration from?
Absolutely everywhere! It can be from a trip to the estuary, a television programme, a visit to an open garden, a walk in the woods, or a historic town. This list is endless.
What advice would you give to someone just beginning their fibre art journey?
We’ve all been told this a thousand times, but I’ll say it again, don’t obsess over other artists’ work and definitely don’t compare yourself. Just step back and maybe doodle with some coloured pencils, gather lots of colourful yarns together and just play around with them. Create a mood board with yarns, fabric, wools and even leaves, or dried flowers. Most of all, don’t try to force ideas, it never works. And remember, there’s space for everyone.
What’s next for you? Where do you see your fibre journey taking you in the future?
For me, it’s all about handweaving. It keeps me focused and my hands busy. I love experimenting with different colour combinations. Shetland is my go-to wool for weaving, but I also love using my handspun yarns which provide lots of texture and interest. I am experimenting with incorporating different pattern designs. Generally, patterns are designed for either table or floor looms. However, a number can be adjusted to weave on a rigid heddle loom by adding additional rigid heddles and pick up sticks. This excites me a lot. As mentioned, I am hoping to offer my weavings for sale in bricks and mortar shop/studios, rather than solely on line. I have a showcase lined up at Designer Makers 21 in Norfolk later this year. This will be a wonderful opportunity to display my work to a wider audience.
