Meet The Maker Blog Series - Tegwen

Behind every stitch, skein and handmade creation is a story waiting to be told.

Welcome to the second instalment of our Meet the Maker Series.

Our Yarn Me Calm Meet the Maker series celebrates the talented and creative members of the Yarn Me Calm Community who express themselves through fibre arts. From knitting and crochet to weaving, felting, spinning, dyeing, and beyond, these makers bring unique skills, experiences, and perspectives to our community.

Through a series of questions, we’ll explore their creative journeys, discover what inspires them, learn about their favourite projects and materials, and gain insight into how making fits into their lives. Whether you’re looking for inspiration, curious about different fibre crafts, or simply enjoy hearing the stories behind handmade work, we hope these conversations help you connect with the wonderful people who make our community so special.
Grab your favourite project, settle in, and join us as we get to know the makers behind the stitches.

Tell us a little about yourself and where you're based.

Hi I am Tegwen known to many as Teg.  I am a creative artist in my 60s, I love a good challenge so trying something new and different to have a go at. I find lots of fun and joy to create something that’s a one of a kind pice of Art & I have a studio at my place that is also a pop up Gallery from time to time during the year.

How did your fibre arts journey begin, and what first inspired you to pick up a hook, needle, spindle, loom, felting needle or other fibre related tool?

I have always had a love for Fibres and textures since I was a very young child, growing up in a family of creatives around me. Arts and fibres becoming my main passion watching my mum and dad knitting and weaving and later my older brother creating art works in many different mediums.

What fibre craft do you primarily focus on, and what draws you to it?

I love to weave, spin and knit from art yarns that I create myself.  I also wet and dry felt pictures I call the fibres my paint. I often also incorporate bead work in to my works as well. 

Do you remember the very first project you completed? What was it?

The very first project that I attempted would have been something I knitted not something that got finished as it was a fail it was not till I was in my teen years that I did a little it of weaving.

Coming back to it again as an adult to help distract me and manage a long term pain condition that’s progressive.

What is your favourite fibre to work with and why?

I wouldn’t say that I have any one favourite fibre except that silk and reclaimed silk is def way up the top of the list. 

Describe your creative process from idea to finished piece.

I often us a picture of my own or maybe google an image to get the main concept to work up a felted or woven tapestry pice at the same time putting my own interpretation and expanding on the original to make it my own.

Where do you find inspiration for your designs or projects?

I love to try anything new that pops up and grabs my attention so if I see something that appeals I would give it a go.

What role does colour play in your work?

Colours and textures are a key part of my work and are my paint pallet.

Do you have a favourite tool, piece of equipment, or "can't-live-without" accessory?

I love all my tools and toys and just can’t live without them.

What project or achievement are you most proud of so far?

I am proud of each and every piece that been finished and mounted.  

Have you ever had a major crafting disaster or mistake that taught you something valuable?

I have learnt is that in my line of art there is no mistakes, just happy accidents as it can be turned into something positive and a one of a kind work.

What does a typical day in your creative life look like?

Being retired I create just about every day be it in a group setting privately at home its key to my well-being any a main part of my routine. I exhibit and sell my works from my private home based pop up Gallery and the creative Geelong Markets.

How do you balance creativity with the practical side of making, teaching, selling, or exhibiting your work?

I also do teaching workshops out of my home studio from time to time for both children and adults to learn some of the different skills.

Who has been the biggest influence or mentor in your fibre arts journey?

I would have to say that both my parents as well as my brother who was a well loved and known creative in the arts field in WA with a hand on a lot of international an national installations before his passing and although not at the same level as him I feel his hand on me while I create and share my works with the community.

What advice would you give someone who is just starting out?

For anyone starting on the best advice I could give would be to just take a keep give it go and embrace your creative side, there is no right or wrong way to do things. Take a workshop that’s on offer to learn some skills and build your confidence.

What are you currently working on, and what excites you most about it?

I am currently working on a big Tapestry with woven panels, that is in sections to be used as a bed head, It’s a panoramic image that includes a heap of local sights and my favourite things all stitched together to make up the panels.

What do you hope people feel or experience when they see or use something you've made?

I hope that when people see my work it brings them all a sense of joy and pleasure.

Bonus Rapid-Fire Questions

• Tea or coffee while crafting? 
  • Coffee

• Natural fibres or blends?
  • Both

• Early bird maker or night owl creator?
  • Night Owl Crafter

• One colour you can never resist?
  • Orange

A heartfelt thank you to our featured maker, Tegwen, for sharing her story, creative journey, and a glimpse into her fibre-filled world.

One of the things we value most at Yarn Me Calm is the diversity of experiences, skills, and passions within our community. Every maker brings something unique, reminding us that there is no single way to create, learn, or find joy through fibre arts.

We hope you’ve enjoyed getting to know Tegwen and perhaps discovered a little inspiration for your own creative adventures along the way. Keep an eye out for future Meet the Maker features as we continue to celebrate the talented knitters, crocheters, weavers, feltmakers, spinners, dyers, and fibre enthusiasts who make Yarn Me Calm such a welcoming and vibrant place to belong.

Cheers Andrea x