Investing in a weaving trip isn't just about travel—it's about exploring another culture and humbly connecting to the practice. I view it as an act that deepens your relationship to all weavers, everywhere and across time.

At the moment, I’m doing more traveling than weaving (a serious privilege). As a result, I am absolutely bursting with inspiration. But it’s not the inspiration you might expect. It’s a yearning to contribute my specific energy to this ancient art.

When traveling to Japan, Oaxaca, and Guatemala within the past year, picking up new skills was not my goal. The goal was to fill my cup with curiosity and deeper connection.

Going to new places to learn about weaving will not directly influence your practice. My opinion is: it shouldn’t.

It’s not fair to yourself or equitable to approach a trip with the goal of “extracting” all the knowledge of the place. It's best to engage with curiosity and enthusiasm, not expectations. Follow your interests and you might be surprised by what you learn.

So this is my gentle encouragement for you to book your dream trip. Read on for my advice for approaching travel as a weaver:

Develop a wider appreciation

Weaving things often include all the supporting acts of weaving: spinning, dying, sewing, farming, animal husbandry, etc. Learning more about these tangential activities is a wonderful way to open your worldview.

For example, I saw a short demonstration of silk spinning in the Nishijin museum in Kyoto. I’ve seen and used silk products all my life. I weave with silk yarn. But I didn’t “get it” until I spent 10 minutes with the spindle and silk pods in a hands-on demonstration. As a result, I have a deeper appreciation of silk, silkworms, the cultivators of present and past. I better understand the global significance, an appreciation that developed in person.

Now imagine what a week of travel experiences can do.

Choose your own adventure

Travel weaving can look different ways. I’ve done each of the following and had the experience that my heart needed and itinerary allowed. Some trips are meant to be relaxing getaways with a partner, some are meant as full-on intensives. Trust me: if there’s a trip, there's usually an opportunity to find a museum, workshop, or studio tour. Your adventure could be:

On a whim.

In Japan, I bought display yarn at a clothing store. A conversation with the clerks led to a recommendation and the next morning I was in the showroom and studio of a multi-generational Nishijin loom maker.

Just the tip of the iceberg.

I booked a single day weaving airbnb experience in Oaxaca for me and my partner. We spent the day with flowers and farm animals and our patient teacher. And we each came home with a special keepsake rug!

All-inclusive.

Enroll in a week-long itinerary with a trusted group. I’ve done this in Guatemala and it can be a life-changing trip. Connecting with weavers is easy because the organizer takes care of meals, language barriers, and finding the artisans.

An intensive.

I went to the Marshfield School of Weaving with the intention of learning a specific skill, but I didn't anticipate the profound impact it would have on my soul. Through my morning meditations and the genuine friendships I forged with fellow weavers from around the world, I discovered a sense of peace and connection.

For myself, the travel itinerary doesn’t matter much. Choose what interests you and go for it!

Have humble expectations

In many places outside the US, weaving isn't just a pastime—it's a means of making money. Weavers need to be as efficient as possible and over time have developed the best ways to do things with their regional tools. Often, your tools, style, and technique are entirely different. Be curious.

Don’t expect to bring home anything specific to your weaving practice. Remember that you're not embarking on a quest to master a technique or revolutionize your practice overnight. Instead, approach your journey as a humble student, eager to taste and learn the essence of the tradition you’ve come to visit.

You will become more knowledgeable and intimate with the mechanics of weaving as a whole when you observe other ways of doing similar things. Trust me—its impact will linger long after you've returned home.

Buy things that resonate

It might seem materialistic, but please don’t undervalue the unique opportunity to bring home beautiful things. Treasures you buy on a trip come with memorable stories.

Often, you can meet the artisans and buy goods directly from them. I love meeting the maker and always ask their name (and write it down so I don’t forget later). It’s rare to connect directly with weavers and feels really special to buy from them. I view the monetary payment for handmade things as an act of energetic exchange.

I still think about the $500 handspun pure ixcaco heirloom cotton throw I found in Guatemala. I completely loved it. I knew it was a perfectly reasonable price, but I just couldn’t justify it. I’m still sad I didn’t bring it home and now would rather have it than the money.

In summary, travel weaving isn't only about adding new techniques to your repertoire—it's about embracing the unknown, forging connections, and allowing the threads of tradition to imprint their magic upon your soul. So go forth, dear weaver, and let the world fill you up.