A Life in Fine Threads - an interview with Brenda Gibson
Brenda Gibson’s journey into fibre artistry began at the age of seven, when her great-grandmother taught her to knit. Many years later, an article about a spinning wheel caught her attention. “That captured my imagination,” she says. “My birthday was coming up and I asked my husband for a spinning wheel—even though I’d never touched one before.”
Her first attempts—working through a pound of Shetland tops—produced months of lumpy, bumpy skeins. But after two half days of tuition at the Northern Branch of Fibre Crafts in the Lake District, something clicked. “That’s when I really got the knack,” she recalls. She soon joined her local guild and found herself surrounded, for the first time, by others just as inspired by fibre as she was.
From there, spinning led to weaving. Books borrowed from the guild library opened up a new creative world—and before long she had a floor loom in her home and was experimenting with different yarns. Brenda was especially drawn to the challenge and beauty of fine natural fibres, such as silk and cashmere. “Even though there’s a lot more work involved—so many more ends to deal with—it’s worth it. I love the end result.”
Over time, weaving became central to her life. “Its limitless potential—from mathematically complex designs to elegant simplicity—is endlessly fascinating. And the sight of beautiful cloth mindfully growing before my eyes is a source of great joy.”
Brenda now works from her studio in Balham and her home in Marnhull, Dorset, where she continues to spin for pleasure and creates original, one-off handwoven pieces in fine silk, cashmere, cotton and linen. She also teaches weaving, spinning, and ply-split braiding—a form she discovered after admiring a friend’s necklace at a guild meeting. A talk by Peter Collingwood deepened her interest. “It fits perfectly into your handbag,” she says. “It’s portable, and I can do it even when I’m away from my loom.”
Throughout her journey, guild life has played a vital role. Brenda is a long-standing member—and past chair—of the London Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers, and has been active in the Association of Guilds. “The guild is a community. It’s about sharing skills and learning from each other.”
She is also a past winner of the Fashion and Textiles Award at London’s Victoria and Albert Museum, and a member of Complex Weavers.
Brenda’s book, The Complete Guide to Spinning Yarn, came about quite by accident—after a publisher got in touch out of the blue while she was on a skiing holiday. “I was approached by email. It was very unexpected.” The book provides a clear and accessible guide for a new generation of crafters, covering tools and fibres, spinning techniques, finishing, and even guidance on selling your work commercially. It includes close-up images and recipes for yarns ranging from boucle to worsted to chunky, as well as a small group of projects to use the yarns you’ve made. It sold out in both the UK and the US, and the Kindle edition is still available via Brenda’s website.
“I’m passionate about the whole process of weaving,” she says. “I do it because I really love it—and I hope to inspire others to learn and create.”