Keeping Traditions Alive

Fiber artist Kristina Nichols talks creations and connections

By Abby McKiernan | Nov. 16, 2024

Weaving is an art that has bridged ancient techniques with modern innovations, offering a creative journey that reaches across cultures, history, and technology.

For Kristina Nichols, Interlochen artisan and founder of Just a Little Warped, weaving is a way to connect with this deep-rooted history while crafting pieces that merge functionality with beauty. Nichols reveals how the craft has the power to nurture personal connections, inspire community, and remind us of the joy of creating something thread by thread.

The Evolution of Weaving

Weaving holds a profound cultural significance that has carried through generations and across continents. Nearly every civilization has had its own distinct tradition—from the tapestries of medieval Europe to the rich, colorful textiles of the Andes and the intricate silk weaving of ancient China.

In many cultures, weaving is considered sacred, symbolizing creativity, resilience, and a connection to one’s heritage. Today, weaving has experienced a revival in the contemporary craft world, as artists and hobbyists alike rediscover its meditative qualities and the satisfaction of making something by hand.

(In exploring the world of fiber arts, we uncovered its unexpected impact on the digital age—like inspiring the development of binary code through the Jacquard loom. Check out the sidebar to learn more!)

Nichols’ path into weaving was as surprising as it was transformative. Although she learned to knit and embroider with her grandmother, she wasn’t initially focused on weaving. As a high school student at Interlochen Center for the Arts, Nichols was initially focused on dance. However, her curiosity led her to a fiber arts class that would forever change her creative journey.

“I didn’t expect much, but the moment I started weaving, I was hooked,” Nichols recalls, describing it as a deeply meditative process that felt both grounding and freeing.

Today, Nichols balances her role as Vice Provost of Education Operations at Interlochen with her passion for weaving at home, where she works on three looms, including one as large as a queen bed. Her creations range from towels to intricate tapestries, all crafted with meticulous care and offered at select craft shows and events across Michigan.

A Craft of Precision and Patience

For Nichols, weaving isn’t just about the final product—it’s also about the carefully orchestrated process. Each piece begins with selecting a weave structure and choosing colors for the warp and weft, the two thread sets that form the fabric. “There are hundreds of weave structures to choose from,” Nichols explains, highlighting the endless creative possibilities.

Setting up the loom is no quick task. It involves threading hundreds of warp threads onto the loom, passing each thread through both the reed and heddles before tying everything onto the back beam.

“You thread the loom, through the reed and heddles, and finally tie it all together,” she says. “Then, you’re ready to start weaving.”

The weaving itself comes more easily. “Weaving is so meditative; you really get into a flow,” Nichols says. This mindful process brings her joy and satisfaction, especially as she creates her favorite item—towels. “They’re beautiful, simple, and practical,” she says with a laugh, describing them as “total workhorses” in any home.

For Nichols, weaving is a way to reconnect with the tactile joys of handcrafting. In a world increasingly dominated by technology, the process offers a slower, more intentional form of expression.

“There’s something special about making something from scratch,” she says. “It makes you feel more human. At the end, you have something you can touch, hug, and hold. That’s what makes it so meaningful.”

Small-Scale Creations

Nichols’ shop, Just a Little Warped, is exclusively an online store, but her unique pieces can also be purchased in person at the various craft shows she attends. This year, she’ll show her work at the prestigious Philadelphia Museum of Art Contemporary Craft Show from Nov. 14-17 and locally at Crooked Tree Arts Center’s November Merry Marketplace on Saturday, Nov. 23.

“I’m so passionate about people making things by hand, doing it thoughtfully, and supporting small-scale creators,” she says. “I have a petting zoo, and nothing bites! Please come in and touch and feel everything I’ve created.”

Nichols believes that weaving is not only an art to be appreciated but a skill that everyone can embrace. She encourages those interested in fiber arts not to be intimidated by its intricacies.

“Anyone can be great at weaving—you just never know who’s going to fall in love with it,” she says.

As weaving continues to shape new innovations, from digital designs to sustainable textiles, Nichols hopes it remains grounded in the values of handcrafting, resilience, and connection.

“The world needs both artists and art appreciators,” she reflects. “Together, we can keep these beautiful traditions alive.”

Where Art Meets Technology

Weaving may seem like a purely artisanal practice, but its structured nature has been pivotal in developing modern technology.

One of the most fascinating examples is the Jacquard loom, invented in 1804. This loom introduced punched cards to automate complex textile patterns, which inspired computer pioneers like Charles Babbage to use similar methods in early computational devices. The loom’s binary-like system of controlling thread patterns laid foundational principles for digital programming, proving how ancient craftsmanship can echo into the future and influence how we interact with technology today.

Weaving’s contribution to technology doesn’t end there. The same principles have shaped developments in robotics and materials science, where weaving’s structural techniques provide insights for creating durable and flexible materials in fields like aerospace and engineering.

The intricate patterns woven in textiles have even inspired algorithms for modern-day digital design and animation, demonstrating how this ancient craft has seeded advancements across multiple disciplines.