first developed an interest in sewing and fabric as a child,” says Sue Mcfarland, one of Bluffton’s unique and talented fiber artists. “I started by sewing doll clothes and as my interests and skills grew, I began making most of my own clothes.”

After retiring from being a “career girl” in 1989, Sue took some classes in basket weaving in the search for a hobby to fill her newly found free-time. After a few classes, she was drawn to working with natural, and increasingly unusual weaving materials. Her interest was pursued in a self-taught exploration, learned from trial and error.

The history of weaving is quite interesting. It is the systematic interlacing of two or more sets of elements usually, but not necessarily, at right angles, to form a coherent structure. No one knows when or where the weaving process actually began, but as far back as there are relics of civilized life, it is thought that weaving was a part of developing civilizations. Because of the perishable nature of textile goods, information found about the beginning stages of weaving is sketchy, and tracing the development of textiles is a difficult task and a tremendous challenge. Due to nature’s hazards of erosion, climatic conditions, insects, and fire, few examples of early woven fabrics survived. Therefore, much of what is written about primitive weaving is based on speculation. There are, however, certain circumstances under which remnants of fabrics have survived: arid regions, bog lands, sealed tombs, and extremely cold areas. Because of these artifacts, we are fortunate to have some examples of early textiles and weaving tools.

The everyday needs of our prehistoric ancestors probably led them to create objects using fiber as a medium. It is thought that ancient humans instinctively used weaving as an aid in their quest for basic needs of food, shelter, and clothing. It is not unlikely that people might have realized the possibilities of the woven structure after observing spider webs, birds’ nests, or the construction of a beaver’s dam. These findings probably led to the interlacing of twigs or vines, and resulted in netting which surely assisted humans in catching fish and trapping game. In addition, by using twining or braiding techniques, it is likely that primitive people learned to make mats to cover floors of huts, which helped insulate against dampness or cold. Eventually, people used weaving skills to make exterior coverings for shelters, so they would be somewhat protected from harsh weather and/or from predators.

Archeologists believe that basket making and weaving were probably the first “crafts” developed by humans. Once primitive people learned ways of creating a woven structure, the possibilities were endless: netting, coverings for huts, containers for goods, carriers for the young, rugs, blankets, hammocks, pouches, body coverings.

As Sue’s weaving interest developed, her earlier enthusiasm for sewing was also renewed, in a creative rather than functional form. She states that she loves to attend seminars and classes on fabric manipulation and embellishment, fabric dying, and a myriad of other things that can be done to enhance the materials. Through the years she has naturally gravitated to wearable art, a broad category which includes vests, scarves (both hand-knitted and hand-dyed), fabric flower pins and hand bags.

Sue explained, “Developing these skills has poened up a whole new side of me that I had been unaware of. I love to create things that are colorful and unusual, hoping that they will brighten peoples’ lives and even better make them smile.

Sue McFarland is a member of The Guild of Bluffton Artists.
Her work may be seen at their Gallery located at
20 Calhoun Street
Bluffton, SC
843-757-5590
You may also reach Sue direct at
843-757-7390
her email adress is:
bmcfarland@hargray.com