The most startling quality of Sarah Affleck’s weaving is her use of colour. Her palette comes filtered through the Australian lens of her upbringing. Sarah’s work often features muted and burnt tones juxtaposed against bright hues creating unique combinations. As a well-travelled expat, Sarah’s work often explores themes of identity, place, and belonging. Through the stories behind her work, she seeks to bring awareness to global and local environmental issues. Visual inspiration can often come from nature and her surroundings. Sarah uses natural fibres exclusively including wool, cotton and industrial waste silk. These form a foundation of sustainability in her practice.

Sarah Affleck’s designs are developed by hand sampling on her 8-shaft table loom alongside experimentation with computer-aided design. This mix of tradition and technology allows Sarah to explore the intricacies of a weave structure while being mindful of not wasting materials. Some of her work has been completed on a 32-shaft Megado dobby loom. Sarah discovered weaving while based in Finland. She felt immediately connected with the creative yet technical craft and when she returned home to Australia, a floor loom made up the bulk of her belongings. After three years of self-driven learning and experimentation, Sarah moved to the UK to complete the Handweavers Diploma in 2021. During her final year she moved to Edinburgh to access a floor loom, which is where she is now based.

Sarah Affleck has exhibited her work with the Seven Sisters Handweavers including shows in London at the Handweavers Studio, the weaving studio at the Køng Museum, Denmark and Whitchurch Silk Mill. Her label Loimi and Ko. has been shown at direct-selling events such as Glow, Edinburgh and Dalkeith Country Park. Sarah published ‘Completing a Handweaving Diploma’ in issue 32 of The Wheel by Ashford Wheels and Looms. Her current project is part of a group exhibition titled ‘Wensleydale Sheep: A Handcrafted History’ exhibition opening at the Handweavers Studio in 2024 before travelling to Tennants Garden Rooms and The Dales Countryside Museum. All weavers understand that no matter how much weaving is done, there is always something new to learn. This is what drives Sarah onto her next projects. She plans to continue working with complex colour combinations and weaving techniques. She is also interested in experimenting with natural dying techniques and exploring the inspiring world of botanicals.