01 Sep The Story of Common Threads
Community Facilitator Saada Osman explains how she started working with The Bare Project on Common Threads.
We started working with The Bare Project in 2020 on a project called Hinterlands where we delivered a weaving workshop as part of The Light Tree Celebrations along the Sheffield – Tinsley canal. From that project the women spoke about issues of safety in the city and reflected that leading a workshop and sharing their heritage made them feel more confident
This workshop is what has inspired the key idea around Common Threads: to weave a safe space for women in the City.
Earlier this year we delivered another weaving workshop with the Manor Weavers called Kebad weaving. As part of our workshop, we explored a traditional Somali weaving technique inspired by the construction of Somali huts. These huts are made up of different woven components, and for this workshop we focused on one particular element called Kebad, giving people the opportunity to learn about and create a piece of traditional Somali weaving.
L- R Kebad Weaving, Alool weaving on bamboo poles, and Alool Weaving
Having previously worked on another weaving technique known as Alool, which we share each year at our Common Threads festival on the Moor in Sheffield, we wanted to introduce people to a different aspect of the tradition.
Although we were unable to find all the original materials needed here in Sheffield, we adapted the process using similar materials such as cotton and string and creating looms out of an upside down chair! Traditional Somali weaving is often colourful and features a variety of shapes and patterns, and participants were encouraged to be creative with their designs.
By the end of the workshop, everyone was proud of what they had made. I am incredibly happy that The Bare Project has helped us share traditional Somali weaving with people across Sheffield, allowing us to celebrate and showcase an important part of our cultural heritage.
During Common Threads Festival you can try your hand at alool weaving. This is a traditional craft rooted in the nomadic heritage of the Somali diaspora. The technique involves interlacing scrap textiles or yarns through thin, flexible branches to create a sturdy, rollable mat primarily used as a fireguard or door within a traditional nomadic aqal. Using this technique we will be creating the walls of an aqal (Somali hut) using alool weaving.
Come along to Common Threads Festival and try your hand at some Somali weaving from 11am – 5pm. On Wednesday 9th September, we’ll be joined by the full Higsaad Alool Weavers team.
About the Facilitator
Saada Osman works to support Somali women in Sheffield take part in a range of events. She organises physical activities like walking and chairobics in the Darnall area and also acts as an interpreter for them when needed. Saada is a Community Facilitator with Common Threads and previously worked as Community Producer on Hinterlands where she programmed cross-cultural events with women in Darnall. Saada helped to found the Higsad Alool Weavers, a group of Somali women living in Darnall who practise and teach traditional Somali weaving as part of the Common Threads Festival.