No doubt every professional suffers the indignity of ignorant remarks, once people know what their calling is, from wanting a medical diagnosis at a drinks party to those who think they understand police procedure from watching television. Tapestry weavers are in the same boat.

Whether it’s from someone you have just met at a party, a potential buyer making an enquiry or even a friend or acquaintance, we tapestry weavers sometimes get questions and comments we don’t appreciate. Here is a selection of actual words said to me or other weavers I know. Please let me know what others have said to you, and I will add the offending material to the post.

I wish I could stay at home like you and be creative.

It looks a lot like darning.

Oh, yes, my aunt does that.

You must have a lot of patience.

Are you famous?

Where/how do you get your ideas?

What’s it meant to be?

Can’t you do that by computer?

I was always taught that the back of a textile should be finished as neatly as the front.

Why don’t you…?

Have you seen the Great Tapestry of Scotland?

I just finished a beautiful cushion cover of a unicorn.

I got a mandala tapestry for £8.99 on Etsy.

Don’t they attract dust?

Are they moth-proofed?

Do you spin/dye your own wool?

Can you value this tapestry my mother had?

Do you have a tapestry depicting a Highland cow?

My budget is £150.

Do you know how to get stains out of a christening dress?

How are you getting on with your knitting?

Since I posted this article, many weavers have told me that they have heard nearly all these questions and statements during their careers. Others were new to me, but equally unsurprising:

It must be nice to make money from a hobby./Nice to have a hobby.

I did that at school.

I love embroidery.

You must be good at sewing.

Where do you get your patterns?

Do you make curtains?

Surely that can be done by machine?

Can I have that? I need a teapot stand.

Oh, so you just put a picture behind the warps and trace the lines?

Are you an alcoholic? I would be if I was doing what you’re doing.

What’s that rug doing on the wall?

Oh, that looks easy.

That would make a great coaster.

It’s a dying art.

What is it???

Yes, my mother does crafts.

That would be lovely in a child’s bedroom.

Are they supposed to be placemats?

But what do you do with it? It can’t go on the bed.

They look like toilet-seat covers.

Can you make my wedding dress?

I must show you my niece’s work – she draws dogs from photos.

I’m an artist as well. I do balloon animals.

And the day after posting this, I also got an enquiry from someone in India who wanted to know whether I would like to import mandala tapestries and hippie tapestries.

Some of the inappropriate comments have also been mentioned in previous blog posts:

https://joannesoroka.co.uk/is-it-a-tapestry-no/

https://joannesoroka.co.uk/is-it-a-tapestry-yes/

https://joannesoroka.co.uk/how-long-does-it-take-to-weave-a-tapestry/