Artist Statement

A self-taught weaver and dyer, Emily Murch at Humming Loom tells stories in cloth, creating heirloom textiles and wearable art, inspired mainly by the natural world.

Emily was born in Macclesfield and grew up on the Isle of Wight. She had a London-based career as a civil servant, before she found hand-weaving through carrying her baby son in woven wraps. She was enchanted by the stories it’s possible to tell in cloth that have been largely lost to our fast-fashion society. In 2019, Emily bought a loom and began teaching herself to weave and dye. In 2020 she and her family moved to the Peak District, where she found the space and inspiration to develop her skills.

Each of Emily’s pieces is carefully planned to tell its own tale. The daughter of a professional artist, her love of colour started at a young age, and remains her chief inspiration. She hand-dyes the yarn for her work according to her chosen palette - usually drawn from the natural world, and often from what she sees in the countryside around her Peak District home. The rest of her choices are made to enhance the story she wants to tell with a particular piece. She finds joy in how a successful handwoven piece stimulates so many senses at once - the texture in hand and balance on the body are as important to her as the visual impact.

Emily is a member of the Leek Guild of Spinners, Weavers and Dyers, and has recently begun leading weaving and dyeing workshops. She loves sharing the excitement of someone’s first throw of the shuttle! She also enjoys giving demonstrations on her portable table loom.