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Circa 1928
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Hand built
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Originated in Switzerland
Arnold Widmer’s Weaving Loom - now proudly displayed at One to Remember
A Family Thread Through Time
On display here in my studio is a piece of family history – the dismantled weaving loom of my great-grandfather, Arnold Widmer, a master craftsman and textile manufacturer from Wohlen, Switzerland. In the 1920s, Wohlen was a thriving centre for the intricate craft of Swiss straw lace, a distinctive textile woven from finely split straw and often combined with silk or cotton threads. This delicate material, renowned for its shimmering texture and durability, was used in everything from hat brims to decorative trims, and became a symbol of the region’s ingenuity.
Arnold ran his own factories at a time when weaving was both an industrial skill and an art form. Each loom was a tool of precision, combining patience, rhythm, and an instinctive feel for materials. His loom – now here in Hawick – once produced patterns that told their own quiet stories through texture and design.
Arnold Widmer relaxing in the mountains of Switzerland in 1973.
Today, while my work is no longer bound to straw or thread, the essence of weaving remains central. Instead of physical fibres, I digitally weave together photographs, memories, and personal histories to create bespoke artworks. Like Arnold’s lace, these collages are made by interlacing countless individual strands – images, colours, emotions – into something unified and meaningful.
Hawick, with its own proud textile heritage, feels like the perfect place for this loom to rest. It stands here not as a silent relic, but as a reminder that craft evolves, yet the heart of it – the weaving of stories into something lasting – remains unchanged.
Anna, Arnolds daughter, operating the same loom in 2013.
About Swiss Straw Lace
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Originated in Wohlen, Switzerland, in the early 18th century.
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Made by splitting fine rye straw, flattening it, and weaving it with silk or cotton.
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Popular for hat brims, decorative trims, and fashion accessories.
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Peaked in the late 19th and early 20th centuries before industrial and fashion changes reduced demand.
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Known for its delicate shimmer, durability, and intricate patterns.
Samples of Swiss straw lace made in 1952 and still in perfect condition today.
