Crossing Threads

Lauren and Kass Hernandez are sisters who both work in corporate 9-to-5s. After attending a weaving workshop with Natalie Miller in 2015, the girls spent many a ‘crafternoon’ together practising their new skills, steadily improving and experimenting with new techniques. What started out as their side project, Crossing Threads, is now rapidly developing into a full-time pursuit.

If you’re reading this morning’s story feeling unfulfilled by your day job, consider this your inspiration wake up call.

Written

Sally Tabart

Crossing Threads is the side hustle of Sydney-based sisters Lauren and Kassandra Hernandez. Photo – Jacqui Turk.

After taking a weaving workshop together in 2015, Lauren and Kass spent many a ‘crafternoon’ together exploring their shared love for the practise. Photo – Jacqui Turk.

Lauren and Kass’ Dad can ‘build practically anything from scratch’, including their large custom looms! Photo – Jacqui Turk.

Crossing Threads support Australian wool growers and suppliers, and opt to use high quality natural fibres that are produced locally or Fairtrade. Photo – Jacqui Turk.

Both sisters have jobs in the corporate world, and are steadily inching towards turning their passion project into a full-time gig! Photo – Jacqui Turk.

‘Since we were kids, either one of us was one step ahead and the other just one step behind. We did everything together!’ Photo – Jacqui Turk.

‘A weaving technique that we have coined and labelled is our ‘interknot’ technique, which is a whimsical array of macramé and sporadic knotting that creates varied chains that anchor our pieces and graduate upwards in an orchestrated chaos’, explain Lauren and Kass of their textural work. Photo – Jacqui Turk.

‘The idea of making something with my hands and seeing instant progress is truly gratifying,’ tells Lauren.
Photo – Jacqui Turk.

The sisters aim for zero waste. ‘All the off-cuts and scrap yarn we accumulate get sent off to a local spinner who then spins all of these fibres into new, bespoke yarn which will be used in future pieces’, they explain. Photo – Jacqui Turk.

‘I never sought out to become a fibre artist, however I continually find myself gravitating towards this practice, because of the meditative release that weaving gives me,’ says Kass. Photo – Jacqui Turk.

Writer

Sally Tabart

18th of March 2018

When Lauren and Kass of Crossing Threads decided to launch an Instagram account as a way to document their creative process, Lauren (who comes from a marketing and branding background) suggested that they ‘treat it like the real thing’ and workshop an identity to go with it. And as it turns out, it IS the real thing!

Kass and Lauren’s woven creations are textural and abundant. The sisters use their unique skills to breathe new life into natural fibres, and are committed to a ‘zero-waste’ philosophy. ‘We source up-cycled and discontinued fabrics, ropes and other non-traditional fibres’, the pair explain, adding ‘all the off-cuts and scrap yarn we accumulate get sent off to a local spinner who then spins the fibres into new, bespoke yarn.’

The creative sisters were inseparable in their childhood. ‘Either one of us was one step ahead and the other just one step behind,’ reflects Lauren, ‘we did everything together!’ Coming from a family of hard workers, they credit their own work ethic to watching their parents and grandparents, who travelled to Sydney from the Philippines in pursuit of greater opportunities. Their grandfather was a cartographer/calligraphist, and their father is an architect who ‘sews, cooks, and can build practically anything from scratch’ – including the large custom looms the girls use. Meanwhile, their Mum was a talented seamstress – ‘some of my fondest memories are accompanying Mum to source fabrics and sequins for our dance costumes,’ Kass says, ‘then watching both our parents tag-team at sequencing and beading!’

With a following of over 30k on Instagram and a growing list of clients, Lauren and Kass are ready to up the ante. ‘Working in a corporate environment can be rewarding but somewhat stressful,’ Kass admits, ‘this year I am pushing towards turning this part-time fibre art gig into a full-time career.’