Bates weaving a rich life in Colac Bay

Owning a weaving business on the Southern Scenic Route brings Isobel Bates in contact with many tourists.

She has been a weaver for 40 years and lived at Colac Bay since 1983. Bates’s studio and home are next to each other.

‘‘I love my lifestyle. One of the main things is meeting people from all over the world,’’ she said.

Some of the overseas callers have been an Alaskan plumber, a blues singer from Memphis and an astronomer from Hawaii.

The plumber, keen to learn to spin and weave, got two days tuition from Bates.

‘‘He went home with his own hand-woven table mat,’’ Bates, 77, said.

Bates taught herself to weave but a two-year course at the Southland Polytechnic in 1988 and 89 helped to extend her skills.

‘‘The first time I tried weaving, I wanted to keep doing it. Within two weeks I got myself a loom off a friend for $25.’’

A table mat made of hand-spun wool was the first item she made.

Bates owns five looms - one in the studio and four in her home, including three table-top designs.

As well as wool, she uses silk, cotton, mohair, and alpaca to make a variety of things, including scarves, bush shirts, jackets, woolly hats and gloves.

‘‘Spinning and weaving was very popular in the 1970s and 80s, then patchwork and quilting came in.’’

For the past three years, Bates has organised an annual two-day weavers’ retreat at the coastal town. Usually, 15 attend and most stay in rented cottages.

She has a good knowledge of Colac Bay’s history and will only leave the town if health issues stop her from driving her car.

‘‘As long as I can hold a driver’s licence, I’m staying here.’’