01 Three Day Workshops
Shaker Towels for the 21st Century or “Working with Fine Linen and Cotton Threads”
This is a three day workshop with an emphasis on developing an appreciation of Shaker linen and cotton textile designs. Participants will weave original Shaker designs including 4 and 5 shaft Bronson, a variety of Twills, Huck, M’s and O’s, Dimity and Damask. Each student will have an opportunity to sample various weave structures, to study a variety of 19th century textiles, and to elect to weave a finished article from one of the original design structures. The warps will be either linen or cotton, sett between 24 and 45 epi. Most of the designs will be 4 shaft, with 3 to 5 designs that are more than four shaft. It is suggested that each sample warp be on a floor loom. Please – no Structo, Click or looms that are in poor condition. There are only two plain weave designs that are appropriate for a table loom.
We are, in today’s world, limited by the yarns that are available for reproduction work. Many of the original towels used a handspun, singles linen for the warp. The singles linen that is available to the modern weaver does not meet the high standards of the 19th century linens. Therefore, most of the reproduction towels are worked with a two ply in the warp and a singles in the weft. This combination produces a satisfactory product and one that most weavers feel comfortable using. Most projects require 2 to 4 ounces of linen or cotton yarn. The class may elect to share cones of linen and the associated cost. This class is designed for beginning to intermediate weavers that are able to warp their looms from back to front.*
* This is the preferred way to warp as it decreases the amount of abrasion (wear and tear on the fine threads) that is present with front to back warping.
Lace Workshop
This is three day round robin workshop that will focus on 4 or 8 shaft Huck Lace. Looms will be threaded based on the shafts available with a variety of fibers (cotton, silk, linen and wool). Atwater Bronson lace will be discussed and set up to weave (dependent on the number of participants).
Samples of all fibers will be woven by each student, producing a workbook that provides documentation about how the various fibers embrace the weave structure. Samples will be cut off at the end of the first day so students can take them home and process them so they can see how the samples look off the loom, washed (or fulled) and dried. After all samples have been woven the students will spend the remainder of their time weaving a “sampler” on their own loom.
Discussions will include the difference between the types of woven lace and uses for lace cloth. Finger manipulated lace weaves will also be discussed (time permitting).
Texture Weaves
This 3 day round robin workshop will focus on 4,6, and 8 shaft weaves that give the appearance of texture and produce effect more than 2 dimensional. Students will warp, thread their looms to structures such as honeycomb, M’s and O’s, 4, 6, or 8 shaft waffle weave and other structures that give the appearance of a 3 dimensional textile that defies vertical and horizontal weave structures giving the appearance of ovals, circles and depth of weaving fibers.
Discussion will include what types of fibers and weave structures lend themselves to a non-traditional warp (vertical)/weft(horizontal) appearance.
Students will weave samples on other looms and have adequate time to experiment with their own warp on their own loom.
4 shaft patterns ((that look like more) and their 8 shaft counterparts
This 3 day round robin workshop will look at some 8 shaft patterns that were adjusted to create a 4 shaft pattern that gives a similar appearance without requiring an 8 shaft loom. Laces with borders, weave structures with floats, and varied yarn sizes, sett, color choices and double weaves (deflected) may be explored. Come with your loom set up and prepared to be amazed with the 4 shaft “want-to-be’s” and how good they look.
Students will weave 4 shaft samples and see examples of their 8 shaft counterparts. Then students can weave a scarf or other functional item on their own loom (dependent on size of samples and length of warp put on their loom), at the end of the workshop or when they get home.
03 Half Day Seminars
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Weaving Seminars: Half day sessions
WHICH WAY ARE YOU WARPED?
This session discusses the 4 main methods of warping and the disadvantages and advantages of each. After discussing all the methods and the equipment required for each, the back to front warping method using a warping board and raddle will be demonstrated.
WARPING UP A STORM
Bring a warping board and warp materials of your choice and we will warp 2 – 4* warp chains for projects for you to take home and put on your loom when you are ready for a new project. You can bring extra unused fiber and can participate in a swap with other attendees! It is sooo much fun to add a fiber that you would not ordinarily work with to a project. *subject to how many warp threads and length you want your warp(s) to be.
DRAFT INTERPRETATION FOR DUMMIES (BEGINNERS):
Discuss basics of reading a draft whether in a book, magazine or from a website and determining how it equates with the project you would like to do will be discussed. Also, types of yarn and sett and uses of fabric will be considered. Bring your problem draft(s) with you for individualized help.
DRAWDOWNS 101:
Bring your graph paper and colored pencils and go back to the way it used to be done. We will explore drawdowns for twills, overshot and laces. This is a good study on how threads interlace to give the desired effects. It is recommended for beginners.
02 Full Day Seminars
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Weaving Seminars: FULL Day sessions:
WEAVING BOOT CAMP:
This one - day session is a refresher on warping your loom from front to back. We will review the basics in the morning, warp a plain weave dish cloth, get it on the loom and weave it. In the afternoon we will complete all the steps above and weave a twill dish cloth. This is a great way to hone your warping skills and enabling you to be comfortable with the skill when you do it on your own.
GETTING STARTED ON YOUR FLOOR LOOM:
This full day session will involve you getting to know your new floor loom. You will measure out a warp on a warping board, wind your warp from back to front using a raddle, thread the heddles in a 4 shaft straight twill, thread the reed, learn how to lash your warp threads on the front, tie up the treadles for a 2/2 twill and begin a twill sampler. Support for the entire process is supplied and the loom can be taken home to finish the twill sampler and weave a runner or towel with the remaining warp. Another method for tying on the warp will be discussed as well as hemstitching your project and a method for cutting off a project to finish while leaving the warp on the loom without having to re-tie it on will be demonstrated.
04 Individual Instruction
I am available for individual instruction in my home studio for beginning and intermediate weaving lessons. Arrangements for room and board can be made. Please contact me for availability and rates.