Content of Workshop: 2 or 3 days

The 2 day workshop will not cover as much as a 3 day workshop.  Contact me for more information.

Students will bring along a loom, warped following the instructions below. (Looms may be available from the organisers, and these students just bring along the warp, and put it on the looms the night before, ready for the workshop to begin the first morning.)

The workshop will be concentrating on the use of colour in weaving. I have chosen weft-face weaves because the warp is purely structural, and plays no part in the colour and design of the actual weaving. We will be experimenting with different colour combinations in yarns, first planning and sampling colours, using colour wheels and wrapped card as aids, then weaving pieces which reflect each weavers’ personal colour choices.

In the process of discovering colour, the topics covered will be primary and secondary colours, dominant colours (value, intensity, temperature and shape), emotional reactions to colour, systematic colour combinations (Complementary, split complementary, triad, etc.) non systematic approach to colour, using monochromatic, analogous colour schemes, achromatic colours, and how to put these theories into practice.

 

The woven techniques taught will be:

• Stripes and blocks.
• Pattern weft-face weave.
• Boundweaving.
• Flamepoint .
• Linked weft, and weaving curved shapes.
• Chaining and crocheting.
• Rya knotting.

The less experienced weavers may not get through all these techniques, as each student will work at his/her own pace.

Standard of students:

Students should be able to warp and thread their own loom, and have done some basic weaving, such as tabby and twill.

Students should bring with them :

Four shaft table loom, warped as follows:

• Length of warp: 6-7 feet ( 2m)
• Width: 12 ins ( 30cm)
• Warp yarn: strong cotton (5/2 or 8/4) or linen (8/6, 6 ply linen is suitable)
• Sett: 4 or 5 e.p.i.
• Threading: Rosepath. 1 2 3 4 3 2 1 4.

After you have threaded your loom, weave a small heading of 6 picks, place a ruler across, and then you will be ready to begin weaving straight away.

Also bring: 4 stick shuttles, scissors, darning needle, clamps for clamping your loom to table, rug gauge if you have one.(this is for cutting the pile for Rya knots), copy of my `An Introduction to Weaving, The Four-Shaft Table Loom’, if you have a copy, (or the newer version ‘The Ashford Book of Four Shaft Weaving as it includes most of the techniques).
Bring with you a favourite fabric sample or garment.
A4 ring binder, with A4 blank pad enclosed. (A4 = 12 x 9 ins approx) Pen and pencil

Approximately 10 sheets of stiff card in a neutral grey colour. These cards are to be used for wrapping colour samples and should be approx 20cm (8 in) by 8cm (3 in).

Yarn: We will be using an assortment of yarns for the weft. Bring along any small amounts of yarns in a range of colours. Thicker, rather than thin yarn would be best., just left-over cones and balls of yarn, as all weavers have plenty of these. A plastic grocery bag or two will be enough. I will provide a colour wheel for each student, and you can match the yarn colours with colours on the wheel. The yarns will be shared by all, so any yarns you wish to keep, have in a separate bag. Include some white, grey or black.

Colour wheel, if you have one. I will have some for sale for $5

Maximum number in class: 15

Tutor will need: White board