Length of Workshop: 2 or 3 days

Content of Workshop:

Weavers:
At the workshop students will sample various weft combinations of plant and animal/synthetic fibres on the pre-threaded warp. The samples will then be cut off the loom, the dévoré solution applied, dried, then ironed and washed out.

Knitters:
At the workshop, students will knit samples, to which the dévoré solution will be applied, dried, ironed and washed out.

Prior preparation
Weavers:
Participants will bring along a two or four-shaft loom, (a rigid heddle loom is also suitable), threaded prior to the workshop with a pre-wound wool warp (9 inches (23 cm) wide, 4 m (4yds) long, sett 16 e.p.i.) according to instructions supplied by Anne.

Knitters:
Participants will bring along to the workshop a scarf hand or machine knitted before the workshop with yarn and instructions sent beforehand by Anne

All students:
Day 1: Discussion on the principles of dévoré and the properties of the plant and animal/synthetic fibres to be used, will start the day.

Knitters will make stencils and dévoré the scarf they brought with them and then knit samples from the yarns available.

Weavers will weave samples and cut them off their looms. The samples will then have the dévoré solution applied, using stencils and brushes. The samples will be allowed to dry overnight. All materials, including the dévoré solution, yarns, stencils etc. will be supplied.
Yarns will include rayon, rayon bouclé, polyester, lyocell (Tencel) and cotton yarns.

Day 2: The samples will be ironed and washed. We will then analyse the samples, and discuss which would be the best yarn to use for the next project

Weavers will plan a scarf using the rest of the warp.

Knitters will plan their next project.
Each student will then decide on the yarns which will be wound off for their next project which will be finished at home. The dévoré solution and stencil for this project will be provided. If time permits a three day workshop, knitters and weavers will begin their project. Or I can provide more yarn, and participants can do more sampling before they begin the project.

Standard of students.
Weavers:
Students should be able to warp their own loom, following the instructions sent with the pre-wound warp. Plain weave only will be woven during the workshop, so the weaving is not complex. and less experienced weavers are welcome

Weaving students should bring with them to the workshop:

• Two or four-shaft loom or rigid heddle loom, threaded up with the pre-wound warp. An 8 dent reed is recommended.
• 2-3 shuttles, sharp scissors, pins, darning needle.

Knitters:
Students should be able to knit garter and stocking stitch and be able to choose the correct needle size for a variety of yarns.

Knitting students should bring with them:

• Knitted scarf, either machine or hand knitted. Sharp scissors, pins.
• A variety of knitting needles from sizes 2 – 4. (I will have some spares)

All students to bring:

• Pen, pencil and rubber, paper, and a flip file (a binder which holds several plastic envelopes for handouts and samples).
• A metre (1 yard) of aluminium cooking foil, a newspaper and a sheet of plastic about a yard (metre) wide and 2 m (yds) long. (2 black plastic rubbish bags cut open will be ideal). This is to protect the tables and ironing boards.
• An ironing board and iron, (one between two is enough)
• Plastic apron and rubber gloves. A stiff bristled brush, about 2.5cm (1in) wide. (I will have some spares). An old towel. Pair of tweezers.
• If you have any fine (approx. the same thickness as the threads I send) yarns of silk, rayon, lyocell (Tencel.), polyester, cotton, or blends of these you would like to try, bring these along. I will provide plenty of yarns however.
• Waterproof tags to label the samples. A hair dryer if you have one. This speeds up the drying of the samples. An extension cord for the dryer might be a good idea too.
• Small glass/plastic jar with a lid, no bigger than approx .4ins (10cm) high for the Fiber Etch solution.
• If you have a stool with a hole in the centre of the seat part, please bring it along. It is for winding two different yarns from 2 cones at once. You can also sit on it when you get tired.!
• Ball winder. One between two should be enough. A plastic bucket.
• If you would prefer to bring a craft knife and a cutting board for making the stencils, rather then scissors, then bring this along.

Maximum in class: 15

Materials fee: $40 in NZ, $60 (Aus) Other overseas countries it will be by negotiation as this depends on the postage costs..

Tutor will provide:
All the pre-wound warps and yarn for each of the knitters, plus instructions. I will send these off a month beforehand to the organizers for them to hand out to each participant. I will also bring to the workshop yarns, dévoré solution, stencils, stencil paper. spare brushes, handouts. masks.
For painting the solution onto the samples we can use the surface of the ironing boards, or the tables the looms were on. These will be protected by the newspapers and plastic. For washing out the samples, we will need a supply of hot or cold running water. The nearest hand basins will do.

For the organizers:
Make sure the room has adequate ventilation, e.g. the windows and doors can open. As the Fiber-Etch solution is pre-mixed to a thickened paste and the burnt out fibres are removed under water, the makers of Fiber Etch do not suggest a mask or respirator is necessary but I will supply masks anyway. We do not mix the raw ingredients as a respirator is necessary for this as Sodium bisulphate is a powder.

As we will be using a number of electrical appliances at once, mulitple power outlets in the room are required, in order to not overload the fuses.

• The samples need to dry overnight so make sure the room is available for this.
• 2 digital scales
• Check with the students that between them there are 2 stools with holes in.
• I will also need one spinning wheel and 2/3 bobbins for plying some of the yarns together.

It is not a messy workshop.

New Zealand workshops:

I will bring several boxes of yarns, and students can choose from this supply, winding off enough yarn to finish their scarf. These boxes will then travel to the next workshop with me, if I am be travelling by car.

Overseas workshops:

I will post the warps, Fiber-Etch solution, stencil paper, and a selection of yarns. As I cannot carry these yarns from workshop to workshop as I will not be travelling by car, I will have to leave the box of yarns with each group, and they can use them for future weaving. Hence the difference in materials fee.
The students will need to notify you if they are weavers or knitters, and you then let me know the numbers so I can post you the correct number of warps and scarf kits to pass on.