Guild programs (Workshops below)

The Big Idea

Fiber art is made with close attention to detail, but often it needs to look good from a distance, as well. Consider the scale of the design and how this relates to line, value, and the size of each component of the piece. Factories make multipurpose designs with frequent repeats, but you can make each piece fit the exact scale needed, whether you are making a jacket or a rug, a quilt or an altar cloth. If your work is to be appreciated from the other side of a room, then it is time to think big!  Appropriate for guilds with non-weavers, all levels.

Retrospecting

Photos and woven examples of important pieces I have made illustrate the meandering path of my creative impulses. I have been weaving since 1967. For weavers and non-weavers, all levels. 

The Big Twill

Consider the impact of scale on fiber design, and think about how this translates into weaving drafts. Basic twills are great for little projects, but tend to have a small repeat size. The big twills produce patterns that show from a distance, even with very fine threads. Understand the concepts behind advancing twills. Designing with these structures is a blast, and the designs can be used in many ways, all with the nice hand and drape of a twill. All levels of weaving .

The Flowing Line

Many traditional weaving patterns use a repeated motif or geometric design, but sometimes we want to create a sense of movement in a loom-controlled design. Which structures can be used to weave smoothly flowing lines? Design ideas, problems and solutions, and placement of curves on the project will be discussed. All levels.

Dyed Warps and Interesting (Not Plain) Weaves

What can you weave with dyed and painted warps? Almost anything! Consider using dyed or painted warps with block weaves, woven layers, double width, advancing twills, and as a background for inlay or loom-controlled imagery. An overview of dye techniques for warps will be given, and slides and woven examples explained. All levels of weaving.

Workshops for Guilds and Conferences (pdf available with pictures)

1. The Big Twill        

Create large designs with twills. Explore techniques appropriate for garments, big pieces, or fine threads, retaining the nice hand and drape of a twill. Lectures alternate with weaving time as we work together to make an enormous twill gamp. Topics include advancing twills,my approach to network drafted twills, advancing point twills, special tie-ups, and ways to weave these threadings as overshot, lace, and furrowed fabrics. I provide threadings in advance, each loom having a different threading. The group can include some 4-shaft looms but designs are easier to see with 8 or more shafts.  Lectures assume an interest in 8 or more, and you weave at most of the looms, 3 days.

2. Advance!

Explore a nifty technique for producing long but easily remembered sequences, great for threadings and/or treadlings. Blocks and curves in many weaves can advance or descend. These blocks usually overlap, giving soft edges to lines of design. Try advancing sequences in twills, overshot, point twills, network drafted sequences, crackle, echo weave and profile drafts. Blocks can advance by many steps or just a few, with varied effects. Each threading works with many tie-ups and treadlings to make large-scale drafts with very big design potential. Intermediate to advanced level; work at your own loom. Teaching is at the 8-shaft level; some workshop looms may have 4 and looms with more than 8 are welcomed. 3 days, or 2 with fewer structures.

3. Opposites Attract

Create bold, colorful designs that emphasize your warp yarn with parallel (opposite) threadings. Echo weave and turned taqueté are wonderful choices for two or more warp colors and a single weft. Compare woven examples and learn tips for weaving, sett, and yarn choice. Both are wonderful for shawls, scarves, garments, and art pieces. On the same warp, make samples of warp rep and an exciting kind of double weave that produces four colors with two shuttles. Explore these structures while learning methods for creating your own designs for the fabric of your dreams, including drafts with curves and organic shapes. 3 or 4 days, intermediate through very advanced level.

4. Autumn and Springtime: beyond summer and winter

Weave pictures without tapestry or inlay, using 8 or more shafts. Start with a profile draft and block substitution, then add shadings, fine lines, and details, and work on developing longer designs. Weave words, logos, and animals, and place graphics on fabric for clothing.  These threadings can be used for taqueté, as polychrome, swivel and more. Turned summer and winter is fast and fun.  An on-loom workshop for 8 or more shafts, each weaver stays at her own loom. 3 days. 

5. Loom-Controlled Imagery

Weave images without pick-up, inlay, or a Jacquard loom. Compare different weave structures to see how the interlacement compliments the image. Explore the difference between warp-faced images, weft-faced, and balanced weaves. Work with profile drafts and add details and shading. Weave words, motifs, and landscapes. Combine woven imagery with painted or printed warps or wefts. Samples will help you explore summer and winter, polychrome tied weaves, taquete, swivel, and more. 3-day workshop, advanced level. Workshop looms must have at least 8 shafts, and all drafts are for table, dobby, or computer-assisted looms.

6. The Big Overshot 

Overshot is a familiar traditional weave, but what happens when this twill-based structure meets all the new concepts coming from twills? Explore the advantages of overshot and give an old friend a new place to grow. Advancing overshot is one way to make large-scale designs without increasing the length of the floats. Try new, decidedly nontraditional threadings with many different tie-up and treadling options. Overshot threadings are great for collapse fabrics, loom-controlled shibori, velveteen, honeycomb, and swivel. For intermediate to advanced weavers using 4 or more shafts, with lectures including multishaft information.  Weavers need to be able to warp a loom and weave a sample following a draft and have some interest in drafts with more than 4 shafts. Work at your own loom.   2 days. 

7. Design with Textures

Flowing curves add movement to woven designs. Compare several different techniques for weaving three-dimensional fabrics with the added challenge of creating curves in the design. Your samples will include cloth with decorative ridges on one face, with puffy designs on the front and back, and puffs with flat fabric on the reverse. Make stretchy fabrics with the desired amount of elasticity, and inelastic fabrics with raised or fuzzy design areas. My emphasis is on forms of double weave and stitched double cloth. Intermediate through very advanced level; some experience with collapse fabric and knowledge of double weave is helpful. Workshop looms need at least 8 shafts, for shared use, with some looms having 12 or more shafts. 3 to 5 days. 

8. Creative Drafting with FiberworksPCW

Introduction to FiberworksPCW

Learn the basics of this powerful weaving software. I’ve been using it since 1990 and can show you the easiest way to get started, plus lots of short-cuts. A computer classroom in a school or college or workplace is ideal for this workshop. Each participant should have a computer. 

Power with FiberworksPCW 

Explore some of the special tools in FiberworksPCW and learn power tricks and tips for speed and efficiency.  Appropriate for weavers already using this program. Each participant needs to have a computer. I have given this in private homes and in a library meeting room with each person bringing a laptop. I will need a digital projector and screen or white wall. 

Maximum number of participants is 18.

I offer individual tutoring by the hour and small group sessions for study groups on topics above, tutoring with FiberworksPCW and/or WeavePoint. I have written tutorials for Fiberworks-PCW. Email me for more information.

Fee:  $400 USA per day, plus transportation, housing and meals for 3 or more days of teaching in the same area.

$500 U.S.A. per day, plus transportation, housing, and meals for fewer than 3 days of teaching.

I generally travel by air and look for the cheapest flights possible from either BWI or DCA airports during the school year. I live in western Colorado, near Crested Butte, all summer and prefer to stay in the mountains then.