4-Day Class

Monday to Thursday, December 15th to December 18th 10:00 to 2:00PM

Material Fee: Materials including yarn and equipment are provided. A personal notebook and pencil are recommended but not required.

Learn the basics of weaving over the course of four days. Plan a weaving project and follow it through start-to-finish. At the end, attendees will walk away with a better understanding of the craft as well as one finished project (dishtowel, belt, or tapestry).

Adult class (18+). 5 students maximum. No experience necessary.

Day 1 - Introductions, Rotations, and Class Projects. Students will learn about the basics of weaving, take turns using various types of pre-dressed looms, and plan their class project.

10:00 - introduction to class, each other, weaving as a craft. Class outline and expectations of both students and instructor. Also cookies.

10:30 - instruction begins. The instructor will demonstrate the basics of winding a bobbin, throwing a shuttle, and advancing a loom. Students may ask questions and try techniques themselves before attempting any weaving.

11:00 - rotations begin. After the demo, students take turns weaving pre-warped projects at each station. Allow 20 minutes per loom. While students weave, the instructor will provide one-on-one assistance as needed.

1:00 - discussion time and lunch. Short slideshow introducing options for class projects, as well as time for planning class projects with assistance from instructor and peers.

1:30 - if time permits, a warping demonstration.

2:00 - wrap up

Day 2 - Warp Sheets, Warping, and Dressing the Loom

Students will assist each other in checking warp sheets and calculations, warping projects, and putting the warps on each loom. Much of this day will involve setup.

10:00 - share class projects, troubleshoot warp sheets, and assistance one-on-one and as a group for each class attendee’s personal project.

10:30 - begin the warping process. Attendees will begin to warp their projects. Inkle, tapestry, or tape loom projects will be prioritized, and students who choose these projects may begin weaving immediately. Attendees who chose floor loom projects will warp together and assist one another in the warping process with supervision by the instructor.

12:00 - snacks and dressing the loom. Students may break as needed for meat suit maintenance. Those who are dressing a floor loom may assist one another with the instructor’s supervision as they beam on and begin to thread and sley their project. The remainder of the class is reserved for setup.

2:00 - wrap up.

Day 3 - Weaving Class Project

Students will weave and finish their class project.

10:00 - students will work on their projects at whatever point they’re at. The instructor will assist with any last-minute setup, and expedite any straggling students’ progress. This day will be reserved for weaving with an instructor’s assistance as needed. Floor loom projects are expected to take the full day; students who choose tapestry or tape loom projects may finish their project early, and may choose to complete another project if they desire. As projects progress, the instructor will show a slideshow or short film pertaining to weaving.

2:00 - wrap up.

Day 4 - Wrap Up

Any last-minute work may be finished, and the group will finish their projects off the loom together.

10:00 - last-minute work may be completed. Any student who has finished may either assist another student or receive a demonstration of finishing techniques, which may include washing, sewing, weaving in ends, repairs, etc. Class is open for students who need the full time until 2:00 pm to complete their projects. Wrap up will happen at 2:00 or when the entire class has finished their projects.

Slideshows/Film Materials

Slideshows

1. Introduction to class, instructor, and craft.

2. Examples of class projects, pictures of fabric samples, sample warp sheets, etc.

Short film

1. TBD (but something akin to The Nettle Dress if not that film)