Guild Programs

1. 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.

2. Retrospecting

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

3. 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

4. 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.

5. Recycle That Threading!

Learn how to get the most from each threading, use it over and over, and save it while using another. Develop a personal style using a consistent approach to threading different weave structures, and you can recycle design ideas as well. All levels of weaving.

6. 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.

7. Computers and Weaving

Share the excitement! Computers can help weavers in many ways. My focus is on drafting and designing. See how a pattern is planned and compare the computer view to the fabric and the finished piece. I also send designs as jpeg images to clients, and layer woven designs over graphic images to test for painted warps. Weaving software is having a dramatic impact on textile design. I'll bring my laptop, and your guild will rent or borrow a data projector and big screen. All levels.

Half-day sessions for guilds

1. The Flowing Line

Imagine a shawl with smooth, flowing curves like a meandering river, woven in a loom-controlled design. Which structures can be used to weave curving lines? Design ideas, problems and solutions, and placement of curves on the project will be discussed. All levels.

2. Advancing Twills

Also known as offset or skip twills, this is a group of weave structures that are extremely useful for weavers with 8 or more shafts. New weaving ideas enable these twills to interact with other familiar twills such as M's and W's, block twills, and network drafted twills to produce large-scale designs. Explore the expanded threadings with many different tie-up and treadling options. Bold graphics, dizzy zigzags, shaded images, and scales appropriate for fine threads--many designs are possible and all have the drape and hand of a twill. These same threadings can also be used for double weave, shadow weave, lace effects, weft-faced (boundweave) or warp-faced (rep) weaves, and textured fabrics!

3. Point Variations

Twills with points, like M's and W's and Wall of Troy, can be used as block weaves, advancing weaves, in network drafting, and other ways. Offset points can add a jazzy feeling, and points make interesting textures in collapse fabrics. Variations in the size of pointed elements can create curves and large-scale flowing designs. Intermediate to advanced weavers, especially those with 8 or more shaft looms. All levels.

4. Overshot Revisited

Overshot threadings and treadlings can produce great contemporary fabrics when you create your own drafts. Look at advancing overshot sequences and advancing honeycomb. Borrow ideas from network drafting to control floats. Weave swivel, loom-controlled shibori, collapse fabrics, and more on overshot threadings for four, six, eight, and more shafts. Take a look at an old favorite seen from a new perspective. All levels.

5. Turned Taquet�

Turned taquet� has wonderful drape, short floats, and is easy to weave. Two or more warp colors interlace with a single fine weft to create bold designs. Compare woven examples and learn about appropriate sett, fibers, and drafting methods. This structure is great for scarves, garments, art pieces, and durable fabrics that emphasize the warp yarn. Looms need 4 or more shafts.

6. Echo Weave

Echo weave is a relatively new technique using two or more layers of warp with a single weft to create fascinating and useful cloth. Consider the impact of various kinds of tie-ups, different intervals between the threading lines, interleaved and parallel threadings, and more. This cloth has a rich surface, good drape, and is excellent for color blends and woven iridescence

One-day mini-workshops

1. Getting Started With FiberworksPCW

Using PC computers (1 or 2 to a computer)and the software program, Fiberworks PCW, we will cover the basics of computer designing for weaving. Participants need to know some weaving terms and be familiar with a drawdown, but do not need any previous experience with computers. One or 2-day workshop, computers needed. Many schools, colleges, and businesses now have a computer classroom, which is ideal for this workshop.

2. Power with FiberworksPCW

Learn tips and tricks for more efficient use of this great program for weavers. Practice making drafts in several different weave structures with exercises designed to highlight some of the newer tools available in the most current version of PCW silver. Half-day, or one or two days covering more techniques and structures, computers needed (laptops fine).

3. Feel the Flow

Designs with long, flowing curves present interesting challenges to weavers who make their own drafts. Another fun challenge is making textured fabric with pleats and puffs. Now we can make scarves and other garments that never need ironing, have elasticity, and feel intriguing. Once we know how to produce interesting tactile novelties, can we make them flow to follow those curving design lines? Compare several methods and feel the results. Intermediate to advanced level, using 8 or more shafts.

4. Tied Up

What is the role of the tie-up in weaving? Once we move beyond 4 shafts, the tie-up area of the draft can be a powerful design tool. It can also be a limitation, so we'll explore when and how to use this tool. Special consideration is given to network drafted twills and related structures. Intermediate to advanced, and only appropriate for those with 8 or more shafts, on any type of loom�with or without lots of treadles. Understand the mechanics of the tie-up and the impact on a weaving design. Lecture with computer demonstration; external monitor needed for small class (up to 16 people) or LCD display to project screen for large class (up to 50).