Workshop Topics
Beyond Boundweave: Weave colorful, rhythmical patterns, charming folk figures, and geometric designs in fabrics that are decorative and durable. Various workshops are available on weft-faced pattern weaves for novice, intermediate, or advanced weavers on a variety of threadings, tie-ups, and treadlings. Special drafting, designing, and weaving techniques are taught. The workshop can be set up for loom hopping or individual warps. The threadings might be plain weave, twill, point twill, rosepath, or overshot.. There are also theme workshops based on weft-faced pattern weaves — Flowers, Fauna, and Fables; Christmas Themes and Celebrations; Elegant Evening Purses; Woven Messages (Letters and Numbers) See my new book for ideas about which lessons would be best for your group. (4-8 shafts)
The Magic Threading Explore the wonder of the magic threading! One warp sett for boundweave and threaded to straight eight twill can deceive the eye into thinking the loom is threaded for fancy twills, krokbragd, rosepath, and many other clever structures. Letters, numbers, and other unique weft-faced design options are included. (8-shafts)
Taqueté and Samitum: Explore historical and contemporary weft-faced compound tabby and twill. Learn techniques from pick-up to computer assisted weaving. How to translate the old drawloom patterns for the looms of today and how to design functional and decorative textiles in this versatile structure.(4-16 shafts)
The Tutankhamun Patterns: Recreate beautiful boundweave patterns from the Tunic of Tutankhamun. (5-10 shafts)
Coptic Tapestry Techniques: Learn the ancient and unique tapestry techniques of Coptic Egypt. (2-4 shafts or frame looms)
Early Islamic Weaving and Embroidery: Abundant archeological textiles were excavated from Egypt’s tombs and desert cemeteries. While ancient traditions persist over centuries, the Islamic conquest brought new materials, new techniques of weaving, embroidery, dyeing, printing, and advanced loom technology from the east. The workshop will share slides and samples — both ancient and newly created.– as well as the experience of creating examples of Early Islamic woven and embroidered fabrics in linen, silk, wool, and cotton.
Creative Control of Color: Learn how to control and apply basic color and design theory with yarn and a loom project.
Linen: Enduring and Endearing: The enduring linens of ancient and Coptic Egypt and endearing vintage linens woven of Oregon grown flax are our inspiration for our workshop samples. Different types of linen yarn — natural and dyed — and a variety of weave structures will be used to learn practical methods of working with linen as we weave a potpourri of prehistoric, pioneer, and post-war linen replicas.
Linen, Lavender, and Lace: Linen, lavendar, and lace were meant for each other. Each lustrous linen sample woven in the workshop is designed to become a small lavendar filled sachet. The special techniques for weaving with linen will be learned with various sizes, types of linen, and weave structures. Embroidery and lacy needlelace edgings to embellish the fabrics will be taught during the workshop. (4-8 shafts)
Research, Re-creating, and Writing: As an individual you can pursue your passion for a particular aspect of fiber art. Practical suggestions learned during thirty years of research and writing are shared to guide you as you follow your dream. I will offer hints on obtaining obscure materials, making contacts, museum protocol, and publishing. It’s a wonderful and worthwhile adventure!
Slide Lecture Topics
Beyond Boundweave: A review of drafting, designing, and weaving weft-faced patterns with slides and an exhibit of over seventy samples woven for Weft-Faced Pattern Weaves: Tabby to Taqueté.
The Tutankhamun Textiles: Travel to Egypt and learn about the marvelous textiles found in King Tut’s tomb.
Taqueté and Samitum: A look at the ancient origins and contemporary uses of these fascinating 4th Century woolen and silk fabrics found in Coptic Egypt. Understand both structure and pattern through drafts and examples.
Coptic Textiles: Travel to Egypt and to collections around the world to see these ancient tapestries and other unique fabrics from the 3nd to the 7th Century A.D. that have been found in Coptic Egyptian excavations. See 1500 year old tapestries from my personal collection.
Coptic Fragments: The Memorabilia of A. J.. Gayet: A special lecture on the topic of my new book about a Coptic collection at the Henry Art Gallery in Seattle that is related to the great collection at the Louvre and other major museums. The story of the ancient city where they were found, the French archeologist who discovered them, and how these textile fragments are intertwined with the lives of novelists, artists, singers, movie stars, saints, and sinners will be shared.
Early Islamic Weaving and Embroidery: Early Islamic Egyptian textiles connect us through craft to the artisans of that far distant time and place when themes, tastes, techniques, and loom technology of the Classical, Christian, Islamic, and Oriental world merged as never before in history. The woven, embroidered, dyed, and printed archeological fabrics from medieval Egypt, which represent ancient traditions and new innovations, range from raggedy remnants to rich, gold embellished art fabrics.
Tapestry — Then and Now: A review of the history of tapestry in China, Peru, Coptic Egypt, and Medieval Europe, and of contemporary work by world renowned tapestry artists.
Oregon Flax and Linen: Oregon is the only place in the United States to have had a flax and linen industry. Now there is a move to revive the industry, which died out in the late 50’s, but had been there since pioneer days. The linen thread produced there was as fine as any grown in the world. See the Oregon product from the flax field to the fabulous finished fabrics.