Classes & Workshops |
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The Triangle Weavers Guild strives to always engage its members in educational opportunities. Members can participate in variety of classes and workshops where they focus on their craft in a creative learning and fun-filled environment. Participants learn new techniques, master new skills or just enjoy being inspired and sharing information with other experienced and talented artisan weavers or textile artists.
Classes are taught by our talented guild members. These classes include beginning and specialty weaving classes, and classes in dyeing and other fiber arts, . Opportunities for individual instruction are listed on the Teachers page. |
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- Workshops are usually offered in a multi-day format and are taught by nationally recognized instructors. Some of the fiber artists who have held workshops for the Triangle Weavers Guild in past years include:
- 2018 Tom Knisely - Boundweave and Color & Weave Workshops
- 2018 Karen Donde - Turned Biederwand
- 2017 Elisabeth Hill - Discovering Deflected Doubleweave
- 2016 Sara Lamb - Spin to Weave
- 2016 Robyn Spady - Block Party
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Note: In-person classes through the end of October have been cancelled due to the pandemic, but we hope to reschedule them later. We are also exploring online alternatives to in-person classes.
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Illoominations:
Don't forget we have some great Illoomination (practically free mini-classes) for guild members. Check them out on the Illoominations page. |
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Weave a Scarf: A Next Step Class
ONLINE Class with Pattie Lamb When: 4 days, 5 sessions
Instructor: Pattie Lamb
Where: Online! Cost: $100 members, $140 non-members Registration deadline: April 3, 2021 Maximum class size: 8 students In this class you will have the opportunity to weave a scarf and some samples in either a 4-harness mixed twill or an 8-harness turned twill pattern. This will be a good refresher for planning your project, measuring your warp, and setting up your loom independently with “virtual” support as needed from the instructor. During class we will cover different treadling methods, tips for becoming friends with your loom, managing selvedges, weaving, and finishing your projects, and more. Prior to class, students will receive handouts with drafts so they have a chance to look them over. Handouts will include sources for shopping for their yarn. Questions? Email Pattie at lambweaves@yahoo.com |
Examples of 2 scarves woven on 8 harnesses with 4 colors in the warp
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Prerequisites for participants: Must be able to warp your loom independently
Additional requirements:
Registration is now closed |
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Natural Dyes – Color in the Kitchen
Date: May 8, 2021, 10 am to 1 pm Note date change! Rain date: May 15, 2021, 10 am to 1 pm Instructor: Jane Bynum Where: In person! Triangle Fiber Arts Center (TFAC) 3717 Murphy School Rd., Durham, NC 27705 Even though this class will be held outdoors, face masks will be required of all participants. Cost: $30 for members, $40 for non-members plus a materials fee of $5 paid to instructor for mordant, dye, anddistilled water Registration deadline: April 23, 2021 Maximum class size: 6 students |
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This class will be held outdoors. This will be a hands-on dye session, with mordants for wool and cotton and several dyes from food or food waste, including onion skins, turmeric, black beans, kidney beans, and tea. We can try avocado pits and skin if anyone is willing to collect them.
Pre-requisites for Participants:
To register online click here |
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Natural Dyes Around the World
Date: May 8, 2021, 10 am to 1 pm Rain date: May 15, 2021, 10 am to 1 pm Instructor: Jane Bynum Where: In person! Triangle Fiber Arts Center (TFAC) 3717 Murphy School Rd., Durham, NC 27705 Even though this class will be held outdoors, face masks will be required of all participants. Cost: $30 for members, $40 for non-members plus a materials fee of $10 paid to instructor for mordant, distilled water and alcohol Registration deadline: April 30, 2021 Maximum class size: 6 students |
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This class will be held outdoors. The class will be a hands-on dye session, with mordants for wool and cotton and dyes from Cochineal, Alkanet, and Osage Orange.
Pre-requisites for Participants:
To register online click here |
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Color and Design in Huck Lace Towels
ONLINE workshop with Rosalie Neilson When: 3 days, 2 sessions/day
Instructor: Rosalie Nielson
Where: Online! Cost: $175 members, $215 non-members, includes the $25 materials fee for a coil-bound notebook with drafts and exercises, in addition to envelopes containing Design Pages, Transparent Overlays, and Huck Lace Template. Registration deadline: May 3, 2021 Maximum class size: 20 students The structure of Huck Lace provides a treasure trove of pattern for weavers. It is a shaft-efficient weave structure where an 8-shaft loom produces 6-block patterns; and a 4-shaft loom produces sixteen different ways to combine textures of warp & weft floats with plain weave. Weavers will learn how “blocks” or units of huck lace are threaded on four and eight shafts, and how they can be combined to expand design possibilities. Discussions will focus on converting a profile draft into a threading and treadling draft, and how literally thousands of designs are created with a single threading draft by changing the tie-up. |
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The Towel Project uses 4 colors in the warp to create 3 different different sections of huck lace, separated by plain weave. Three options for towel width will be given with on-loom widths of 15 1/3", 16 1/4" or 22" depending on the size of your loom.
Drafts will be provided for both 4-harness and 8-harness looms. A six-yard warp yields five towels. To see examples of what weavers have done in the past: click here To view a pdf for what will be covered in each Zoom session, click here. Prerequisites for participants: Have some familiarity with the Huck Lace technique or another Lace structure and be comfortable warping your loom. Additional requirements:
To register online click here |
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Mixing Colors and Fibers with Deflected Doubleweave
ONLINE Workshop with Natalie Drummond When: 13 Hours of Online Lecture
Instructor: Natalie Drummond
Where: Online! Cost: $130 members, $170 non-members Registration deadline: July 21, 2021 Maximum class size: 10 students Like traditional double weave, this weave structure is woven in two layers. However, there are sections where the two layers are combined, or interlaced. In the sections with separate layers, there are both warp and weft floats, allowing the threads to slide and bend (i.e., deflect), when the fabric is off the loom and wet-finished. The deflections can produce waves and circles, leading to endless design possibilities! In this Deflected Double Weave workshop, you will weave samples to explore the use of different fibers and setts, including selvedge and finishing techniques used in deflected double Weave. Afterwards you will be able to use what you have learned to weave a scarf, if you choose, with the remainder of your warp. On day 1, Weave deflected double weave samples on your pre-warped 8-shaft loom using various fibers and setts. Explore selvedge methods “where the shuttle meets the shed” for beautiful finishing. Discuss various finishing methods with and without agitation. Cut samples off loom and hand wash samples prior to Day 2 On Day 2, we will discuss and compare hand washed samples-movement/deflection v. differential shrinkage. Explore a simple treadle OR tie-up change to weave your own scarf with the remainder of your warp(or sample). |
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Drafts with Material List provided via e-mail (2 drafts)
Pre-Workshop Zoom Question and Answer - one month prior, but after receiving drafts To learn more about Natalie Drummond and to view more of her work, visit her website: https://www.nataliewoven.com/about Pre-requisites for Participants:
To register online (Members only) click here Online registration for non-members opens at noon on Monday, June 28, 2021 |
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Warp Painting/Dye Day
When: 2 One-day Sessions:
Instructor: Mary Kircher Where: Triangle Fiber Arts Center (TFAC) 3717 Murphy School Rd., Durham, NC 27705 Cost for each class: $45 for members, $65 for non-members plus $10 materials fee for dyeing materials, handouts, color exercise papers Level: This class is designed for all experience levels Maximum class size: 8 students Registration deadline: May 29, 2020 |
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Participant Requirements: No dye experience is necessary, but you must be able to prepare a warp prior to class. Bring two prepared warps 3 yards or shorter (cotton, linen, tencel, bamboo, or silk) and willingness to experiment. Details about preparing warps will be provided before the workshop.
Plan to bring your lunch or a snack if you like.
This class has been cancelled due to the pandemic, but we hope to reschedule it later.
Plan to bring your lunch or a snack if you like.
This class has been cancelled due to the pandemic, but we hope to reschedule it later.
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Taste of Tapestry: An Introduction to Basic Tapestry Technique
When: 3 Sundays, June 7, 14, and 21, 2020, 12:00-3:00 pm Instructor: Mary Kircher Where: Triangle Fiber Arts Center (TFAC) 3717 Murphy School Rd., Durham, NC 27705 Cost: $90 for members, $110 for non-members plus a materials fee of $5 paid to instructor for warp & handouts Maximum class size: 8 students Registration deadline: May 24, 2020 This class will provide a foundation for tapestry weaving on a tapestry loom or basic frame loom. We will make a sampler utilizing several weaving techniques, guidelines for traditional tapestry, how to use a cartoon and finishing. As time allows, eccentric weaving, twining and collage will be included. Materials provided by teacher/TFAC: TFAC will provide weft yarn and tape measures or rulers, scissors and other supplies as needed for the class. Frame looms can be borrowed if student does not have one (see details below) Student should bring: Please bring a tapestry or frame loom if you have one. The guild has a limited number of looms available on a first-come, first-served basis if you would like to borrow one. Guild looms may be taken home between sessions and for up to 2 weeks after the class concludes to finish your weaving. Non-members who borrow a loom to take home must provide a refundable deposit of $50 in cash or check payable to Triangle Weavers Guild due at the class; deposit will be returned upon return of loom. Mary can provide instructions to any participants who would like to make your own frame loom from stretcher bars. They are very easy to build and inexpensive. This class has been cancelled due to the pandemic, but we hope to reschedule it later. |
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Over and Under: Weaving Basics
When: Friday - Sunday, July 10-12, 2020, 2 1/2 days Friday 3 pm - 7 pm, Saturday 9 am - 5 pm & Sunday 9 am - 5 pm Instructor: Leslie Fesperman Where: Triangle Fiber Arts Center (TFAC) 3717 Murphy School Rd., Durham, NC 27705 Cost: $200 for members, $240 for non-members plus a materials fee of $25 paid to instructor for yarn Maximum class size: 5 students Registration deadline: June 12, 2020 With the intention of functioning as an ‘on ramp’ to the craft of weaving, this introductory course offers new students the opportunity to begin their study. Through weaving a rayon scarf, the beginning weaver will be introduced to the four-harness loom while learning vital weaving skills including reading a draft, planning projects, preparing the loom, and weaving. Materials provided by teacher/TFAC: Four harness loom and accessories (shuttles, bobbins, sley and reed hooks, etc.) and yarn for scarf ($25 materials fee paid to instructor) Student should bring: Notebook/sketchbook; pencils, pen, highlighter. Bring your lunch on Saturday and Sunday and snacks if you like. This class has been cancelled due to the pandemic, but we hope to reschedule it later. |
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Beginning Color
When: 8 Wednesdays, beginning August 26, 2020, 1-3 pm (August 26; September 2,9,16,30; October 14,21; and November 4) Instructor: Rose Warner Where: Triangle Fiber Arts Center (TFAC) 3717 Murphy School Rd., Durham, NC 27705 Cost: $160 member, $200 non-member, plus a $10 materials fee for handouts and boards for wraps Registration deadline: August 19, 2020 Maximum class size: 8 students |
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This study of the properties of color and design will give weavers with the tools and confidence to choose the right threads for their handwovens. Class participants will experiment with a variety of color schemes (monochromatic, complementary, analogous, triads, etc.) and learn the importance of color value, tints, tones, shades and proportion. Class activities include reading, extensive color study homework, and 3 weaving assignments to be done at home between sessions. The class will meet at TFAC on 8 Wednesdays over 3 months from August 26 through November 4.
Participant Requirements:
Class is closed until further notice.
Participant Requirements:
- Must be able to set up a loom and weave independently
- Participants will have 3 weaving assignments to do at home between sessions, using their own floor or rigid heddle looms, threads and yarns.
- Participants will purchase these books on their own before the class starts. Most get them on Amazon. Color Play, Second Edition by Joen Wolfrom (make sure it is the second edition), and a 3 –in-1 Color Tool" (the third edition) by Joen Wolfrom.
Class is closed until further notice.
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Tablet Weaving (Card Weaving) from Around the World
A Workshop with John Mullarkey When: 2 Days, Saturday and Sunday, September 26-27, 2020, 9:30-4:30PM Instructor: John Mullarkey Where: Triangle Fiber Arts Center (TFAC) 3717 Murphy School Rd., Durham, NC 27705 Cost: $270 for members, $310 for non-members plus a materials fee of $15 paid to instructor for 20 cards, 1 shuttle and written documentation Registration deadline: August 17, 2020 Maximum class size: 8 students Experience required: Beginner to Advanced. No previous weaving experience required Tablet (card) weaving is truly an international art. We will study two different techniques from two different areas of the world and two different time periods. Kivrim, from Turkey, which gives us the popular Ram’s Horn design and is fairly contemporary; and Coptic Diamonds, from Egypt, from over 1000 years ago. Plan to bring a lunch or snack if you like. Materials to bring: Scissors, five balls or cones of 10/2 mercerized or unmercerized cotton or #10 crochet thread. Each ball should be at least ½ ounce. Three balls of one color, and the other two balls of two different, highly contrasting colors. This class has been cancelled due to the pandemic, but we hope to reschedule it later. |
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Two for the Price of One: Fall Basketry Class
When: Saturday, October 10, 2020 from 10am to 5pm Instructor: Dawn Hummer Where: Triangle Fiber Arts Center (TFAC) 3717 Murphy School Rd., Durham, NC 27705 Cost: $70 member, $90 non-member, plus a $42 materials fee per kit for making one basket, students can order more than one Registration deadline: September 25, 2020 Maximum class size: 8 students Participants should bring: a regular size bucket for soaking reed, scissors, clothespins, tape measure, flathead screwdriver, and a towel. Please bring a lunch Learn to weave two beautiful baskets in one day:
Hearthside Basket (a footed basket with hand-dyed reed and birch handles), a functional basket for your spinning, carding, knitting or fiber stash! (12"x9"x16") Carolina Market Basket - a handled market basket suitable for other uses as well. (16" x 9" x 16") This is a great class for a first-time basket weaver, as well as for those who would like to learn new weaving patterns to create a unique piece -- easy enough for beginners, or those with experience. Weave one or both baskets in the course of the day. A variety of techniques will be discussed: plain weave, upsetting, start and stop, twill, lashing and rimming. Students will choose a basket kit and begin by weaving a gridded base then weave up the sides with the stop-start method, continuing with hand-dyed colors and patterns of choice. The basket is finished with market or birch handles. Begin another of the same basket, or choose to expand upon the second basket offered. All techniques are suitable for both baskets. You will leave with enough knowledge to finish additional baskets at home. Extra kits available for you to take and weave for holiday gifts. This class has been cancelled due to the pandemic, but we hope to reschedule it later. |
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Beginning Weaving 101
When: Saturday October 17, 2020, 9 am - 5 pm (bring lunch) plus 4 additional half-day sessions, 9 am - 1 pm: Sunday Oct 18, Saturday and Sunday Oct 24 and 25, and Saturday Oct 31 Instructor: Pattie Lamb Where: Triangle Fiber Arts Center (TFAC) 3717 Murphy School Rd., Durham, NC 27705 Cost: $240 member, $280 non-member, plus a $20 materials fee Registration deadline: Oct 2, 2020 Maximum class size: 6 students Materials: The guild will provide 4-shaft looms with 5/2 cotton yarns |
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This class is perfect for the student with little or no prior weaving experience. We will be weaving a set of small cotton mats that can be used as mug mats or saved as samples in a notebook for future reference. You will learn to plan your project, decipher a threading draft, measure and wind a warp, dress the loom from back to front, and weave a set of from 4 to 6 mats - each with a different treadling pattern of your choosing.
For the student who completes the first project quickly and is able to spend some independent time weaving during the TFAC drop in hours on Tuesday and Saturday afternoons, there may be an opportunity to put on a second warp with a different threading for a wall hanging sampler or more mats. This would be a great way to reinforce what you learned during the first half of the class.
Participants should bring: pencil and paper and their favorite shuttle if they have one (not required). Please bring a lunch for the first meeting date (Saturday, Oct 17).
This class has been cancelled due to the pandemic, but we hope to reschedule it later.
For the student who completes the first project quickly and is able to spend some independent time weaving during the TFAC drop in hours on Tuesday and Saturday afternoons, there may be an opportunity to put on a second warp with a different threading for a wall hanging sampler or more mats. This would be a great way to reinforce what you learned during the first half of the class.
Participants should bring: pencil and paper and their favorite shuttle if they have one (not required). Please bring a lunch for the first meeting date (Saturday, Oct 17).
This class has been cancelled due to the pandemic, but we hope to reschedule it later.
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Finnish Style Runner/Cotton Rug Techniques:
A Workshop with Wynne Mattila When: Friday-Sunday, November 13-15, 2020, 9 am - 4 pm each day Instructor: Wynne Mattila Where: Triangle Fiber Arts Center (TFAC) 3717 Murphy School Rd., Durham, NC 27705 Cost: $350 for members, $390 for non-members plus a materials fee of $20 paid to instructor for handouts Registration deadline: February 15, 2020 Maximum class size: 10 students Participants will weave a table runner 15 inches wide by 40 inches long, using the alternating 3-shuttle technique. You will use cotton fabric weft and Finnish 15-ply seine twine warp. Color, design, and craftsmanship will be emphasized. Techniques specific to rug weaving will be taught in this workshop. Topics include lashing on, cutting fabric in one continuous strip, tension, using a temple, floating selvedges, end finishes and more. Floor looms will be warped in plain weave and sett at 5 epi in a 10 dent reed. Pre-requisites for Participants: Advanced Beginner/Intermediate. Ability to wind a warp, read a draft and warp a floor loom.
Wynne Mattila wove her first rug in 1985 at the Weavers Guild of Minnesota and before it was finished, she knew she was a rug weaver for life. Wynne’s goal is always to use color to its full potential to create a beautiful rug. Wynne has been teaching rug weaving for 20 years, focusing on good rug weaving techniques and the creative use of color. Wynne is writing a book, “Warming the Room with Color—Weaving Finnish-Style Cotton Rugs,” in which she shares her passion for rugs and describes her artistic and weaving processes. This class has been cancelled due to the pandemic, but we hope to reschedule it later. |
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One Warp, Many Structures
ONLINE Workshops with Denise Kovnat When: 8 Hours of Online Lecture
Instructor: Denise Kovnat
Where: Online! Cost: $100 members, $140 non-members Registration deadline: August 21, 2020 Maximum class size: 12 students for each workshop As Marian Stubenitsky has shown in Weaving With Echo and Iris, extended parallel threadings offer endless possibilities for weaving a variety of structures and designs. You'll begin this workshop with your loom dressed in a two-color warp threaded on opposites. (Drafts will be provided about 6 weeks beforehand.) Working with a variety of tie-ups and treadlings, you will weave a series of designs in Echo, Jin (turned taquete) and Shadow Weave. After cutting off and resleying your warp, you will weave Rep and Double Weave. The takeaway is a sampler of colorful patterns and a broader, deeper understanding of the potential for extended parallel threadings and how to design them |
Sample by Denise Kovnat
Sample by Virginia Lee
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Pre-requisites for Participants: Advanced Beginners and beyond. Must be able to dress your loom and read a draft.
You will need to download the Zoom app on a desktop, laptop, tablet, or smart phone before the workshop. A few days before, Denise will have a dress rehearsal of Zoom to make sure everyone is familiar with how it works. You will need a warped loom (4 to 12 shafts) with at least 4 yards of warp, 400 ends, in two colors of 10/2 cotton. Other 10/2 cellulose fibers such as rayon, bamboo, or soy can also be used. For wefts, you will need 20/2 cotton in at least 2 or 3 different colors and some 3/2 cotton or light-worsted weight yarn. Denise asks students to choose weft colors that are bold and maybe outside your comfort zone. Think orange, pink, olive green, brass, khaki, turquoise, purple, and fuchsia. The 20/2 cotton is available from Lone Star Loom Room under the name of “Venne” cotton. You will get a handout on choosing warp colors for a 2-colored warp. Registration now closed! |
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Color in Weaving with Deb Essen
A Virtual Workshop April 10-11, 2021, 10 am - 4 pm Instructor: Deb Essen
Where: Online! Cost: $125 members, $150 non-members Explore Color in Weaving! You have picked out some wonderful colors of yarn, they look fabulous on the cones next to each other, but then you start weaving and…oh, dear! What happened? This class explores “what happened”: how to successfully pick yarn and colors that will play well together with an introduction to color theory, how color value works in weaving and more. This class is open to rigid heddle, table loom and multi-shaft floor loom weavers. Students will provide their own materials. You will pick an inspiration image or object and are encouraged to use yarn from your stash. Yarn and fiber size is up to the student. More detailed warping instructions will be emailed about a month before the workshop. Handouts will be emailed a few days before the workshop. Day 1 – The day starts with everyone introducing themselves and showing the color inspiration and yarns selected. Then we move to lecture on Color Theory, Using a color wheel, the interactions of colors together, and a big section on Color Value and how it affects our weaving. This usually takes us to mid-afternoon. The day ends with everyone starting to weave on their samples. |
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Day 2 – The morning starts with questions/review of the previous day and then moves into talking about Proportion in design and color use. This usually takes us to lunch and then we break to finish weaving samples. We meet up mid-afternoon and everyone participates in Show and Tell of their samples with observations/analysis based on what we’ve learned.
Prerequisites & additional information:
Blog post from one of the Chattahoochee Handweavers Guild Workshop participants:
https://chgweavers.org/weaving-with-color-online-workshop-with-deb-essen/
Prerequisites & additional information:
- Appropriate for beginning through advanced weavers, but you must be able to warp your loom independently
- You will need to download the Zoom app on a desktop, laptop, tablet, or smartphone before the workshop.
- Photos of your work will be screen shared for discussion purposes and you must be able to send pictures to the studio assistant via email ahead of and during the workshop sessions.
- Optional Zoom dress rehearsal to be offered ahead of workshop for those who may desire more practice using Zoom.
Blog post from one of the Chattahoochee Handweavers Guild Workshop participants:
https://chgweavers.org/weaving-with-color-online-workshop-with-deb-essen/