beginning weaving

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Beginning Weaving Class Offered April-May 2022

Instructor- Diane Crowder

Weaving has enjoyed a great renaissance over the last 50 years, and the pleasure of producing beautiful handwoven fabric is only matched by the creativity sparked by the combination of weaves, colors and textures you can imagine.  In this course you will learn:

  • Basic concepts of weaving and weaving terms.
  • How to plan a project and calculate yarn amounts to complete it.
  • How a loom works and what each part does.
  • How to make a warp and put it on the loom efficiently.
  • How to weave a plainweave item.  Students will complete a table runner or scarf during the class.
  • How to finish a weaving and the effect of wet finishing on yarns.
  • The advantages and disadvantages of rigid heddle and harness looms, and what to consider when purchasing a loom.
  • Resources for further learning.

The class will be taught over 3 days. Day 1 will cover the first three subjects  and participants will plan their project, select warp yarns (included), and get information for purchasing weft yarns for their project.  I will also have weft yarns available for purchase if needed. Day 2 we will wind warps, thread the looms and begin weaving.  Students will take looms home and have 2 weeks to weave.  Day 3 we will take the weavings off the looms and wet finish them.  Discussion of purchasing looms and further projects. Days 1 & 2 we will meet 9-3 and lunch will be provided.  Day 3 we will meet 9-12.  All classes are at my home studio in Sunrise Beach, MO (Lake of the Ozarks).

I will have 4 looms available for use, or you can bring your own table loom.  Class is limited to 4 people.  Students will receive copious handouts on all aspects of the weaving process, as well as weaving terminology, yarn calculation worksheets, project record forms, and a bibliography of print and on-line resources.  Cost: $150 for the class, plus any materials you purchase from me. I am happy to work out easy payment plans

I have been weaving semi-professionally since 1994, and have participated in many shows in Iowa and Missouri. I am a certified Master Weaver (Handweavers Guild of America).  I have taught a number of workshops for beginning and intermediate weavers, including lace weaves, tapestry, and weft effects on a rigid heddle loom. I love teaching others to weave, and look forward to working with you.

Dates for this class are Apr.30, May 7, and May 21. E-mail me at liebcrow@earthlink.net, or call (573) 374-1063 to reserve your space. 

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Upcoming weaving classes

I have two upcoming classes taught in central Missouri.  Hurry and sign up now!  Here is the information.  E-mail me at liebcrow@earthlink.net or call the venue to register.

I. Frame loom weaving for beginners (and others who want to explore the possibilities of simple portable weaving).

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Two sessions Oct. 12 and 26, 9-12:30 at Lake Studio for the Arts, 16533 N. Hwy. 5, suite 201, Sunrise Beach, MO 65079. 573-317-6818.  Class is $70 for both sessions.

Materials kit is an additional $35, includes two shuttles, warp yarn, weft yarns, heddle stick, pick-up stick, tapestry needles.  Participants will get an e-mail with complete instructions for making a frame loom in advance of the workshop (all you need is a wooden picture frame and some small nails), or you can buy one at the workshop for an additional $20.

Session 1: How to warp a frame loom for weaving with a shuttle, weaving with different colors to make dots, waves, stripes, vertical stripes, clasped weft technique.  How to take weaving off the loom and finish it.

Session 2: needle weaving tapestries to make abstract designs, how to use a cartoon to make woven pictures. Display options.

II. Beyond the Basics: Embellishing Plain Weave

For Advanced  Beginner/ Intermediate Rigid heddle/ Table loom Weavers*

2-part Class: Sat. Nov. 5 10-12:30 a.m. AND    Sat. Nov. 12   10-12:30 a.m.

Class will be at Fleeces to Pieces yarn shop, where you can also register and get the materials kit. 138 W. Hwy. 54 ,Camdenton, MO 65020 (309) 838-8825.  Open Wed.-Fri. 10-6, Sat. 10-2.

$40 for Class and Materials Kit.  Materials in Kit: One skein weft yarn, pick-up stick, instructions.

Class Part 1:  We will make a 10” wide sampler hanging or table runner. If you want a table runner, you need to pick washable yarns for wefts.  Part one will include hemstitching, inlays, and pick-up techniques to create designs on plain weave. Work at home: practice making your own designs with these techniques.

Class Part 2:  Clasped wefts, supplementary wefts and warps.  Finishing techniques.

What You Need to Bring: your loom warped with #3 cotton or equivalent** — #10 heddle warped 10” wide by 3’ long (not including loom waste allowance), two or more stick shuttles at least 10” long, short lengths (a yard or so) of  several colors of yarns that contrast with your main yarn.  Also some bits and pieces of “fancy yarns” if you have any.  I will bring lots of yarns as well, paper and pencil to make inlay designs, scissors, tape measure, yarn needle, several safety pins, small crochet hook.

*You must be able to warp your loom, do plain weave, and take off the finished project.

** About 20 wraps per inch (wrap yarn snugly around a ruler for 1” and count the wraps).

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Beginning Weaving Classes Announced
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Beginning Weaving Classes Announced

 I am excited to tell you that I am planning two sections of beginning weaving classes.  The first will meet Feb. 27-28 and Mar. 5, the second Mar. 18-19 and Apr. 2.  You don’t need any experience with weaving at all, but the class is also good for those who once wove but have forgotten how.  You don’t need any special equipment as I will provide looms and other tools.
These classes will meet at my home studio in Sunrise Beach, MO.  On the Saturday, we will meet from 9:00 am to about 4:00 pm.  You will learn how weaving works, the parts of a basic loom, how to plan how much yarn you need for a project, and how to wind a warp for your loom.  On Sunday, we will meet for brunch at 11:30, then learn how to set up the loom for weaving and how to weave.  We should be done by about 4:00, and you will take your loom home to weave a scarf.  The last Saturday, we will meet from 9:00 to about 2:00.  You will learn how to finish the weaving, remove it from the loom, and wet-finish your project.  We will discuss further options for you to continue exploring weaving.  I will provide lunch both Saturdays and brunch on Sunday.
For those who don’t know me, I am an accredited weaver with the Certificate of Excellence from the Handweavers’ Guild of America.  I have been weaving since 1992, and have exhibited my work in shows and galleries in Iowa and Missouri.  I am now a retired college professor (French and Women’s Studies) with over 40 years of teaching experience.  Believe me, teaching French verbs to adolescents is excellent training in patience!  Since retiring, I have taught a number of classes and workshops, including beginning and advanced weaving.  I am a member of the Lake Area Fiber Artists and Missouri Fiber Artists groups.  I love weaving and I love teaching others how to weave!
Tuition includes warp yarn, meals described above, use of my looms, extensive handouts, and purchase of weft yarns at cost.  Tuition is $180 for the three-day class, and I am happy to make an affordable payment plan for your convenience.  Classes are limited to a maximum of three people.
Please reply to this e-mail to tell me which class you want to take, or that this is not a good time but you would be interested later, or that you would like me to remove your name from my list of potential beginning weavers.  You can e-mail me or call my at (573) 374-1063 if you have any questions.  Thank you and have a great day!
Diane Crowder
liebcrow@earthlink.net