3-HOUR WORKSHOPS

FRIDAY MORNING

(8:30 – 11:30)

A1:  Resist Techniques on Fabric

Irene Munroe

Fold, pleat, clamp and shibori techniques will be explored on fabric and dyed with fiber reactive dyes.  Students will take home large samples of all resist techniques which can later be incorporated into fiber art, clothing and quilting.

Student Level: All

Materials Fee: $13.00

Supplies: Rubber gloves, apron (or old clothes), roll of plastic wrap, roll of paper towels, small box of zip lock bags (gallon size), pair of 3” C-clamps, scissors, measuring tape, black permanent marker, 10 clear plastic cups, newspaper

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A2:  Woven Pixel

Bhakti Ziek

This is a power point presentation about the history of figured textiles including Bhakti’s own work, and that of other contemporary weavers. There will be a live demonstration on how to take an image from photograph to woven design using Photoshop. There will be samples of digital jacquard and dobby weavings. Participants may touch, look, and ask questions.

Student Level: All

Materials Fee: $5.00

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A3-ALT:  Color Crush

Mary Jo LaClair & Nancy Tepas

This mini hands-on workshop features a visual approach to studying color.  Participants will learn a series of exercises to develop creative thinking, color perception and interaction, and color proportion.  The final outcome is a foolproof way of picking colors for your next project.

Student Level: All

Materials Fee: $10.00

Supplies: Note taking supplies.  All other supplies are covered by the materials fee or supplied by the instructors.

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A3: Efficient Weaving  (CANCELED)

Laura Fry
Lecture with demonstration of dressing a loom.  Laura will share hints and tips for how to work more efficiently.  She will dress a loom beginning with winding a warp, beaming, and threading, explaining why she does it the way she does.  Then she will weave on it showing shuttle handling/throwing.  Laura threads the way Norman Kennedy teaches, and says it can be so much faster.  Students may take photographs or make video recordings of the session.  Learn Laura’s meticulous approach to weaving quality fabrics.
Student Level: All

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A4:  Ounce of Prevention

Elsbeth Dijxhoorn

Sometimes it’s the company they keep and sometimes it’s just too much exposure.  Let’s face it, fibers become finicky as they age!

This lecture is geared to people from all walks of life that share an interest in textiles and would like to learn more about textile fibers, storage and display or preventive care.  Who is not befuddled over whether to use acid-free instead of buffered tissue papers, or is at a loss to explain when the heirloom cedar chest may not be used for textile storage?

Each decision, from inception to storage or display methods, will affect your textile’s lifespan.  Fortunately, a little know-how can stave off major unintended consequences.  While ageing cannot be reversed, proper planning and treatment can help keep your textile creations in great shape.

Student Level: All

Materials Fee: Nominal fee for handout

Supplies: Optional:  bring samples of your own textile collection for discussion

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3 HOUR WORKSHOPS

FRIDAY AFTERNOON

(1:30 – 4:30)

B1: Dye Printing

Irene Munroe

Various printing techniques (block, sponge, mono-printing and rubbings) will be applied to fabric using fiber reactive dyes.  Students will take home large samples of all printing techniques which can later be incorporated into fiber art, clothing and quilting.

Student Level: All

Materials fee: $13.00

Supplies: Rubber gloves, apron (or old clothes), roll of plastic wrap, roll of paper towels, roll of masking tape, small box of zip lock bags (gallon size), scissors, measuring tape, black permanent marker,  10 clear plastic cups, newspaper

Optional – rubber stamps, wood blocks

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B2-ALT: Surface Weaves

Diana Frost

Have you acquired a small amount of very special yarn (from NEWS perhaps)? Various “Surface Weaves” will give you the opportunity to show them off only on the top surface of the cloth. Lots of “bang for your buck”. Starting with only 3 harnesses, you will view striking examples. The Seminar is mainly a power point presentation with the added bonus of a disc for you to take home to study again. The disc has pictures of cloth woven by Diana as well as many pieces gleaned from other sources, including her students!

Materials fee: $3.00

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B2: Magic in the Water (CANCELED)

Laura Fry

Lecture with woven samples.  Once the threads have been interlaced, the weaver’s job is not quite done.  In order to have “real” cloth, the web must now be wet finished.  While all fibers should be wet finished, wool and hair fibers have the ability to “full” and the quality of the cloth can be subtly or dramatically changed by the degree of fulling applied. Laura will demonstrate what wet finishing is and how it is applied to the yarns weavers usually use.  “It isn’t finished until it’s wet finished.”

Student Level: All

Supplies: Notebook

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B3:  Polymer Clay Buttons: “Wacky Weave”

Diane Villano

Polymer clay meets trompe l’oeil, with a bit of attitude!  This hands-on class is designed for the fiber artist new to polymer clay.  You’ll learn how to select and use contrasting light and dark values in a basic cane to create the illusion of texture and create hand formed sew-through buttons with a woven appearance.  The Skinner blend, a method of blending two or more colors together is the secret to the successful “woven” cane.  We’ll also discuss numerous bead-making options with this same cane.  Care and cleaning of polymer clay buttons is also covered.

Student Level: All

Materials Fee: $25.00

Supplies: Craft-dedicated pasta machine strongly recommended, as you may have to wait to use the shared machines

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B4:  Ounce of Prevention

Elsbeth Dijxhoorn

Sometimes it’s the company they keep and sometimes it’s just too much exposure.  Let’s face it, fibers become finicky as they age!

This lecture is geared to people from all walks of life that share an interest in textiles and would like to learn more about textile fibers, storage and display or preventive care.  Who is not befuddled whether to use acid-free instead of buffered tissue papers, or is at a loss to explain when the heirloom cedar chest may not be used for textile storage?

Each decision, from inception to storage or display methods, will affect your textile’s lifespan.  Fortunately, a little know-how can stave off major unintended consequences.  While ageing cannot be reversed, proper planning and treatment can help keep your textile creations in great shape.

Student Level: All

Materials Fee: Nominal fee for handout

Supplies: Optional:  bring sample of own textile collection for discussion

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3 HOUR WORKSHOPS

SATURDAY AM

(8:30 – 11:30)

C1-ALT:  Trendy Trims for your Handwoven Creations

Mary Jo LaClair & Nancy Tepas

Weavers: Snap it up with an expressive finish. Learn how to make easy frogs, toggles, buttons and braids that become an impressive, coordinated accessory to your next project. Show your individuality by creating your own one-of-a-kind fasteners and trims for clothing, bags, and anything else you can imagine you wish to trim or close.

Materials Fee: To be determined.

Supplies: Instructors will supply materials.

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C1:  Efficient Weaving (CANCELED)

Laura Fry

Lecture with demonstration of dressing a loom.  Laura will share hints and tips for how to work more efficiently.  She will dress a loom beginning with winding a warp, beaming, and threading, explaining why she does it the way she does.  Then she will weave on it showing shuttle handling/throwing.  Laura threads the way Norman Kennedy teaches, and says it can be so much faster.  Students may take photographs or make video recordings of the session.  Learn Laura’s meticulous approach to weaving quality fabrics.

Student Level:  All

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C2: Marketing in our High-Tech World

Kristin Kelley

A frank, open discussion about the challenges and opportunities facing a weaver who wants to sell his or her work in today’s marketplace. As weavers in the 21^st Century, we have the incredible opportunity to sell our work to people from around the world – personally, I’ve sold work to people as far away as Seattle, France, the UK, Korea, New Zealand and Australia, and as close by as Foxboro, Lowell and my own hometown, Chelmsford. But with this global market come unique challenges as well – a weaver wanting to take advantage of markets near and far, both online and through the show circuit, must be willing to don many hats – business manager, customer service rep, photographer, web guru, and bookkeeper, to name a few. This talk is intended to be a lighthearted discussion of my own adventures in the on-line – and local – retail world, as well as providing a wealth of information and resources for weavers who would like to try their hand at selling their own work.

Student Level: All

Materials Fee: $2.00

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C3: Polymer Clay Buttons: “Fabulous Faux”

Diane Villano

The fiber artist new to polymer clay will master antiquing and highlighting sew-through buttons in this class.  Discover how to successfully texture, use acrylic paint and antiquing glaze with clay and how to imitate natural materials such as ivory and stone.  You’ll complete at least two sets of buttons.  We’ll discuss applying these techniques to alternative non-button closures.  You’ll also learn the proper methods for the care and cleaning of polymer clay buttons.

Student Level: All

Materials Fee: $25.00

Supplies: Rubber stamps (optional), plastic gloves

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3 HOUR WORKSHOPS

SATURDAY PM

(1:30 – 4:30)

D1: More Than Red Tape

Connie Gray

If you have always wondered about that funny looking loom with lots of dowel pegs and string heddles . . . . learn the basics of Inkle Weaving by using a simple portable loom.  You can take it almost everywhere to enjoy weaving on the porch, at the lake, or even on a plane!  You can make narrow trims, belts or bands, sashes, straps and even shoelaces!  Choose colors of cotton yarns and simple patterns.  Learn to warp the loom

Student Level:  Beginner and up

Materials/Handout Fee:  $2.00

Supplies: Inkle loom, belt or small stick shuttle, small scissors, tape measure, 3/2 perle cotton yarns or 6 strand floss (3-4 colors) in 1 oz. balls, + 3 oz. for weft, carpet warp or string to make heddles if needed.

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D2: Creating Hand Bound Books

Kristin Kelley

A hands-on class during which participants will learn how to use their handwoven fabric to case-in and cover their own blank journals, as well as how to create a stitched Coptic-bound journal. We will discuss various techniques for binding journals as well as techniques used in creating artist books. Examples will be available for participants to look through for inspiration. Participants will leave with two completed journals.

Student Level: All

Materials Fee: $20.00

Supplies: Handwoven fabric to cover the journals (12” x 15”) (twill fabric made from medium to fine yarn – 8/2 cotton or tencel, or finer – works beautifully), rotary cutter and self healing mat, or, alternatively, a sharp pair of scissors, bone folder, or a fat wooden knitting needle (to fold paper for Copic-bound journal)

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D3: Polymer Clay Buttons: “All That Glitters”

Diane Villano

The fiber artist new to polymer clay will master two intriguing techniques in this hands-on class.  You’ll gild and foil your way to create the perfect coordinating sew-through and shank buttons for your textile pieces.  Experiment with endless color variations in mica powder and composite metal leaf.  As a bonus, we’ll discuss how to apply these techniques to jewelry and non-button closures such as toggles.  We’ll also cover care and cleaning of polymer clay buttons.

Student Level: All

Materials fee: $25.00

Supplies: Optional:  Rubber stamps

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D4:  Zebras and Zip Codes

Mary Jo LaClair & Nancy Tepas

Explore traditional and cultural stripes as a form of communication.  You will use several approaches to design colorful and pleasing stripes.  Learn how to experiment with ways to change, subdue or perk up your stripes for variations on a theme.  See the effect of direction and drape in using stripes for clothing or household items.

Student Level: All

Materials Fee: $10.00

Supplies: Note taking supplies.  All other supplies are covered by the materials fee or supplied by the instructors.

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3 HOUR WORKSHOPS

SUNDAY MORNING

(8:30 – 11:30)

E1-ALT:  Selvedges & Salvage

Susan Rockwell

Don’t go over the edge worrying about your selvedges. Learn in this class the many factors which help create better selvedges on your hand wovens. Learn how the textile industry, professional weavers and experienced weavers deal with selvedges. The instructor will bring a warped loom to demonstrate different selvedge applications. The instructor will also share her experiences in salvaging little, and sometimes big errors which suddenly appear when the warp is cut off the loom.

Materials fee: $1.00

Supplies: Bring note taking supplies, your favorite weaving shuttle with bobbin filled with medium weight yarn.

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E1:  Magic in the Water (CANCELED)

Laura Fry

Lecture with woven samples.  Once the threads have been interlaced, the weaver’s job is not quite done.  In order to have “real” cloth, the web must now be wet finished.  While all fibers should be wet finished, wool and hair fibers have the ability to “full” and the quality of the cloth can be subtly or dramatically changed by the degree of fulling applied. Laura will demonstrate what wet finishing is and how it is applied to the yarns weavers usually use.  “It isn’t finished until it’s wet finished.”

Student Level: All

Supplies: Notebook

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E2: Finding Inspiration Online

Kristin Kelley

This is a fast-paced overview of the resources available to weavers in the online world, including an overview of weaving-related sites and communities, as well as design-related sites that are great for inspiration in general. A very detailed handout is included, with links and descriptions of all of the sites that I highlight during the lecture.

Student Level: All

Materials Fee: $2.00

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E3: Polymer Clay Buttons

“Captivating Caning”

Diane Villano.

Explore the magic of polymer clay caning or millifiore, the fascinating technique borrowed from Venetian glass artists.  Use the Skinner blend to incorporate two or more colors into a sheet of clay.  The combine blended and solid color sheets into a basic leaf cane.  Learn how to successfully cut and transform cane slices into buttons.  Once you’ve mastered the leaf cane, use it as a component to create fun and fabulous button and bead variations.  Care and cleaning of polymer clay buttons will also be covered.

Student Level:  All

Materials Fee: $25.00

Supplies: Craft-dedicated pasta machine strongly recommended, as you may have to wait to use the shared machines

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E4:  Color Crush

Mary Jo LaClair & Nancy Tepas

This mini hands-on workshop features a visual approach to studying color.  Participants will learn a series of exercises to develop creative thinking, color perception and interaction, and color proportion.  The final outcome is a foolproof way of picking colors for your next project.

Student Level:  All

Materials Fee: $10.00

Supplies: Note taking supplies.  All other supplies are covered by the materials fee or supplied by the instructors.

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ONE-DAY WORKSHOPS

(6 Hours)

FRIDAY AM & PM

(8:30 – 11:30 and 1:30 – 4:30)
F1:  Latvian Pattern Weaving

Connie Gray

“From Unckles for Girdles to Inkles for Laces,” this traditional Latvian weaving technique has been used for centuries to hold clothing together, tie burdens on draft animals, even to lace one’s sandals or shoes!  Using basic pick-up/push-down methods, we will try some Latvian geometric repeating patterns, as learned for Zaiga Upitis, born in Latvia.  Sharing these techniques is a way to pass on these fascinating ethnic designs.  You will learn to warp a simple portable loom and weave pick-up patterns in the European style.  Using an Inkle loom, (some experience is desirable,) we will delve into the intricacies of these designs which have been passed down through the distinct cultural regions of Latvia.

Student Level: All levels with basic inkle experience

Materials/Handout Fee: $2.00

Supplies: Inkle loom with heddles.  Some looms will be available for loan.  A detailed supply list will be sent with your registration confirmation.

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F2:  Weaving with Plastic Optical Fibers

Laurie Carlson

This session will provide a hands-on experience working with plastic fibers for illumination.  Techniques for etching onto the fiber will be practiced as students use off-loom techniques to build sculptural artifacts.  The sculptures will be finished by lighting methods using LED technology and simple electronic interface connections.

Student Level:  All

Materials Fee:  $25.00

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F3:  Leno is a Basic

Barbara Herbster

The weaver will learn how to manipulate a pick up stick and some applications of this commonly used embellishment. We will cross single, double and triple warps and combine the lines of crossed warps with tabby or pattern for uses in table linens, window treatments and clothing.  Ideas for using this technique for entire weavings will be introduced and designs planned for further weaving.

Student Level: Basic weaving skills

Materials/Handout Fee: $5.00

Supplies: 2-8 harness warped loom – detailed instructions will be sent with your registration confirmation.

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SATURDAY AM & PM

(8:30 – 11:30 and 1:30 – 4:30)

G1:  Digital Design

Bhatki Ziek

Instructor will cover the basic tools used in Photoshop or Photoshop Elements for designing for dobby or jacquard. The focus will probably be on dobby design, but some jacquard will be covered as well. By the end of the session students will have peg plans that can be used on their looms at home. There will be sample fabrics for students to look at, and time for questions (hopefully). The designing will deal mostly with damask structures.

Student Level: All

Materials/Handout Fee: $10.00, includes CD and handout

Supplies: Students will need to bring their own laptops with Photoshop CS (or higher), or Photoshop Elements. Students need to be familiar with the basic use of their software, and understand pegplans.

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G2:  Dye Painting

Irene Munroe

Thin and thickened dyes will be applied to fabric with a variety of tools including brushes, sponges, rollers, squeeze bottles and spray bottles. This all-day class will allows us time to combine techniques resulting in layered surfaces.  Students will take home large samples of all painting techniques.  The final project will be a hand-painted silk scarf.

Student Level: All

Materials Fee: $26.00

Supplies: Rubber gloves, apron (or old clothes), roll of plastic wrap, roll of paper towels, roll of masking tape, small box of zip lock bags (gallon size), scissors, measuring tape, black permanent marker, 10 clear plastic cups, newspaper, photos, magazine pictures, art – for inspiration.

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G3:  Rigid Heddle Weaving

Beth Guertin

Rigid heddle looms produce plain weave cloth on a fun and portable loom.  Students will weave a cotton or wool with accent yarns scarf.  The student will wind a warp and dress the loom in the first part of the workshop.  In the second part, students will weave the scarf, seeing a demonstration of lace techniques and finishing the scarf.  Schacht flip looms will be provided for student use.

Student Level: Beginner – no weaving knowledge necessary

Materials Fee: $10.00

Supplies: If you want to bring your own equipment:  rigid heddle loom with a 10 or 12 dent reed; warping board, any equipment for your loom, threading hook, 2 stick shuttles, pick up stick

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G4:  Yarn Characteristics

Robin Russo

This “hands on” class will help you understand how the properties of fiber become the properties of yarn and how these properties affect the products we make.  We will first explore the world of fibers:  where they come from and how they grow and then handle the fibers and examine their characteristics under magnification.  Finally, we will dissect yarns to see how fiber, twist, and ply affect the look, feel, and durability of the products we ultimately make.

Student Level: All

Materials Fee: $10.00

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ONE AND ONE-HALF DAY WORKSHOPS

FRIDAY AM Thru SATURDAY AM

(Friday 8:30 – 11:30 and 1:30 – 4:30, Saturday 8:30 – 11:30)
(9 Hours)

H1:  Folk Art Tote Bag (CANCELED)
Mary Jo LaClair & Nancy Tepas

Create a small bag to hold your craft tool or to use as a decoration.  Depending upon the size, the bag could a hold a shuttle, dried flowers or small project.   The container is first made from hand dyed wool felt.  Then decorate the container with yarns, beads and braids.  The inside is lined with the Bamboo felt you print or paint.  Techniques that include Norwegian braid, hyperbolic planes, Colonial knots, crochet/knitting and surface design will be taught.  This is truly a “cross” craft project which is suitable for everyone.  Participants must know basic knitting and/or crochet.   Workshop kits include purchased felt and other materials.

Student Level: All

Materials Fee: $30.00

Supplies: Note taking supplies.  All other supplies are included in the materials fee or supplied by the instructors.

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SATURDAY AM Thru SUNDAY AM

(Saturday 8:30 – 11:30 and 1:30 – 4:30, Sunday 8:30 – 11:30)

(9 Hours)

J1:  Advanced Leno

Barbara Herbster

The weaver will learn expanded applications of a commonly used embellishment. We will learn to think of leno as a means to create an artistic piece of weaving that stands on its own for uses in table linens, window treatments and clothing.

Finally, by exploring various combinations of embroidery weaves and discontinuous wefts in conjunction with leno, we will form the base for future work. Weavers will begin an original weaving to be completed at home.

Student Level: Intermediate-Advanced weavers familiar with basic leno

Materials/Handout Fee: $10.00

Supplies: 2-8 shaft threaded loom.  Detailed instructions will be sent with your registration confirmation.

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TWO-DAY WORKSHOP

(12 Hours)

FRIDAY and SATURDAY

(8:30 – 11:30 and 1:30 – 4:30)

K1:  Exploring Rep Weave

Lucienne Coifman

Gain an understanding of the techniques and applications of Rep weave through lecture, discussion and weaving many samples.  Drafting, block design for 4 to 8 shafts and rep pick up technique will be covered as well as color interactions.

At first, each student will be working on his/her own loom, dressed in advance.  Then the rest of the workshop will be spent sampling designs on other looms.

Participants will leave with a complete portfolio full of samples, drafts and many genuine Rep weave projects.

Student Level: Beginning to Advanced.  Must be able to read a draft and dress the loom accordingly.

Materials Fee: $15

Supplies: Dressed floor or table loom (according to draft sent in early June), extra warp and weft threads, 2 stick shuttles same width as the sample, ball winder, camera for the many studies and finished pieces on display

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TWO AND ONE-HALF DAY WORKSHOPS

(15 Hours)

FRIDAY AM THRU SUNDAY AM

(Friday and Saturday 8:30 – 11:30 and 1:30 – 4:30, Sunday 8:30 – 11:30)

L2:  Beyond Beginning

Fran Curran

This class is designed to give the beginning weaver the knowledge and confidence to design their own projects.  This will be a “hands-on” workshop that explores many popular weave structures in order to understand how they work and the possibilities they offer.  Students will examine weaves, including twills, overshot, and lace and unit weaves, looking at the basics of these structures while also considering setts and suitable fiber choices.  In addition, technical considerations will be discussed such as working with two shuttles, achieving good selvedges and making sure designs and drafts are balanced.

Each student will bring a 4 or 8 harness loom pre-threaded according to instructions that will be sent to registered students.  Everyone will leave with a notebook of samples and handouts and many new directions to follow!

Student Level: must know how to dress and weave on a harness loom

Materials Fee: $15 to cover notebook, handouts & additional weft fibers.

Supplies: a 4 or 8 harness loom threaded according to instructions that will be assigned to registered students. Weft thread as instructed; shuttles, bobbins, scissors, weaving supplies.

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L3:  Art to Wear

Sarah Fortin

Much of the impact of your finished piece of weaving will make is determined by the sewing and finishing techniques that are used.  The type, and skill level, of the finishing may end up making or breaking the quality of the piece, no matter the excellence of the weaving. This is an opportunity to create an unlined coat, sweater jacket or kimono style jacket with your hand woven fabric.  Bring your yardage, use my patterns (discontinued, re-designed, commercial) and learn to make appropriate decisions about seam finishes, trims and edge finishes that are suitable for use with these fabrics and styles.  Sewing machine required.  Further information will be sent by instructor.

Student Level: Some sewing experience

Materials Fee: $5.00

Supplies: Supply list will be sent with your registration confirmation

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L4:  Using Natural Dyes

Sara Goodman

Learn the entire process for using natural dye extracts to paint yarn – in skeins or as a warp – as well as how to do immersion dyeing.  These steps include:  fiber preparation, making stock solutions, thickening dyes to make paints, mixing new colors, setting up and maintaining an indigo vat, and good record keeping.

Student Level: All

Materials Fee: $35.00 (includes all dyes, mordants and handouts)

Supplies: Silk or wool wound warp (5.5 yards) plus skein of weft yarn.  A detailed supply list will be sent with your registration confirmation.

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THREE AND ONE-HALF DAY WORKSHOP

(21 Hours)

THURSDAY PM thru SUNDAY AM

Thursday 9:00 – 4:30, Friday and Saturday 8:30 – 11:30 and 1:30 – 4:30, Sunday 8:30 – 11:30)

L1:  Weaving for Beginners on The 4-Harness Floor Loom

(Looms supplied)

Carol Birtwistle

Special Note: This class begins on THURSDAY from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm and continues on FRIDAY, SATURDAY and  SUNDAY, ending on Sunday at 11:30 am.

This lively and intensive course is designed as an introduction to the basic techniques of weaving:  winding a warp, dressing the loom, and weaving a finished piece.  The focus will be on exploring the basic weave structures – plain weave and twills in their many variations—designing and drafting a project and calculating yarn requirements.  You will also learn about looms and take full advantage of NEWS, attending general lectures and exhibits and meeting other weavers.  After completing this workshop you will be able to warp a loom, weave on your own and know where help is readily available.  Looms and related equipment generously provided by WEBS.

Student Level: Beginners and weavers needing a refresher course

Materials fee: $35.00

Supplies: Extensive list provided with your registration confirmation.