MARCH 13-15 (2 ½ days), 2024 — MAXI WORKSHOP
Echo and Jin: Playing with Color Chords, Denise Kovnat
For 4 to 16 shafts, this is an on-loom study of the color wheel and theories of color harmony, based on the teachings of 20th-century artists Johannes Itten and Josef Albers. The focus is on developing a subjective and objective sense of how to optimize the use of color in your weaving practice, particularly in weaving parallel-threaded designs.
At least six weeks prior to the workshop, you will choose from a series of Echo and Jin designs provided by the instructor, all for 4-end parallel threadings. Next, you will choose warp colors based on Itten's theories of color chords, drawing from his 12-point color wheel. During the workshop, you will weave samples using different tie ups, treadlings, weft yarns, and weft colors.
Students must be able to read a draft and dress a loom. Your floor or table loom, must be dressed and ready to weave on a 4-color warp using 10/2 cotton (detailed instructions and patterns will be shared about 6 weeks before the workshop).
Materials students need to bring: warped loom, two boat shuttles (or end-feed delivery shuttles), one stick shuttle, 6-8 bobbins or pirns, scissors, waste yarn (for weaving between samples), notepad and pen, laptop or table with weaving software (optional), weft yarns of 20/2 cotton in about 5-6 colors.
Fee: $225 + $35 materials fee
Class size: 16
MARCH 16, 2024 — STATE MEETING
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Open: Narrative through Textiles, Tara Patrina
This year the Hartford Artisan Weaving Center artisans have meditated on things that they want to translate into woven objects. This has been anything from memories to an expression of passion for design and structure, all of them deeply personal in their own way. Each project was individually considered, carefully choosing color, fiber, and structure that best suited the original inspiration. Tara will walk through the general process and share examples of the works created.
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Mini #1: Introduction to Finger Weaving, Mary Roche
In this class we will learn a basic handweaving pattern based on Carol James’ book, “Fingerweaving Untangled”. The teacher will come with a warp prepared so we can concentrate on the weaving. She will demonstrate how to set up a new warp as part of the class as well.
Materials fee: $5
Class size: 8
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Mini #2: Getting Started in Weaving: All the “how tos” for beginning weavers, Bev Lewis
Don’t know where to begin? Bev and other Area 4 members will talk about yarn selection, measuring your warp, warping your loom, math calculations, selecting weave structures, bobbins, and weaving.
Materials fee: none
Class size: 16
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Mini #3: Planning an Origami Top, Sharon Northby
This mini workshop will include participants folding a miniature paper origami garment to demonstrate theprocess of making a bias garment from a narrow strip of handwoven lot. We will discuss weave structures, suitable fibers for the cloth, and finishing necklines and closures. Finished garments will be displayed for examination and fitting.
Materials fee: $2
Class size: 10
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Afternoon Program: The Power of Craft: A Weaver’s Perspective, Denise Kovnat
There is something in every human soul which seeks to create a thing of beauty, given any sort of opportunity and materials to do so. Throughout all the ages people have pursued their own ideas of beauty, building, shaping, weaving, painting, decorating. They have carried on that pursuit through every medium that ever came to hand: wood, stone, feathers, bone, ivory, cloth, jewels, metals, glass, clay, shell, leather, pigment… and yarn,” writes Barbara G. Walker in her 1968 masterpiece, A Treasury of Knitting Patterns.
This lecture, accompanied by images of weaving and crafts throughout history, looks at the pursuit of handiwork, from ancient to modern times, and why it continues to enrich our lives -- from a weaver’s perspective, of course!
MAY 18, 2024 — STATE MEETING
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Open: Traditional Textiles in Japan, Brenda Osborn
Brenda will be sharing images of a recent trip to Japan, and some of her purchases and small projects she made there.
During the month of May in 2023, Sara Bixler of Red Stone Glen and her father Tom Knisely led a group of 24 weavers on a textile tour of Japan. The tour started in Tokyo with a visit to the textile area of the National Museum and a day of weaving at the Saori workshop in Tokyo.
From there they spent two weeks traveling north to various towns known for their traditional textile crafts. They had workshops in Sakiori weaving, Shinaori weaving, Kasuri dye works, and an indigo workshop. They visited a museum that houses Ichiko Kabuto’s uniquely dyed kimono series, and a village known for temari balls.
They traveled north to visit the Pacific coast and the Sea of Japan coast. They also saw Mt. Fuji and hot springs, and took a boat tour of Lake Tawada. Most days there was a thrilling visit to a textile center; it was a memorable journey led by Sara and the Japanese guide.
No experience needed. All materials will be provided. Bring a small pair of sharp scissors.
Materials fee: $15
Class size: 12.
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Mini #2: Color Inspiration, Marjie Wheeler
This mini workshop will cover how to pull color from a photo, notecard, or other artwork to plan a textile. Participants should bring a photo or picture of artwork they like and any artist supplies they may like to use such as pastels, watercolors, or colored pencils.
Materials fee: $5
Class size: 20
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Mini #3: On-Loom Warp Screen Printing, Sophia DeJesus-Sabella
This workshop is an examination of different techniques for screen printing on warps before they are woven. The workshop will consist of a presentation of my experience screen printing at ACRE Residency and Marshfield School of Weaving and a demonstration of best practices for screen printing on-loom.
Materials fee: none
Class size: 16
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Afternoon Program: Anni Albers: Ancient and Modern Handweaving, Katherin Kuenzli
In 1949, Anni Albers mounted a one-person exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. She was the first textile artist to be showcased at the museum, which prompts the question of her medium’s relevance to modern art. This talk will focus on the free-hanging room dividers she exhibited that present a striking synthesis of modern materials and ancient handweaving techniques indebted to Andean traditions.
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Mini #1: Learn Bargello Needlepoint, Stephanie (Steph) Slattery
Bargello needlepoint uses vertical stitches to form interesting geometric motifs. Originally dating from the 17th century and quite popular in the 1960's, Bargello can be brought into the 21st century with modern colors and materials and can be used to make beautiful and functional pieces. In this mini workshop, we will learn basic Bargello techniques and make a small project such as a set of coasters, a box, or a decorative piece that could be framed or made into a card. We will discuss ideas for larger projects such as eyeglass cases, tissue box covers, pillows, and purses.