Weaving Classes

-- for Adults and Teens --

** Pre-paid Registration Required **

Weaving on 4-harness Table Looms, for the Very Beginner

Exploring Weave Structures on table and floor Looms

Have you ever watched in fascination as cloth magically emerged under a weaver's hand? Perhaps you have watched a weaver at work at a museum or fair. Perhaps you have been lucky enough to acquire a loom of your own, and would like to know how to use it! Perhaps, like me, you have somehow, just always wanted to weave and create your own fabric arts.

These day-long, hands-on classes are presented by the talented weavers of the Depreciation Lands Museum and the Butler Spinners and Weavers Guild , as part of their Community Outreach program. Classes are held at the Depreciation Lands Museum. Here is the perfect opportunity to try your hand and begin weaving!

The Weaving on 4-Harness Table Looms, for Beginners is an intensive class where you will learn - and do - all the steps needed from the beginning of the conceptual design and planning of a project, to the actual production of a piece of woven cloth. Focusing on the multi-harness loom, you will learn about its parts, and the vocabulary of the loom, with the many colorful names which evoke the early days of weaving. For this class, we will be using the versitile 4 harness table looms. We will also talk about the best use of both the larger floor looms, and the table looms, with opportunities for you to try weaving on a foot treadle floor loom.

You will learn how to plan a project and measure the warp threads. After lunch, which is provided, we will break into small groups, and you will warp a table loom, using the "front to back" method, then weave a small sample piece of cloth, which will be yours to keep.

We will also talk about the books, videos and magazines which are full of ideas and teaching aides for the new weaver, as well as how to acquire a loom of your own.

Exploring Weave Structures is for those students who have some experience weaving on multi harness looms. This class will focus on the different types of weave structures and more complicated weaving drafts. Using both floor looms and table looms, you will discover the wide variety of patterns that can be woven on both 4 and 8 harness looms. Whether you usually weave on a 4-harness or an 8-harness loom, you will learn and be inspired by this class!

**The minimum pre-requisite for the Weave Structures class is to be very comfortable weaving plain weave and to be able to read a weaving draft. Additional experience weaving with a 4 or 8 harness loom and weaving twills is helpful.

In this town where weaving shops are non-existant, this is THE opportunity to begin weaving!

NOTE: Pre-paid registration is required for these Classes, and class sizes are limited.

The fee of $45 per class covers the use of looms, tools and all materials. (Discounts available to BSWG and DLM members) Please bring your own lunch; cold beverages will be provided.

The Butler Spinners and Weavers Guild is a wonderful, friendly group of people, brought together by their love of fiber, spinning and weaving. Old and young, very beginners and experts, all love to share and teach. Please visit their website and join them as their guest at the next Guild meeting.