Designing for Fabric Weaving

Niagara Guild of Weavers and Spinners
Welland Museum
140 King Street, On L3B 3J3
April 9 and 10 2011

This talk and hands on activities and workshop was created to help weavers and spinners mine their creativity. Strageies and approaches to designing for fabric weaving will be explored and practiced. An understanding of the Elements and Principles of design will help inform your choices in weaving.

Painted Warp, Ikat and Woven Shibori techniques and Visit to Weaver's Studio - Judith Fielder

o Spring 2011

o Mondays 10am to 1pm

o 8 classes 3 hours each class

o Registration begins February 22, 2011.

o First class will start April 4 2011.

o Location: Toronto District School Board, Mimico Adult Centre, 255 Royal York Road, Toronto, 2nd floor.

o Adult under 60: $160 Adult over 60 (M postal codes only): $81.

o Other costs apply – see below and/or contact instructor

With the colours of the garden bursting forth, it is an ideal time to get dyeing some yarns and create intoxicating woven accessories. Learn the various techniques and what media to use to paint directly onto the warp for a a scarf, shawl or garment. Registrants should provide their own portable loom and warp and weft materials. Both materials and looms can be purchased from the instructor. Looms can be rented for the duration of the course for $25. Cost of additional materials (dyes) $25.



Registrants should come to the first weaving class with the warps already prepared. Recommended fibres are tencel, soy, bamboo, silk, mercerized cotton and rayon. No wool please as this requires a different 'chemistry'. The finer the yarn the more success you will have with the various techniques. You will prepare 3 warps ( 2 yards each) and if you have enough time a 4th warp where you will choose the technique of your choice to make a scarf or shawl. Discuss details with instructor as to epi, fibre, quantities etc.



As part of this special workshop series, we will be visiting Judith Fielder's studio on Wednesday, May 25 between 10am and 1pm. followed by lunch. Judith is a very inspiring and inspired weaver and fibre artist and has taken a great interest, in particular, in Japanese textiles and Ikat. Just to view her notebooks is a great pleasure and this visit will undoubtedly affect all weavers on a profound level. Please rsvp as soon as you register. This field trip will be at no added charge to you, but will be for those who are not registered for a weaving class. The studio can only accommodate a small number of people so its best to reserve as soon as you can. The cost to attend will be $10 for those not registered in a class, plus the cost of lunch of you choose to join us for lunch though, this is purely voluntary.



For more information contact the instructor, Line Dufour at 905 836 1321 or by email at tapestryline@sympatico.ca . To register, contact Line Dufour at 905 836 1321, by email at tapestryline@sympatico.ca or through the TDSB website at http://www.learn4life.ca/.

above scarves woven by Cheryl Raymond

OHS Tapestry Unit

The Ontario Handweavers and Spinners will be offering instruction at Georgian College to those who wish to obtain their certificate or wish to further their knowledge and experience in weaving in a structured manner. I will be teaching the Tapestry Unit at the college. The course will be offered March 25th to the 27th 2011. For more details contact the OHS at http://www.ohs.on.ca/ or Georgian College at http://www.georgian.on.ca/.

Doubleweave course January 2011

“Doubleweave is unparalleled in its versatility as a weave structure. You can weave pieces that are two or more times as wide as your loom. You can weave pieces that are functional, sculptural, or purely decorative works of art. Doubleweave is both a weave structure in itself and a vehicle for exploring other weave structures.....with the ability to interchange threads of different colours from one layer to the other, the sky is the limit for colour exploration.” Jennifer Moore

The Toronto District School Board will be offering an indepth doubleweave course entitled Exploring Doubleweave that will run 3 hours every Monday morning from 10am to 1pm for 9 weeks, starting Monday January 17, 2011 and ending Monday March 21, 2011. It is a hands on workshop arrangement, as well as talks on doubleweave. Resources will also be provided.

Participants are asked to have their own table loom, and to have it dressed and ready to start weaving on the first day of class. Arrangements may be made for those without a table loom, or those who do not feel comfortable to dress their loom without assistance. Participants are asked to use 4/8 cotton. More details on how to prepare the loom and other information will be given when a person registers for the course.

Some of the techniques that will be covered are weaving two layers, tubes, colour and weave effects; simple pique, stuffed horizontal ribs, quilting, doubleweave lace, doubleweave pickup, and finishing techniques for doubleweave. Depending on how quickly participants work, when they have completed their sampler, they will have the option of choosing a project as a follow up to the sampler. Examples of projects and suggestions will be provided.

You can get more information and register with the instructor, Line Dufour by telephone, at 905 836 1321, or by email – tapestryline@sympatico.ca . The Toronto District School Board will start taking registrations in November 2010 at their website – www.learn4life.ca . Please check their website if you choose to register this way. If you have any difficulties registering please contact Line Dufour.