Try Your Hand at Hand Weaving

Have you entertained the idea of learning to weave but the opportunity never presented itself?  You’re invited to try your hand at hand weaving on a variety of looms.  Our goal is to demonstrate and educate while you participate.  All ages welcome.

This style of loom is referred to as a "table loom" for the simple fact that you put it on a table while you work on it.  If you are deterred from weaving by space constraints, this is a perfect window to weaving on multiple harnesses.

Weaving can be as simple yet attractive as a cardboard loom.

This style of loom is called Inkle and is perfect for narrow projects.

This style of loom is for tapestry weaving and perfect for intricate patterns and pictures.

A floor loom can have as few as two shafts , as in a rug loom, or as many as 36 - or more.  This sampler is woven on four.

For example, these eight towels were woven on one warp but by changing the colors in the weft (sideways threads), you get eight unique towels.  This weaving pattern is appropriate for beginners and was woven on just four harnesses.

And if you've got your heart set on a floor room but just don't have space in your house, you might want to think about something like this which stores handily, even with a project on it.

Each loom will have a mentor to explain what you need to do and talk you through the experience so don't be shy - come on by!  Try your hand at hand weaving.

Saturday, March 22nd, 1:00-4:00 p.m.
South Valleys Library - 15650A Wedge Parkway
Reno, NV 89511 775-851-5190

Crackle Weave Workshop

Last year Gayle said that she would like to offer a Crackle Weave workshop at her house because she's been wanting to know more about it and the best way to learn something is to teach it.

Over the past several weeks, a half dozen guild members have worked to organize materials and warp two Schacht Wolf Pup and three 8-shaft Baby Wolf looms.  All the rest of us had to do was just show up yesterday.

Jen and Julie are helping Kathy work on this lace draft.  It's a single shuttle weave but that's because the shot of tabby is the same weft as the pattern shot. This was my favorite, but it had been a pickle to warp.  Jen and Julie showed us the sample they had cut off a couple of days ago before changing the sett and resleying.  The difference was magic, an ethereal lace that just seems to float across the cloth.

This is Gayle's loom which she warped with a Summer-and-Winter-appearing block weave.  She showed us two gorgeous scarves that she already woven in this structure.   This was a round-robin so we all were encouraged to weave on every loom and Suzanne is taking a turn here.

Darla is weaving on one of the Pups and I just changed my mind.  This was my favorite of the weaves and I think that's because it's something I could easily do on my Dorset without tying up (is that a pun?) one of my other looms.  It's the first draft on page 131 of Anne Dixon's book and would make great jacket material.  Even though it was a two shuttle weave, it was easy to follow.

I can only speak for my experience but I pushed myself into trying weave structures that I initially didn't understand.  I wove for as much of the five hours as I could.  I was surprised at how much heavier it is to lift eight shafts than the four that I'm accustomed to and my sore legs this morning reaffirmed that.  Now it's up to me to take the next step, warp one of my looms and do some homework.  I can't wait to see what Gayle wants to learn about next.

Sharon