We will begin with the draft and will discuss ways to speed up designing, warping, weaving and finishing, concentrating on techniques that will remove the drudgery from weaving and make each part of the process enjoyable in its own right. The workshop will also focus on time management techniques that you can use in every phase of life. We have all been told that straight, even selvedges are the mark of a good weaver, and selvedges are a problem for many, both novice and experienced. Practical advice will be given about how to work around the inherent problems that some structures create, as well as how to weave good, straight selvedges in simpler structures such as plain weave and twills. Shuttles, bobbins, temples and other equipment will be analyzed, and students will learn to choose the right tool for the job.
Students can bring in their problem pieces for analysis and discussion.
Color bridging, or color blending, is a method of smoothly moving from one color to another without abrupt stripes. This technique can produce beautiful color studies that appear to be much more intricate and difficult than they actually are. Commercially dyed as well as hand dyed yarns may be used. Color bridging can also be used in conjunction with weave structure to produce unusual and creative color studies. If you've ever had a piece of weaving work without knowing why, or if you have had a carefully planned color sequence flop, this workshop is for you.