New England Weavers' Seminar
July 28 - August 1, 2027
Westfield State University
Westfield MA
R-1: Exploring Profile Drafts and Structures
Instructor: Shari Diamond
2 1/2 days
Friday, July 30, 2027, 8:30 am -
Sunday, August 1, 2027, 11:30 am, $400
Profile drafts are a powerful tool for weavers to use to design with block weaves without writing out every thread of your design. This workshop explains profile drafts and shows students how to convert profiles into multiple weave structures. This is a round-robin workshop where each student will bring a pre-warped loom in a different structure (assigned by the instructor). Structures will likely include: Bronson Lace, Huck Lace, Log Cabin, Ms & Os, Overshot, Rep Weave, Summer and Winter, Turned Twill. Hands-on instruction will be provided on how to weave each sample as well as how to work with two shuttles and manage neat selvedges. Focused discussion on sett and sett modifications to ensure your work looks as you want it.
H-2: Introduction to the Warp-Weighted Loom
Instructor: Andrea Myklebust
1 day
Thursday, July 29, 2027, 8:30 am - 4:30 pm, $160
In this one day, hands-on workshop, participants will get an introduction to the warp-weighted loom, the ancient loom of Europe. We will have multiple looms set up for students to try, and we will discuss the history of the loom, and how the loom differs from modern handlooms. With hands-on examples, we will learn about the different ways in which warps and heddles are made, how weights are selected and used in the weaving process, and the accessory tools involved in weaving on a warp-weighted loom. This one-day workshop will offer participants an opportunity to get their hands on these unusual (and handsome!) looms, and to learn a bit about how they are built and used. We will look at examples of textiles woven on the WWL, and learn about the history of this very early technology. While a single day workshop is NOT enough time for a participant to weave a project of their own, we hope it will be enough time to whet your appetite for more of this very, VERY old-school weaving.