Many weavers reach a point where their technical skills are solid, yet design decisions begin to feel stale, inconsistent, or difficult to move beyond familiar solutions. This three-hour class focuses on developing a personal “toolbox” for advancing design insight and translating ideas into cloth with greater clarity, intention, and control. Inspired weaving doesn’t come from more drafts or more shafts so much as from cultivating a reliable set of
design tools and strategies. In this session, you’ll explore and begin building your own toolbox, a repeatable collection of approaches you can use to move from a spark of inspiration to a woven plan you trust. We’ll focus on practical ways to strengthen design thinking, including recognizing and manipulating pattern, defining and transforming blocks, and incorporating color with greater confidence. Emphasis will be placed on methods for generating ideas, refining drafts, and expanding a single concept into multiple design possibilities rather than settling on the first workable solution. This class is about sharpening perception as much as technique. You’ll leave with a clearer framework for decision-making, a more articulate design vocabulary, and a personalized set of strategies to help push your weaving to the next level on any loom and within any structure.

The split loop method of weaving trivets offers the possibility of more detailed design work than standard weaves. On a
10" square metal loom, use each strand of the loop separately. In your choice of color ways, you'll complete at least one
in class and be able to finish the second in your own studio.

Not every weave fits neatly into a category or warrants an entire seminar devoted solely to itself. Yet some
drafts are simply too delightful, too clever, or too visually compelling to ignore. This lively three-hour class
serves up a curated collection of intriguing weaves that deserve a closer look.
Think of this session as a tasting menu of Robyn’s favorite four- to eight-shaft discoveries. We’ll explore
versatile weaves that adapt beautifully to a variety of projects, including one-, two-, and four-color parallel
twills. Some examples may be historical curiosities, others modern adaptations, but all are chosen for their
ability to spark ideas and inspire future projects.
Designed as an idea-generating, possibility-expanding experience, this class will refresh your creative thinking
and broaden your structural vocabulary. It’s perfect for weavers eager to add new “flavors” to their design
repertoire without committing to a single technique for an entire class.

See the NEWS Juried Fashion Show through the eyes of a juror. During this informative tour of the garments on display, learn from a technical critique of design, fiber choice, construction techniques, and finishing touches used by experienced fiber artists and gain a deeper understanding of what components are integral in the successful transition of woven cloth to fashion item.

See the NEWS Juried Gallery Show through the eyes of a juror. These beautiful weavings will serve as a jumping-off point for dialogue about what makes good cloth. Through visual examination and discussion, participants will gain a deeper appreciation of successful weaving, considering such elements as concept, unity, structure, color, pattern and fiber.

Join us for a crucial and insightful seminar dedicated to securing the future of your most cherished space: your fiber studio. For makers and crafters, a studio is more than just a workspace—it's a valuable collection of materials, equipment, intellectual property, and artistic legacy. This session will provide essential, step-by-step guidance on estate planning specifically tailored for the creative professional. This seminar will cover the practical and often overlooked necessities of studio planning. We will focus on two key areas. First, we will show you how to create an accurate and comprehensive inventory of your assets, from looms and spinning wheels to yarn stashes and fiber collections. Crucially, you will learn organization and documentation strategies that ensure any loved one or executor, regardless of their crafting knowledge, can easily navigate and understand your inventory. This includes digital organization of drafts, patterns, and design files, as well as necessary legal information regarding intellectual property and insurance coverage. Second, we will tackle disaster preparedness, offering actionable plans and strategies to protect your valuable assets from natural disasters such as flood, fire, or other catastrophic events. Whether you are planning for the smooth transfer of your collection to the next generation, protecting your assets from unforeseen events, or simply bringing organization to your current space, this workshop is designed to provide peace of mind and preserve your creative legacy.

In this talk you will learn about who Theo Moorman was and how to draft and use her innovative technique. The basics of her process will be shown as well as examples of what the technique lends itself to creatively. We will also talk about going beyond the 4 shaft technique she developed into its use in a multi-shaft format. Knowledge of draft reading is a plus for understanding this class.

Are you looking for a fun and practical way to use your handspun yarn? In this workshop, Alanna will show you how to spin strong, durable cabled yarns and transform them into custom shoelaces and decorative cords. You'll learn how cable yarn construction creates strength, durability, and resistance to abrasion, making it ideal for shoelaces, hoodie ties, drawstrings, decorative cords, and other functional projects. Through hands-on spinning and construction techniques, you'll explore how yarn structure influences performance and discover how small changes in your spinning can dramatically affect the finished result. Alanna will guide you through the process of creating cord-worthy yarns, constructing cable yarns, and finishing them into useful projects you can take home and use. Along the way, you'll gain a better understanding of how to spin for strength, balance, and durability while expanding your options for practical handspun projects. You'll leave with the knowledge and confidence to create your own custom shoelaces and decorative cords, along with ideas for incorporating these techniques into future spinning projects.

Weave a Turkey Wing Broom with a plaited handle. We will use broomcorn, twine and dyed reed. Assortments of colors will be selected.

Taking your cloth, garments, and accessories to the next level can begin on the loom or even continue well beyond it. In this fun three-hour class, we’ll explore a wide range of on-loom and off-loom embellishment
techniques that add both function and expressive detail to garments and accessories. We’ll examine approaches such as inlay, weaver-manipulated lace weaves, warp-encircling methods, buttonhole-less closure solutions, passementerie techniques, and decorative edge treatments. Emphasis will be placed on how these techniques integrate with cloth structure, influence drape and durability, and address practical design challenges such as shaping, fastening, and finishing. Rather than focusing on a single method, this class offers a broad survey designed to spark ideas and expand your awareness of the many possibilities available to you. Whether you’re looking to enhance a commercially made garment or design and construct a Chanel-inspired jacket from scratch, you’ll leave with a foundational understanding of embellishment strategies, greater clarity about when and how to use them, and fresh inspiration for pushing your garments and accessories beyond the expected.