Introduction

The Further Explorations course is an opportunity to expand your skills and try something new with an experienced mentor to guide you through any tricky spots. Try a new structure, a new fiber, or finer yarns. Or explore the design possibilities of an 8-shaft loom. And enjoy the camaraderie of fellow fiber enthusiasts as you weave. This course is designed to meet you where you are on your weaving journey and to expand your ability to more effortlessly achieve the results you want.

This is a project oriented course, with each student selecting their own project to weave. The instructor is available to consult on project selection at any point in your decision process.

Please feel free to reach out to fiber@shelburnecraftschool.org to be put in touch with your instructor.

The course is primarily hands-on with each student warping and weaving their own individual project. The instructor will be available for one-on-one assistance and will offer tips for greater ease and efficiency of weaving. In addition, weekly half-hour presentations will focus on gaining a greater understanding of weave structures and their possibilities.

This spring, the weekly presentations will focus on plain weaves and their cousins. Plain weave makes a wonderful base for playing with a variety of colors and fibers, or for varying setts and denting. It can create fabrics that range from light and airy to firm and durable. We will also look at how to design for two structures that use blocks of plain weave: rep weave and deflected double weave. Projects that relate to the plain weave theme are encouraged and there are many possibilities beyond those mentioned above. Other examples include shadow weave, double weave with plain weave layers, Ms and Os, basket weave, honeycomb, and differential shrinkage with plain weave.

For your inspiration, please contact fiber@shelburnecraftschool.org to request a photo collection of projects that use plain weave and related structures.

In addition to class times, students are encouraged to attend one or more of the Open Studios offered throughout the week in order to have plenty of weaving time. Please see the bottom of this description for the Open Studio schedule. If you are interested in a wider or 8-shaft loom, early registration is encouraged to ensure your choice of loom.

Note that there is a gap week between the first and second classes. Students should plan to choose their project and obtain their yarn prior to the first class. The first class will be lecture only and will cover winding a trouble free warp. Students should have wound their warp prior to the second class.

Pre-requisites:

Next Steps course or the equivalent experience. Students should be familiar with the steps of warping a loom and able to weave following a draft.