Meeting Times

• Wednesday 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Description

In this workshop, Brenda Osborn will teach basic tapestry techniques in the traditional Gobelins weaving style, which was used throughout northern Europe from the Middle Ages to current times. These techniques enable the weaver to achieve highly visual tapestries, from portraits and landscapes to abstract images. It is helpful if students are cloth weavers who have basic understanding of weaving, but it is not necessary for them to have woven a tapestry before this class. 

The techniques covered will include: 

1. Weaving in opposing sheds

2. The tension differences between weaving small shapes and larger shapes

3. Hitching on and off for beginning and ending wefts

4. Weaving angles of varying degrees

5. weaving a circle

6. Inking on the warp for details

7. Making use of these techniques to "take a line for a walk" by weaving a sketch made by the student

Additionally, the instructor would like to help each student develop an idea for a tapestry to be woven after the workshop ends. The instructor will work to help you gain enough knowledge to pursue some of these techniques on your own and give informtion on where to take these ideas further. 

The instructor will supply the following (included in materials fee): 

1. Copper pipe looms with tensioning device

2. 100 yds of warp which will alow the student to make a second warp for a design of their own after the workshop finishes

3. A "Rub a Dub" Sharpie marker for inking on the warp

4. A printed hand-out of instructions

5. A dowel for adjusting the warp

6. Weft yarns for students to do the exercises

Students should bring

1. Notebook and Pencils

2. Tapestry bobbins available by clicking HERE

3. Blunt tapestry needle with large eye, such as the plastic needles sold for knitting

4. Wool weft yarns in colors you like. Students will do exercises in the yarns I bring but after that they will gain more experience by using their own yarns. Yarns should be weaving yarns or needlepoint yarns rather than knitting yarns. Good choices are Gist's "Array," which is available from GIST online. COLONIAL NEEDLE COMPANY'S 3-ply Persian yarn (which is the new owner of Paternayan's original 3-ply Persian yarns is available at THISTLE NEEDLEWORKS in Wethersfield. Appleton's fine wool is also a good choice. These yarns are find for blending colors on the bobbin and are strong enough for tapestry work.