February 15th and 16th at Thistle Hill Weavers – A Two-Day Workshop on Double Cloth, Double Width and Layers on Layers
Sorry for the late notice but there are still a few places in my weekend workshop This weekend workshop will explore how fabrics can be made in layers for structure, design or expanded width. This is NOT a project workshop. A basic knowledge of weaving is important, but you do not have to own a multiple harness loom. The participants will have the opportunity to try many different systems and understand the technical aspects of creating layers of cloth in different structures. The class will be working on different types of looms already set up to demonstrate several different layered systems. Students will be able to take samples home but the main part of the class will be theoretical, exploring weave structure, density and layering concepts. This is a two-day workshop:
Winter Weaving Classes
Weaving Fabric for Clothing Saturday, February 2 – Sunday, February 3 Students will explore the process of choosing yarns, densities and weave structures that are suitable for weaving fabric for fine garments. Each student will choose yarns and patterns to create a series of samples during the workshop. The samples will allow students to choose a pattern, color way, and sett for their clothing fabric and create a plan based on their woven samples that will allow them to weave garment fabric at home. This workshop is designed for students who have some weaving experience and want to explore making fabric for clothing. Class cost is $150.00 per student. Class is limited to 5 students. All materials and lunches are included in the fee. Introduction to Pattern Hand Weaving for Beginners Friday, March 8 – Sunday March 10 Weave a luxurious lightweight scarf in silk, bamboo, and alpaca – no experience necessary! This is a beginning weaving class that will teach you from start to finish how to set up a warp, wind, beam, thread, sley, weave and finish a beautiful scarf of your own. The class is limited to 5 students. Class hours are Friday at 1pm-4:30pm, Saturday 9am-4:30pm and Sunday 9am-4:30pm. Cost is $225.00 with all materials, equipment and lunches included.
Winter Newsletter
Join us December 2nd and 3rd to celebrate the trade of Woven History.
The Workshop of Rabbit Goody welcomes you to our Annual Open House and Mill Tours on December 2nd and 3rd, from 9am to 5pm. Watch our antique looms run! We have been working on some interesting projects this year. Join us and we will lead you through our process and let you experience a rare custom weaving mill still using looms made over 100 years ago. Our showroom will have fabrics, scarves, shawls, hand towels and carpet just right for the holiday season. Drink a toast with us, spread some cheer and learn about our traditional trade. Our showroom will be open through out the holiday season, weekdays from 9am to 5pm. Our luxurious over-run fabric can be made into custom gifts and we have special items ready for your gift giving needs. Meet the folks who can still make historic textiles! Laura, John, Vicky, Lisa, Frank, Holly and Rabbit Goody love sharing what we do, so please join us for the Open House or anytime during the Holiday Season. The staff at Thistle Hill Weavers wishes you the most peaceful and joyous season.
Beginning Weaving Class
Weave a scarfSaturday, March 4 and Sunday March 5, 2017 No experience necessary. This is a chance to explore a craft for the first time or refresh your skill from years ago. Students will warp, thread, and weave a scarf from silk and wool. All materials and equipment are supplied. The class is limited to 6 students.Cost including materials and lunch: $195. Please contact us for more information or to sign up.
Hand Weaving Class
Understanding Patterns for Multiple Harnesses – a theory and practice classSaturday, January 21 and Sunday, January 22, 2017 The class is limited to students with basic weaving knowledge. The object of this class is to develop a sense of what is possible when more than four shafts are involved in creating weave structures. The concentration will be on designing with twill and block weaves to create functional fabrics for interior furnishings. We will use Olsner’s “A Handbook of Weaves” along with traditional multiple harness drafts form the 19th century to explore patterns.Cost including materials and lunch: $195. Please contact us for more information or to sign up.
Designing and Drafting Pattern Weaves for Hand Looms
On October 15-16, 2016, Rabbit will be teaching a class at the Mill on designing and drafting for pattern weaving. She developed this class for weavers of any level who wish to understand more about weave structures and how to design patterns. The class starts with an overview of basic skills of reading weavers’ drafts and translating patterns from historical draft books into several weave structures. This class is more theory than practical weaving but in the end, this approach should help free you from having to use “cookbook” recipes for creating beautiful pattern work. Some of the weave structures will be very familiar to students, like twills, satins, double cloth and block weaves, but it’s important that weavers be able to design their own work. Cost for the weekend is $175.00 We will be announcing this via our newsletter later this month but thought you might want to know about it early. Please contact us for more information or to register.
Schedule for Textile History Forum, April 29 – May 1, 2016
Friday April 29 9:30am: Introduction to Hyde Hall by Jonathan Maney 10am: How do we know what we know? Basic textile identification with Rabbit Goody 12:30pm: Lunch 2pm George Clarke, The Builder – Receipts That Tell Us So Much by Jill Maney 3:15pm: Break 3:30-5pm: Hands-on identification…practical experience in fiber analysis and technical recording of textile information. Dinner on your own. Saturday April 30 9:30am: What should the windows look like? with Bruno Lopez Poulin 10:30am: The special textile collections at Hyde Hall – identifying and dating the red worsted damask and cataloging textiles for Hyde Hall 12:30pm: Lunch 2pm: More special textile collections at Hyde Hall – Identifying, dating and cataloging textiles for Hyde Hall 5:30pm: Wine and cheese reception for the Board of Trustees and donors at Hyde Hall and dinner with Hyde Hall Staff Sunday May 1st 10am: The Textile Roadshow – identification of participants’ textiles 12:30pm Lunch 2pm: Trims and their importance: The Collection at Hyde Hall and Tassel and Trim Making in the 19th Century. Hyde Hall has an extraordinary collection of curtains and gilt valances from the Great House Dining Room and Drawing Room. Together we will piece together the physical evidence and work with experts to understand and reassemble the parts of the surviving drapery so that we can reconstruct the magnificent window treatments as they once were. This is a unique experience for anyone who is interested in textile history. Together we will “remake” history at Hyde Hall.
Register for the Textile History Forum 2016
When: Friday April 29 through Sunday May 1, 2016Where: Hyde Hall in Glimmerglass State Park, Springfield, NY 13333Click here for driving directions. Please join us for a very special Textile History Forum on Friday, April 29 – Sunday, May 1, 2016. This year we are planning a hands-on forum to identify and date the surviving drapery fabrics at Hyde Hall. This is an unprecedented opportunity for anyone interested in historic fabrics to work with experts and help catalog this amazing collection of early 19th century fabrics and trims. Hyde Hall has an extensive collection of curtains and gilt valances from the Great House Dining Room and Drawing Room. As a group, we will piece together the physical evidence and, with the help of experts, reassemble the parts so that we can reconstruct the magnificent window treatments as they once were. Lunches and one dinner are included in the registration fee of $225.00. Single day participation is $100.00 Please contact us if you have questions. We look forward to a great experience at this wonderful historic mansion. Click here to register.
Silk and Cashmere Scarf Weaving Class
Make a luxurious silk and cashmere scarf for someone special. This is a beginning weaving class. No prior weaving knowledge necessary. All equipment and materials are provided. Classes start at 9:00 am and go until 4:00 but the studio remains open all evening for students. Cost for the weekend: $250.00, includes lunch both days.Class is limited to 6 students. – Lots of personal attention! Saturday October 24 – Sunday October 25, 20159am – 4pm. Please contact us for details.