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    What's New at Thistle Hill Weavers

    Call for Papers and Presentations for the 2018 Textile History Forum

    July 27, 28 and 29, 2018, at the Marshfield School of Weaving, Marshfield VT

    The Textile History Forum is an open forum for anyone doing research on any aspect of the study of textiles from prehistory to present day. For 2018, we are meeting at the Marshfield School of Weaving and will be especially interested in papers and presentations that relate to textile tools, textile process and textile availability. The Marshfield School has acquired many spinning wheels, looms and small tools from the dissolution of the American Museum of Textile History. Demonstration and research related to these tools will be part of the Forum, as well.

    The Textile History Forum, which began in 1990’s is an informal but intense weekend of papers, demonstrations and works-in-progress open to any one interested in and enthusiastic about textiles, textile tools and material culture.

    Written papers are published in our Proceedings at the time of the Forum, and are given to all participants as part of the Forum’s philosophy that discussion and active participation with others is the best way to explore our interests and further our research. Authors retain copyright of their papers and are free to publish elsewhere. Works-in-Progress and non-paper presentations are also included in the Proceedings.

    Presenters from all areas of textile interests are encouraged to share their research; no formal academic credentials are necessary. We encourage anyone to submit a short one page abstract for review by January 15, 2018. Selected papers and details of presentations are due May 15, 2018.

    In the past, the Forum has included papers about prehistoric footwear, contemporary fashion designers, historic dye analysis, ingrain carpet factories, coverlet weavers of Ohio, rose blankets, glove making, knitting traditions, weaving in Ecuador on traditional card looms, quilts, reed making, corsets and undergarments, white work, textile tools, labor in early mills, textile production in Lowell and much more.

    S. Rabbit Goody began the Textile History Forum in response to the Dublin Seminar on New England Culture in the late 1990’s. It has met every few years since and published papers in the Proceedings, which is available to participants, libraries and by purchase to the public. The intent of the Forum is to encourage new voices to share their research in a scholarly but non-academic setting. At this upcoming Forum, we especially encourage those who have been doing research in traditional hand process to share what they know so that traditions are not lost. We learn more from each other and we learn the most over a good lunch!

    Please think about presenting a paper or works-in-progress at the Textile History Forum at the Marshfield School of Weaving July 27 – 29, 2018.

    Weave a Summer Shawl: Beginning Weaving Class

    Weave a silk shawl in an historic pattern for a summer outing

    Weave a silk shawl in an historic pattern for a summer outing

    Want to do something fun this summer? How about a beginning weaving class? July 14th, 15th and 16th, at Thistle Hill Weavers, learn to weave or refresh your skills. This will be a project class so you will not only learn technique but create a beautiful summer shawl to wear to concerts or picnics. You’ll design the shawl and weave it in two and a half days in this fun and energy-filled class.

    Class is limited to 5 students.

    The class starts Friday afternoon at 2pm and ends on Sunday afternoon. All materials are included in the fee of $185.

    Lodging and other information is available; Contact us to register or for more information.

    Where Should We Get Yarns?

    Rabbit Goody will hold a one day seminar for weavers to share some of the best resources for yarns and tools on Saturday, September 9th.

    Hand weavers today are often at a disadvantage when trying to find yarns at reasonable prices. Rabbit will share sources and help weavers thread the tangle of what yarns are good for what projects and where to buy them at the best prices.

    The fee of $50.00 includes shade cards from several sources and lunch. All weavers are welcome.

    Contact us to register or for more information.

    Jasper Green Silk Basket Damask Special Sale

    We have a very special fabric for sale. This is the basket pattern found at Hyde Hall that we reproduced for a client. It is 100% silk and we have had the fabric backed and stain-proofed, ready to be upholstered. The client cancelled and we are left with several yards ready to go.

    We are happy to sell this by the yard at a greatly reduced price of $125/ yard. Its 42 inches wide. Please contact us for more information.

    Beginning Hand Weaving Workshop at Thistle Hill Weavers

    Weave a silk shawl in an historic pattern for a summer outing

    Weave a silk shawl in an historic pattern for a summer outing

    Weaving a project is a great way to learn a new skill. This beginner’s class is designed for folks who have always wanted to learn or who learned years ago and want to refresh their knowledge. All materials and lunches are provided.

    Friday May 5th, 2-5pm
    Saturday May 6th, 9:30am to 4:30pm
    Sunday May 7th, 9:30am to 4pm

    The fee for the 2 and 1/2 day workshop is $225. All materials and lunch on Saturday and Sunday are included.

    Lodging and other information is available; Contact us to register or for more information.

    A Very Special Sale of Our Beautiful Fabrics

    Help! We are overstocked with glorious fabrics that we have made for some very fancy customers, so we’re having a special overstock sale on Saturday, February 25 from 9am to 4pm at our mill.

    Buy a yard or more of our historic or high fashion fabrics that are one of a kind at super sale prices! We really need the space so, a great savings for you and more space for us.

    Our bundles of scraps for $10.00 are a great little surprise gift for anyone, and if you missed out at the Holiday Sale, we still have a few scarves, blankets, hand towels and placemats available!

    Beginning Weaving Class

    Weave a scarf
    Saturday, 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 class
    Saturday, 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.

    My blanket of Courage

    Please Join Us For Our Second Annual Open House

    openhousefabric

    Please join us for our second annual open house this holiday season, where you can take a tour of the mill, watch our historic looms run, see our current projects and buy holiday gifts from our showroom.

    Open House Schedule:

    • Saturday, December 3, 9am-5pm: mill tours and refreshments
    • Sunday, December 4, 9am-5pm: mill tours and refreshments
    • Sunday, 2:30pm: lecture on Hyde Hall curtain fabrics

    We are located at 143 Baxter Road in Cherry Valley NY 13320
    Phone: 518.284.2729

    openhousepeople