Tapestry Weaving Classes
This Stewart Tapestries page has my rates and curriculum information, if you would like to hire me to teach weaving classes or workshops at your conference or art event. My classes are structured for 2-3 days, however some can be extended or mixed to cover five days depending on need. Private lessons in my home/studio can be tailored to your needs. Rates will vary so please contact me for a quote.Workshop Teaching Rates:
Full Day = $175
1/2 Day = $100
1-Hour Artist Talk = $75
Travel Expenses to be covered when hired:
(I'm in Sarasota, Florida)
Airfare w/luggage (w/transportation to/from airport)
Car (gas only if using my own car)
Lodging & meals (on-site only)
Shipping of supplies to/from event (only if flying)
Curriculum:
1) Tapestry 101 – no experience necessary – 15+ hours
In this workshop students will weave a sampler of common tapestry techniques, making design and color decisions while they weave. Students will learn how shapes are made, use different fibers, and discuss the planning of a cartoon.
Goal: Students will have enough basic knowledge of how a tapestry is made to experiment on their own.
Equipment: All yarns, tools, pre-warped frame looms, and handouts will be supplied by the instructor.
Materials fee: $10.00.
2) The Next Step: Cartoons – beginner with some experience – 15+ hours
This workshop is for students learning to weave with a cartoon for the first time. Students will learn how to break down the cartoon to determine what shape(s) are to be woven first, and how each shapes effects the one next to it.
Goal: With a choice of supplied cartoons, students will go home with a finished piece.
Equipment: Students to bring their own portable loom with 1" hem woven prior to class, along with any weaving tools they wish to use. Handouts and yarns will be supplied by instructor.
Warping instructions: Use a commercial cotton (not hand-spun) warp. Warp at 8 or 10 epi, 8 inches wide, 14 inches or more high. Do not use bulky fibers for the hem.
Materials fee: $10.00.
3) Curves & Circles – beginner to intermediate – 1 day seminar or 15+ hours
This subject is rarely addressed, yet curves and circles are the most difficult shapes to weave.
Goal: To reinforce how stair-stepping controls shapes and to improve that understanding with various exercises on the loom, and how to weave that perfect circle.
Equipment: Students are to bring their own portable loom with a 1" hem woven prior to class, along with any weaving tools. Yarns will be available or students may bring their own.
Warping instructions: Use a commercial cotton warp (no hand-spun). Warp at 8 or 10 epi, 8 inches wide, 14 or more inches high. Do not use bulky fibers for the hem.
Materials fee: $10.00 ONLY if using instructor's yarn.
4) Design Workshop – all levels – 15+ hours
Searching for design ideas and don't know where to begin? This workshop will spark your creativity and help you learn how to view images of all types in new ways to find countless ideas for designs. Students will critique each other's work, sharing various points of view and inspiring more ideas.
Goal: To have one or more cartoons ready to be woven at the end of the workshop.
Equipment: Students to bring with them as many of the following: Art books/magazines, collection of images, color paper, color pens/pencils/crayons/markers, watercolor paints, tracing paper, graph paper, scissors, glue sticks, color tissue paper, scotch tape, sketch paper, light table (optional), and anything else you feel is necessary. Please be willing to share some supplies with others.
Materials fee: None.
5) Transparency 101 – beginner to intermediate – 15+ hours
Students will learn how to combine different colored threads so overlapping shapes and forms have that "see through" appearance.
Goal: For students to have a basic understanding of how color combinations can create the illusion of seeing one shape through another.
Day One: Color studies combining up to 5 strands of yarn in a single bundle, along with paper exercises on applying the color studies to get the transparency effect.
Day Two & Three: Weaving one of the paper exercises to apply all that was learned in Day One.
Equipment: Students are to bring their own portable loom with a 1" hem woven prior to class, along with any weaving tools. Yarns will be available or students may bring their own (Wefts must be 18/2 or 20/2 in size).
Warping instructions: Use a commercial cotton warp (no hand-spun). Warp at 8 or 10 epi., 8 inches wide, 14 or more inches high. Do not use bulky fibers for the hem or as a weft.
Materials fee: $10 ONLY if using the instructor's yarns and tools.
6) Trouble Shooting – beginner to intermediate – 1 day
This class will help you figure out various problems that all tapestry weavers encounter. Students may bring a pre-warped sample loom or a project-in-progress. Yarns will be available or students may bring their own.
Goal: To solve weaving problems, whether it is warp, weft, or execution of technique.
Equipment: Students are to bring a portable loom with a 1" hem woven prior to class, or a project-in-progress, and a curved quilters needle and white sewing thread. Bring your own yarns for any projects-in-progress.
Warping instructions: Use a commercial cotton warp (no hand-spun). Warp at 8 or 10 epi, 4 inches wide, 12 or more inches high. Do not use bulky fibers for the hem.
Materials fee: None.
7) Playing With Fiber – all levels – 4 hours
This fun class is for anyone who wants to sample different yarns but is unsure about investing in them. Students can use each yarn by itself or in combination with other fibers to see how they behave together. Students may warp their looms with various warps (seine twine, wool, linen, hand-spun) as the weft will react differently with each warp choice.
Equipment: Students need to bring their own weaving equipment.
Warping instructions: Warp looms at 8 or 10 epi (or both) and no more than 3" wide, especially if testing different warps & setts.
Supplied yarns: Wool, ramie, rayon, silk, pearl cotton, and bamboo. Yarns will be limited in palette. Sizes will vary but most will be 18/2 or 20/2 to allow multiple weft combinations in a bundle.
Materials fee: $15.
8) The Exhibit Experience – intermediate to advanced – 15 hours
This workshop is meant for the more advanced tapestry weaver who would like to begin entering shows and exhibits but is inexperienced about the process. Exploration of themes to creating a cartoon to displaying the finished product (along with a few surprises) are but a few of the subjects that will
be addressed in this very challenging class. Students need to bring a variety of wefts that they are comfortable using. Bring your own materials for making a cartoon. No materials fee.
Special needs or equipment, other info:
Set up & take down time approx 30 minutes each. Instructor will handle this.
Enough chairs and tables for students to work comfortably and to spread out materials.
Chalk board or large dry-erase board for workshops #1, 3, 5, 6. I have my own markers & chalk and only need to know what kind of board is available.
Old fashioned overhead projector for workshop #2 (if possible).
Learning pace for workshop #1 is hectic and can be adjusted depending on how well the students are catching on. Not all techniques may be covered.
Material fees as listed. Other costs depend on what the student already has or needs.
All weft yarns should be non-stretchy. No synthetic or knitting yarns as they are not suitable to this type of weaving. Suitable yarns are: Wool, cotton, ramie, linen, rayon, silk, bamboo.
If students have a question about supplies or special needs of any other type, please contact the instructor prior to the workshop to make additional arrangements.
Please with questions or for more detailed information.
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