Instructor: Neal Howard
Learn about silk (if you don’t know much). Learn to warp your loom front to back using multiple silk warps. Weave plain weave. Note: This class is more about learning the process rather than producing a finished piece. Neal will bring yarn and handwoven samples and share what she has learned from 30+ years of weaving silk professionally.
Level of experience required: Advanced beginner/ intermediate
Student Equipment Requirements:
Bring your traveling loom, reed with dpi appropriate for the size of silk you want to use. Rigid heddle looms are welcome. A loom that can weave at least 10” wide and a 10 dent reed are required.
Also bring: shuttles, bobbins, bobbin winder, scissors, blunt tapestry needle, enough of whatever you use to wind with your warp (sticks, paper?), cross holder(s) if you have them, note taking stuff … you know, your weaving studio!
Materials fees:
One of Neal’s Classic Kits ($72.00) is everything you need for this project with two hand-dyed silk warps (either 4/2 spun silk or bouclé) – a total of 90 ends and one commercially dyed rayon slub warp (10 ends), each 3 yards long. There are approximately 300 yards of rayon slub for the weft. The kit also includes a choice of 6 different stripe patterns. One kit is enough to weave one 10” x 72”scarf.
Neal will bring her inventory. Students may pre-select a color. (Students who want to bring their own silk warps may do so, but no guarantee of results.)