New England Weavers' Seminar
July 28 - August 1, 2027
Westfield State University
Westfield MA
U-1: Introduction to Weaving on the Floor Loom
Instructor: Dee Moore
3 1/2 days
Thursday, July 29, 2027, 8:30 am -
Sunday, August 1, 2027, 11:30 am, $450
This lively and intensive course is designed as an introduction to the basic techniques of weaving: winding a warp, dressing the loom, and weaving a finished piece. The focus will be on exploring the basic weave structures — plain weave and twills in their many variations — understanding project drafts and calculating yarn requirements. You will also learn about looms and equipment, yarns, and finishing techniques. In addition, you will be able to take full advantage of NEWS, attending general lectures and exhibits while meeting other weavers. After completing this workshop, you will be able to warp a loom, weave on your own, and know where help is readily available. Looms are provided.
J-2: Drafting Demystified
Instructor: Krysten Morganti
1 day, Friday, July 30, 2027, 8:30 am - 4:30 pm, $160
The draft is the primary format weavers have used to record patterns for centuries, and weavers of this era are blessed with a host of resources and computer-based tools to help manage that aspect of design. This can leave us feeling that drafts are mysterious, magical things. When we rely on modern tools, we may develop only a superficial sense of how and why a draft creates a certain pattern. With deeper understanding, we can be more adventurous about making adjustments or combining elements of multiple drafts to create a personalized design. This class is geared towards weavers who can follow a draft but lack confidence modifying one for their own purposes. We will review all the parts of a draft and what they do, create drawdowns by hand, and discuss why certain threadings, tie-ups, and treadlings work well together. We'll do a deeper dive into a few favorite weave structures to discover what their drafts tell us about how they work. This is a pencil-and-paper workshop where you will be put to work creating, predicting, and puzzling out the connections between the draft and the cloth.