Kumihimo: Introduction to Braiding on the Marudai
Oct
21
9:30pm 9:30pm

Kumihimo: Introduction to Braiding on the Marudai

American Kumihimo Society Gathering 2017
Saturday, October 21, 2017
Tampa, Florida

Bring your marudai* and eight weighted spools for an exploration of 8-element braids using silk or synthetic silk. Learn the basic interlacements for round, square, and flat braids, and how the placement of color on the Marudai affects the design of the braid. Braids in the sampler include Yotsu Gumi, Maru Genji, Edo Yatsu Gumi (with its variations of repeating steps two and three times), and Hira Kara Gumi. Resources for braid designs include the handout and the books The Twenty-Four Interlacements of Edo Yatsu Gumi and The Thirty-Seven Interlacements of Hira Kara Gumi.

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Kumihimo: 16-element Braiding on the Marudai
Oct
22
12:30pm12:30pm

Kumihimo: 16-element Braiding on the Marudai

Sunday, October 22, 2017
American Kumihimo Society Gathering
Tampa, Florida

Using traditional Japanese braiding equipment, this workshop is designed for participants familiar with 8-element braid structures. Building on the movements and processes learned in the introductory workshop, and for those who want to branch out into more complex braids, participants will create a sampler of 16-element braids using two colors of silk or synthetic silk. Braids include Oimatsu, Naiki, Tsukushi, 3 variations of Mitake Gumi, and Kongō Gumi. Resources for braid designs include the handout and the book Kongō Gumi: A Cacophony of Spots – Coils – Zags – Lines.

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An Exaltation of Blocks
Nov
9
9:30am 9:30am

An Exaltation of Blocks

November 9, 2017, 9:30am – 3:30pm
Teleraña Guild
Phoenix, Arizona

Block designs consist of black and white blocks on grid paper, where black is considered the pattern block and white the background block. Find out how one weaver used the binary number system and the textures of 4-shaft shaft huck lace to develop the definitive number of two-block designs, and how these simple designs become the building blocks of more elaborate patterns. The design sessions allow weavers to construct and deconstruct complex patterns with component motifs from two different sets of Design Pages and Transparent Overlays.

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It's in the Warp: Color and Design in Rep
Nov
10
to Nov 12

It's in the Warp: Color and Design in Rep

November 10-12, 2017
Teleraña Guild
Phoenix, Arizona

Two different colored warps (a pattern colorway and a background colorway) combine with thick and thin weft to form the elements for exploring block design in warp-faced rep.  Prior to the workshop, weavers will be sent drafts for 4- and 8-shaft looms. Weavers will select a draft and pre-thread a loom. Learn how “blocks” of rep, threaded on four and eight shafts, can be combined to expand design possibilities. Discussions will focus on profile drafting, use of color, movement of blocks in independent and linked fashion, skeleton tie-ups, different threading systems, and design considerations for four shaft and multiple harness looms.

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Rep Runners: A Study in Block Design Using Linked Blocks and Solid Stripes
Sep
16
to Sep 18

Rep Runners: A Study in Block Design Using Linked Blocks and Solid Stripes

GORGE HANDWEAVERS
Saturday – Monday, September 16–18, 2017

Using the same profile draft, weavers will thread an 8-shaft loom with four or five different colors of 3/2 cotton or 5/2 cotton. Choose three pattern colors and one or two background colors. The runner will feature a series of 4-block center designs with side borders showing 2-block linked designs in opposite colors. The center motifs and border motifs will be separated from each other by solid colored stripes. Weavers will select 6 to 9 different 4-block motifs using Design Pages from An Exaltation of Blocks. Believe it or not, there are 1,024 different 4-block motifs. Weavers will receive enough motifs in their handouts to whet their creative appetites!

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Workshop: Color & Design in Huck Lace Towels
Jul
20
to Jul 23

Workshop: Color & Design in Huck Lace Towels

  • Millersville University (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Mid Atlantic Fiber Association Conference
Millersville University, Millersville, PA

The structure of Huck Lace provides a treasure trove of design for weavers where an 8-shaft loom can produce six blocks of design and a 4-shaft loom can produce multiple ways to combine warp and weft floats with plain weave. Exercises, documented by slide presentations, will show how to convert a profile draft into a threading and treadling plan. Learn how changing the tie-up plan creates new patterning within the same threading plan. Participants will use printed Design Pages and Transparent Overlays from Neilson’s book An Exaltation of Blocks to create patterns for a series of towels with three sections of Huck Lace separated by a one inch stripe of plain weave.

http://www.mafa-conference-2017.org/

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Kumihimo: 16-Element Kongo Gumi Braid
Jun
4
1:30pm 1:30pm

Kumihimo: 16-Element Kongo Gumi Braid

Lecture and Hands-On Session

In this slide lecture, learn about Japanese history from the perspective of kumihimo by following the historical development of Japanese plaited cords from fossilized remains in grave mounds to Samurai silk-laced armor to fashion world of kimono, obi, obijime. See how current practitioners of kumihimo are evolving new designs to reflect the changes in the world of plaited cords. Following the slides, participants will make a kumihimo key ring on a round foam disk.

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An Exaltation of Blocks
Jun
3
8:00pm 8:00pm

An Exaltation of Blocks

Conference Workshop

Contemporary Handweavers of Texas Conference
Hosted by Contemporary Handweavers of Houston
Marriott Town Square, Sugar Land, Texas

Block designs consist of black and white blocks on grid paper, where black is considered the pattern block and white the background block. Through a slide presentation, find out how one weaver used the binary number system and the textures of 4-shaft shaft huck lace to develop the definitive number of two-block designs, and how these simple designs become the building blocks of more elaborate patterns. The design sessions allow weavers to construct and deconstruct complex patterns with component motifs from two different sets of Design Pages and Transparent Overlays. The pages are from a book called An Exaltation of Blocks written by Rosalie Neilson. Weavers will create original and unique patterns suitable for weaving on 8-shaft looms such as Huck Lace, Summer and Winter, and Warp-faced Rep. Some of the simpler designs can be woven on four shafts, while more complex designs can be woven on 24-shaft looms.

https://www.weavetexas.org/

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It’s in the Warp: Color and Design in Rep
May
31
to Jun 2

It’s in the Warp: Color and Design in Rep

Pre-Conference Workshop

Contemporary Handweavers of Texas Conference
Hosted by Contemporary Handweavers of Houston
Marriott Town Square, Sugar Land, Texas

Two different colored warps (a pattern colorway and a background colorway) combine with thick and thin weft to form the elements for exploring block design in warp-faced rep.  Prior to the workshop, weavers will select a draft and pre-thread a loom. Learn how “blocks” of rep, threaded on four and eight shafts, can be combined to expand design possibilities. Discussions will focus on profile drafting, use of color, movement of blocks in independent and linked fashion, skeleton tie-ups, different threading systems, and design considerations for four shaft and multiple harness looms. Weavers will work exclusively on their own loom (4- or 8-shaft) to understand the weave structure of rep, sampling with different weight wefts to create textiles suitable for the table, wall, and floor.

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