Who says weaving on four-shaft looms can’t be complex? Too many people! In fact, four-shaft looms are capable of much more than many weavers realize. Tapping into the potential of four-shafts helps weavers learn how to maximize undervalued looms and better understand how to exploit the capabilities of looms with more shafts. From turned swivel to integrated double weaves to finding the “fashionable” ways to weave a warp, this is an opportunity for participants to see just how amazing a four-shaft loom can be.

Double-faced fabrics have a different appearance on both sides.  There are numerous ways to create double-faced fabrics and many of these methods require only four shafts or less!  In this class, we will explore the fundamentals of how double-faced fabrics are created, how double-faced fabrics are distinguished from double weave fabrics, and how the majority of these methods don’t require more than one warp beam to weave.

Traditionally, lace weaves are woven with the same yarn in the warp and weft. But, no more! Applying color in different ways can transform a simple lace threading into a versatile warp that can be manipulated in different ways with additional colors to create amazing fabrics. In this class, application of color in different lace weaves, such as Huck, Atwater-Bronson, and Swedish lace will be explored.

Few weavers receive instruction in drafting when they originally learn to weave.  By understanding how a pattern is developed, a weaver will know why the pattern creates the design it does, reduce dependence on projects, create innovative designs, and understand how to augment the possibilities of a single threading by changing the tie-up, weft, and/or the treadling.

Would you like to find ways to make your fiber art projects more intriguing or see different ways to incorporate fiber into other projects and set yourself apart as a fiber artist? Are you interested to know what catches a juror’s eye? Sometimes the most understated accent can make the difference between something ordinary and something

From Chanel and Balenciaga to the House of Worth and Ralph Lauren, passementerie has been a way to elevate a garment from something ordinary to something extraordinary. What is passementerie? It’s a French term without an English equivalent. Passementerie encompasses a multitude of techniques used to create embellishments. It includes the creation of buttons, cording, trim, garment closures, braiding, tassels, and much more.

Modern-day uses of passementerie may be found in couture fashions, like the trim edging on French cardigan-style jackets made famous by Coco Chanel and the fashions seen in period films or shows, like Downton Abbey. Passementerie also appears on historical garments, military uniforms, and in high-end home interiors.

In this session, Robyn Spady will share insight into how many couture fashion designers incorporated passementerie into their garments from the perspective of how simple some of the techniques are and how they could be easily recreated and adapted into our own wardrobes.

Jewelry is one of the most cost-effective ways for channeling your creative ideas and materials into marketable items. Are your thrums taking over? Do you have bobbins full of yarns that you don't want to throw away? Do you have a small amount of a wonderful novelty yarn and want to turn it into something fun?

In this session, Robyn will share ideas and simple techniques for transforming thrums, "weftovers", and novelty yarns into jewelry. You will even have the opportunity to enjoy some hands-on and try a couple of different techniques.