Workshops & Lectures

Teaching fiber arts to adults and children is a great way to encourage creativity in both myself and others. For the last 30 years I have been involved in education and presently teach adult workshops and classes in various weaving techniques in Michigan and surrounding states. I am also an artist in residence, teaching fiber arts to elementary students, in a program with the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo: Making Arts Grow in Kalamazoo (MAGIK).


Workshops I provide:

Weft-faced Rugs workshop
Lecture: Includes slides, rugs and rug samples
Workshop: Beginning Weft-faced Rugs: Participants will come to the workshop with looms (either table or floor looms) threaded in a straight draw (1,2,3,4) with carpet warp. Samples will be woven in plain weave, straight twill, broken twill, and krokbradt. Patterns will be drawn on paper and then woven. Discussions will include choice of yarns for warp and weft, how to get perfect edges, finishing techniques, and how to plan designs specifically for rugs. Additional looms, threaded in overshot and rosepath, will be available for weaving samples.
2-day workshop will be able to cover all samples, if warp is in place before the class begins.
Week-long class can include warping. Participants will also have time to weave a small finished rug in one of the weaves.
Workshop Samples:



Cardweaving patterns on a floor loom workshop
Lecture: Includes slides, samples, large-scale graphics, and a warped loom showing the technique.
Workshop: Learn to translate cardweaving patterns to four-harness point twill threadings in order to weave highly-patterned weft-faced cloth. Participants will also gain experience designing their own patterns on graph paper and weave them. Discussions will include tips for color choices and threading and beaming closely-sett yarns. (2-day)
Workshop Samples:



Beginning tapestry weaving on a floor-loom workshop
Lecture: Includes slides, a threaded loom to show the technique, and finished tapestries.
Workshop: Participants will come to the workshop with a loom threaded with carpet warp. Using wool yarns, participants will learn basic tapestry joins with added discussions of the advantages of using a floor loom to make the shed and keep good tension using the loom beater. Color choices and use of shading will be stressed. Discussions will include designing and various ways of making a cartoon (or plan for the tapestry). (2-3 days)
Workshop Samples:


Contact for available dates and prices.



© Nancy Crampton 2008