Gwen Tooth chose the colours for her painting which she will interpret into a tapestry.
This natural dyed cotton band by Leslie is a perfect example of all that I've said. Leslie challenges what I said was the 'right' way to prepare her project for weaving and she is discovering what works for herself, by challenging my advice. Leslie too likes to follow the impulse of her inspiration. Leslie dyed this on her own experimenting with different food items in her kitchen. Recently Leslie made a warp of 8/2 bamboo, a fairly fine yarn. She forgot to put the cross in it, which as many know is one of the things one should NEVER forget. I declared outright to Leslie that I WOULD NOT help her put it on the loom. I have to applaud Leslie for doing a very fine job indeed in getting this warp on the loom! Good going Leslie!
Marion Kirkwood created this runner as a gift for the leaders of her trip to South Africa, who grew up there. She used 4/8 cotton, sleyed at 24 epi. The colours are those of the South African flag, stripes of blue, green, red, yellow and white, with the warp in black threading - twill, reverse twill, point twill, rosepath, reverse rosepath and basket, inspired from a baby blanket pattern from Handwove. The various patterns are designed to represent the diversity of South African society. 
Chenille scarves by Elaine Robertson
Undulating twill Alpaca shawl in beige and blue by Susan Abrams 
Detail of sampling for undulating twill in alpaca by Susan Abrams. 
I am thrilled these days to see how the students in the class have been really evolving, growing in their weaving forays. In the next few photographs I wanted to highlight all the sampling people in the class have been doing. For instance above, Neil Brochu made a sample before embarking on making a line linen tablecloth, 60" x 72". The pattern he chose was a Lozenge twill from the book Keep me Warm one Night by Dorothy Burnham, a highly regarded historical book on textiles in Ontario.
Jill has struggled for almost two semesters to create this sampling for a rug she wants to create. I'm really proud of how she has figured out how to visualize what aspects of the sample she wants to incorporate into her final design. The limitation she set herself was to use the particular yarn she had bought on cones and choose the yarn based on colour and quantity.
Other samples being woven are the double weave sample by Cassandra Morton. Cassandra told me she was at a lecture at the University of Toronto in January where she is studying and the professor put up a You Tube video of me weaving tapestry! We were both surprised!
I've also been introducing students, when they start thinking of wanting to change a pattern, to software that will help them do it. Here Agota shows her own version of a huck design.
A number of people have woven huck samples and its remarkable how they differ from person to person. I had to show Lindsey's huck sample. Usually the huck sample requires using only one colour....which is how its been done traditionally. Lindsey needed to explore trying others colour with it, as did a number of other people in the class.
I work hard to respect and honour each persons learning style, while at the same time encouraging them to venture into and try other strategies...to stretch our muscles so to speak. They'll discover that practicing a different approach sometimes can be very rewarding and satisfying, as I have, learning to follow instructions. Carol Adams wrote me recently in response to my last blog and said: "Thank you for keeping me in the circle. I very much enjoyed viewing the work of your students from last semester. And I will miss not being with you in the Spring.
Huck sample by Jane Tucker. 
I'm ending with this table runner woven by Janet Andrews. She wove this for her parents. Although there were a number of threading errors in the pattern, Janet still was delighted with her efforts. I love it when people can laugh at their mistakes, plunders, false starts....as we must have a good laugh at ourselves sometimes and still think that what we have just done is still praiseworthy and good. As one weaving clas tapestry weaver, Pauline Abraham said, "I'm practicing the art of imperfection". Here's to imperfection! Cheers!
I feel blessed indeed that my weaving students are such intelligent, interesting and engaging people. They are talented, and take creative approaches not only in their weaving, but in the way they learn too. This past Fall was very busy and I didn't get a chance to post all the wonderful projects that resulted over the course of student efforts. Since there are quite a few things to show y'all, I'll start with the products of the most recent participants in the weaving class and will show the remaining projects and endeavours at other times. Above, a tapestry by Clara.
As an instructor, I encourage students to develop their own designs and creativity. I teach them strategies, if they are open to it, to enhance and deepen their creative experience. Everyone comes with their own knowledge, experience and approach and this only makes for a more authentic result in their creative endeavours. Ciara is shown here with her first tapestry (after that gruelling sampler!) that she designed. It was inspired by wood.
Christine Davidson's runner above, is a good example of how some students prefer to take their inspiration from such sources as Handwoven magazine, a good place to expand one's repertoire, creatively, theoretically and technically.
Some participants are very modest about their efforts and I'm happy to put in them in the spotlight. I also applaud those who are endeavouring to set up a loom at home without me to help them out. As many of you know or can remember, it can be a daunting experience just even remembering all the steps and details one needs to consider. Though the photo does not do this blanket any justice, it was woven by Jane Tucker.
This red and fuschia merino scarf was woven by Wendy Szpindel who managed to do this over the Holiday Season on her own. I suppose its like seeing a child take its first steps! So exciting.
This week we've moved forwards with preparing our warps (and wefts possibly) for ikat dyeing. In the coming weeks we'll be preparing warps for painted warp, shibori and woven shibori.
See you soon!
