Diary

3 Bags Full Wool Market

See website for futher information.

Shetland Wool Week – Together through makkin

Shetland Wool Week is a celebration of Shetland wool and traditional knitting. Throughout the week there are exhibitions, classes and events covering on a range of topics, typically including weaving, spinning, dyeing, Fair Isle and lace knitting.

Chris Ofili: The Caged Bird’s Song

Dovecot Studios’ major tapestry with Chris Ofili will return to Scotland in Summer 2024. The Caged Bird’s Song, commissioned by The Clothworkers’ Company, will be shown in the context of the tapestry studio where the work was created.

Lunchtime tours:
Every Tuesday and Thursday 12:00 – 12:45
Please book tour tickets in advance as spaces are limited.

Charlotte Grierson- Creative Textures on 8 Shafts

Suitable for early stage weavers as well as more experienced weavers, the workshop will explore different ways of creating texture rather than pattern.

Tutor: Charlotte Grierson
Times: 10am-4.30pm
Cost: £280

Woven Tapestries: Follow the Thread

An exhibition of woven tapestries by Jilly Edwards, whose work has been shown internationally across a career spanning more than 50 years.

Bees: International Weaving Group

A call for entries for the 3rd on-line exhibition of the International Weaving Group, on the theme of Bees, that will open in April 2024.

Broad interpretations welcomed.  For more information contact exhibition@weefnetwerk.nl.

Entry deadline 29 November 2023.

Invisible Maestro

Traditional handwoven tapestries created by three ulos weavers from Lake Toba, North Sumatra, Indonesia: Hirim Samosir, Anna Lince Siahaan, and Mastiar Nababan. Ulos is the traditional woven fabric of the Batak people, used in cultural and ceremonial events. Alongside, Dian Aprillia, a textile artist based in Yogyakarta, will present a contemporary installation of ulos fabrics.

Floor talk and weaving demonstration: Wednesday 28 August 2024, 16.00 – 17.00.

Dee Sayce: Textile Workshops

Six stand-alone Saturday workshops in tapestry, spinning, indigo tie dyeing, coiled basketry, weaving with natural materials and rag-rug making. An accompanied child (from 7 years) goes free.

Tutor: Dee Sayce

Cost: £60 per workshop

Tania Kovats: SEAMARKS

Tania Kovats’ ongoing series SEAMARKS, multiple seascapes captured in brushstrokes, drawings and ceramic, is being expanded with the creation of a new tapestry by Dovecot Studios.

Times: Monday to Friday, 12:00 – 15:00 and Saturday (and Sunday in August), 10:00 – 17:00.

TEN PLUS @ Nantwich – Art in Translation

Telling a Yarn: Remember, React, Re-tell

An exhibition by Threadmill Textile Artists celebrating Farfield Mill’s industrial heritage and showcasing the versatility of wool fibre, yarn and cloth by exploring different ways in which these can be manipulated and re-presented in new forms.

Telling a Yarn: Remember, React, Re-tell

A celebration of the rich heritage of the woollen industry of Cumbria and Yorkshire by the Threadmill Textile Artists group.

Design for Weave – Laura Thomas

A self-directed online course created by designer/weaver Laura Thomas.  Suitable for those with existing weaving knowledge who want to build their design understanding and confidence.

Cost: £125

Evening weave classes with James Donald

This course offers one-to-one tuition, with access to an extensive range of specialist textile literature. All materials and equipment are provided, and the class is suitable for both beginners and those with previous weave experience.

Contact James Donald for availability.

Times: Tuesday or Thursday evenings, 6pm – 9pm.

Cost: £330 (11 classes).

Weaving a Foundation – Cornerstones of the Textile Arts Collection

An exhibition of 60 objects from the museum’s permanent collection and featuring textiles from indigenous traditions across the world, including regions of the American Southwest and Mexico; India and Pakistan; and the Indonesian islands of Bali, Java, and Sumatra.

Kimono: Kyoto To Catwalk

Showing the kimono as a dynamic, ever-evolving icon of fashion, the exhibition traces its evolution and influence from 17th century Japan to today’s cutting-edge couture and street fashion across the world.

Open daily, 10.00 – 17.00

Tickets: see website for details.

Designed to dry – Kitty van der Mijll Dekker and Vera Roggli

An exhibition that sheds light on Bauhaus-trained designer Kitty van der Mijll Dekker (1908-2004), an influential Dutch designer of interior and household textiles. Contemporary textile designer Vera Roggli, working in collaboration with weavers and other artisans, has created ‘portraits’ woven on industrial looms in response to this history.

Designed to dry – Kitty van der Mijll Dekker x Vera Roggli

Kitty van der Mijll Dekker (1908-2004) was an influential Dutch designer of interior and household textiles including the humble tea towel. This history has inspired contemporary designer Vera Roggli.

Swapnaa Tamhane: The Golden Fibre

A new installation that draws inspiration from University of Dundee and Verdant Works (Dundee Heritage Trust) archives, exploring jute and the jute industry around Calcutta in British-ruled Bengal.

Open daily except Tuesday, 10.00 – 17.00

Free

Silk Roads

A major exhibition that unravels how the journeys of people, objects and ideas that formed the Silk Roads shaped cultures and histories from about AD 500 to 1000.

Virtual Exhibition International Weaving – BEES

Shirley Craven

An exhibition of over 80 vivid, colour-filled textiles by post-war designer Shirley Craven (Chief Designer and Director of textile printing firm Hull Traders).

Haptic & Hue- podcast

A series of podcasts exploring the way in which cloth speaks to us and the impact it has on our lives.

https://hapticandhue.com/

All Hands On: Basketry

Highlighting basketry traditions and modern innovation, the exhibition features items from the Museum of European Cultures’ collection and pieces by contemporary artists.

3 Bags Full Wool Market

See website for futher information.

Charlotte Grierson- Creative Textures on 8 Shafts

Suitable for early stage weavers as well as more experienced weavers, the workshop will explore different ways of creating texture rather than pattern.

Tutor: Charlotte Grierson
Times: 10am-4.30pm
Cost: £280

Charlotte Grierson- Creative Textures on 8 Shafts

Suitable for early stage weavers as well as more experienced weavers, the workshop will explore different ways of creating texture rather than pattern.

Tutor: Charlotte Grierson
Times: 10am-4.30pm
Cost: £280

West Wales Wool Show

An event organised by the Pembrokeshire Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers to support local wool producers and small craft businesses.

The Knitting & Stitching Show – London

See website for further information.

Woven tapestry – beyond convention

Extend your tapestry technique in search of new and dynamic expression. What happens if warps are not all of the same material, weight or spacing, if they are grouped, added to, pulled and exposed? Working quickly, freely and directly onto the loom, we will seek to question and to explore.

Tutor: Louise Martin

Cost: £594

Note: Course starts early evening on the first day.

Texture & Structure – the interplay of structure and yarn

A four day intermediate workshop (12/13 and 19/20 Oct.) exploring the interplay of yarns – their reaction and interaction with one other and their behaviour when combined with certain weave structures.

Tutor: Sharon Kearley

Cost: £430

The Glasgow School of Yarn

Glasgow’s yarn fair. See website for details.

Bakewell Wool Gathering

See website for further information.

29th Annual Weaving History Conference

To celebrate, promote and share academic research and other information on all fibre arts.

Check website for further information.

Dyes in History and Archaeology 2024

An annual international conference that focuses on discussion of dyes and organic pigments used in the past.  The 43rd annual meeting will be hosted by the Society of Dyers and Colourists.

Dublin Fibre Festival

See website for details.

James Donald: Weekend weave workshop

During the weekend weave class you will receive targeted and concentrated tuition, with access to a range of specialist textile literature, samples and notes, with the purpose of you leaving with a firmer grasp of how cloth is woven.

Tutor: James Donald

Times: 9.15am – 4pm

Cost: £275

Association of Guilds of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers: 2024  National Exhibition

The Association of Guilds of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers organises the National Exhibition every 2 years to showcase the skills and creativity of members of guilds across the UK.  We are thrilled to announce that the theme of the 2024  National Exhibition is ‘Battles, Borders, Books’.

Submission details available from the AGWSD website.

The Big Textile Show

For  all those interested in textile crafts.

Clasped Weft Weaving

In this workshop learn how to combine twill patterns on a 4-shaft table loom with clasped weft technique. Suitable for absolute beginners but also weavers wanting to develop their skills further.

Tutor: Jan Beadle

Cost: £70 plus £5 for materials

Stitch Fest South West

See website for futher information.

Charlotte Grierson- Exploring Twills

For early stage weavers through to intermediate level, the workshop will aim to build understanding and confidence in the use of twills.

Tutor: Charlotte Grierson
Times: 10am-4.30pm
Cost: £280

Charlotte Grierson- Exploring Twills

For early stage weavers through to intermediate level, the workshop will aim to build understanding and confidence in the use of twills.

Tutor: Charlotte Grierson
Times: 10am-4.30pm
Cost: £280

The Knitting & Stitching Show – Belfast

See website for further information.

Yorkshire Yarn Festival

See website for further details.

Spinning for Purpose & Consistency

Suitable for experienced spinners who wish to learn to spin the most suitable yarn for their intended project; knitting, crochet, weaving etc, using appropriate fibre preparation and spinning techniques.

Tutor: Christina Chisholm

Cost: £250

Textile basketry – exploring twined pod forms

Taking inspiration from gourds and seedpods this course will focus on weaving small pod forms using the technique of twining, connecting basketry and textiles.

Tutor: Mary Crabb

Cost: £333

The Knitting & Stitching Show – Harrogate

See website for further information.

Intermediate weaving course

The course will take you through the weaving process from designing and making a warp to dressing the dobby loom and weaving a final project piece.

Tutor: Agnis Smallwood

Times:10.00 – 16.00

Cost: £295 (plus £10 materials).

James Donald: Weekend weave workshop

During the weekend weave class you will receive targeted and concentrated tuition, with access to a range of specialist textile literature, samples and notes, with the purpose of you leaving with a firmer grasp of how cloth is woven.

Tutor: James Donald

Times: 9.15am – 4pm

Cost: £275

Tapestry: Surface and texture

Explore a range of techniques to create surface and texture in tapestry weaving.  Suitable for beginners and developing weavers.

Tutor: Fiona Hutchison

Time: 10am – 4pm

Cost: £215

A Sense of Movement in Woven Tapestry – Anna Wetherell

We will take a short stroll (weather permitting) looking at shapes and patterns of movement around us and explore how to capture these through weave, using simple techniques and a range of yarns.

Tutor:  Anna Weatherell

Time: 10am – 4pm.

Cost: £65 plus £5 for materials.

Introduction to Natural Dyeing

A hands-on introduction to the basic principles and practice of natural dyeing using traditional, kitchen and foraged dye-stuffs.

Cost: £130

Fibre in woven tapestry – surface and texture

An opportunity to take a highly personal and experimental approach to surface and structure using textural techniques such as soumak and ghiordes knots, and working in a range of materials.

Tutor: Rachel Johnston

Cost: £526

Note: Course starts early evening on the first day.

Felt making – progressing skills and ideas

For those who wish to extend their textile practice, exploring composition and abstraction in the construction of felt.

Tutor: Jeanette Appleton

Cost: £740

Tapestry weaving – the basics

Learn the process of woven tapestry. After warping up, learn basic principles using different yarns, blending and combining colour to create shapes and lines and using techniques to give texture such as wrapping, knotting and tufting.

Tutor: Philip Sanderson

Cost: £321

Christmas Wool Show

See website for further details.

Murmuration: A Collaborative Tapestry Project

Members of the international Waterline project continue their collaboration in a new series of handwoven tapestries on the theme of murmuration.

Waltham Abbey Wool Show

See website for details.

Get weaving!

Explore the use of colour and texture: dress a loom: understand how to read pattern draft. Suitable for both absolute beginners and developing weavers.

Tutor: Jan Beadle (Cumbria highamhall.com/jan-beadle)

Times: Thursday January 16, 2025 at 18:30 to Sunday January 19, 2025 at 13:30

Residential: £410 Non-residential: £285 (yarns £15 available to purchase from
tutor).

Introduction to tapestry weaving

An introduction to the basic skills involved in creating a woven tapestry, from warping up a simple frame loom to exploring flat woven techniques, creating shapes, lines and playing with colour.

Tutor: Fiona Hutchison

Time: 10am- 4pm

Cost: £215

Get weaving!

Explore the use of colour and texture: dress a loom: understand how to read pattern draft. Suitable for both absolute beginners and developing weavers.

Tutor: Jan Beadle (Cumbria highamhall.com/jan-beadle)

Times: Thursday January 16, 2025 at 18:30 to Sunday January 19, 2025 at 13:30

Residential: £410 Non-residential: £285 (yarns £15 available to purchase from
tutor).

Spring into Textiles East Fair

Check website for further details.

Shape Shifting – creating a shaped tapestry

Leave the square or rectangular format behind and learn how to pull and manipulate your weaving to create curves and bends in tapestry.

Level: Beginners and developing weavers

Tutor: Fiona Hutchison

Time: 10am- 4pm

Cost: £215

Small-scale twined baskets

Learn how to twine as you make one or two small-scale twined baskets using paper yarn, incorporating a pattern and a simple border into your basket.

Tutor: Mary Crabb

Cost: £163

Tapestry weaving – the art of translation

For weavers who have grasped the basics, this course will introduce the process of translating an art work into woven tapestry.

Tutor: Philip Sanderson

Cost: £321

Kumihimo – Japanese braidmaking

Develop skills and techniques in Japanese Kumihimo braiding and produce a range of samples and a finished item.

Tutor: Jacqui Carey

Cost: £478

Fine felt making with British wools

Explore less familiar native wools and celebrate their diversity for fine felt making.

Tutor: Liz Clay

Cost: £484

Vessel and form – weaving the line

Explore linear and spatial relationships and how to introduce detail with fibres and yarns in the creation of a three-dimensional form.

Tutor: Gizella K Warburton

Cost: £474

Passementerie – linen and rayon multiple mould tassels

Learn the traditional techiques of tassel-making for interior decoration using a set of wooden moulds and high quality yarns.

Tutor: Anna Crutchley

Cost: £316

Weaving on a body-tensioned loom

Learn the key skills of weaving using a simple, body-tensioned, rigid heddle loom.

Tutor: Rebecca Connolly

Cost: £498

The Stitch Festival

See website for further details.

James Donald: Weekend weave workshop

During the weekend weave class you will receive targeted and concentrated tuition, with access to a range of specialist textile literature, samples and notes, with the purpose of you leaving with a firmer grasp of how cloth is woven.

Tutor: James Donald

Times: 9.15am – 4pm

Cost: £295

Mentoring for Tapestry and Mixed Media Textiles

Three days of mentoring, working in a small discussion group of like-minded textile artists to develop and sustain your individual creative practice.

Tutor: Rachel Johnston

Dates: 5 February, 5 March and 2 April 2025

Cost: £463

Heallreaf 5

The 5th Heallreaf exhibition of small-scale handwoven tapestries.

Heallreaf is an Old English word meaning a tapestry hung in a public place. It is pronounced ‘hair-ll-reff’.

Sodbury Yarn Over!

See website for further details.

James Donald: Weekend weave workshop

During the weekend weave class you will receive targeted and concentrated tuition, with access to a range of specialist textile literature, samples and notes, with the purpose of you leaving with a firmer grasp of how cloth is woven.

Tutor: James Donald

Times: 9.15am – 4pm

Cost: £295

James Donald: Weekend weave workshop

During the weekend weave class you will receive targeted and concentrated tuition, with access to a range of specialist textile literature, samples and notes, with the purpose of you leaving with a firmer grasp of how cloth is woven.

Tutor: James Donald

Times: 9.15am – 4pm

Cost: £295

Braids 2025 – Rockin’ Braids and Bands

The 6^th International Braiding Conference will take place in Cleveland, Ohio, with workshops, talks and other activities. 

See website for further information. 

James Donald: Weekend weave workshop

During the weekend weave class you will receive targeted and concentrated tuition, with access to a range of specialist textile literature, samples and notes, with the purpose of you leaving with a firmer grasp of how cloth is woven.

Tutor: James Donald

Times: 9.15am – 4pm

Cost: £295

Verve: Tapestry Tour International

A diverse range of tapestry weavers from England and New Zealand come together in the fourth Tapestry Tour International exhibition of small-format hand woven tapestries.

Verve – Tapestry Touring International

Tapestry weavers from England and New Zealand come together in this fourth international touring exhibition of small format hand woven tapestries.

VÄV2025

The triennial international handweaving fair and conference organised by the Swedish Weaving Council.

More information to follow.

Tapestry: Introduction to Studio Practice

Now in its 6th year, Introduction to Studio Practice is a part time study programme which offers students the opportunity to build their creative and technical skills in tapestry weaving. It is aimed at students who have some experience of tapestry weaving and are looking to extend their practice by committing to an extended and intensive programme of study.

The programme runs from November 2024 to September 2025.

Tutor: Fiona Hutchison

Cost: £1,200

Fall into Textiles East Fair

Check website for further details.

Tapestry weaving for beginners

Learn woven tapestry techniques for shaping, shading and weaving diagonals to make a sample panel.

Tutor: Caron Penney

Cost: £323

Picking up the Thread: the Past, Present and Future of Tapestry

The British Tapestry Group 20th anniversary exhibition will be shown at a number of venues from August 2025 and throughout 2026.

Confirmed venues include Gracefield Arts Centre in Dumfries, Dovecot Studios in Edinburgh, Ocean Studios in Plymouth and the Morley Gallery in London.