Dashboard Forums Let’s Talk Weaving! Let us know: What topics would you like to see covered in the Academy?

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  • Sheila Roberts

    Member
    July 29, 2023 at 4:59 am

    I personally like the learning paths you have outlined with the more in-depth information about twills. If there’s anything to add, you might talk about block weaves in a little more detail. I don’t need a course on Fiberworks–I don’t think you learn something until you have to do it, and Janet can answer the questions we come up with.

  • Ann Baker

    Member
    July 31, 2023 at 11:56 am

    I should start by saying that I am loving your Academy! There are so many good and amazing things about it. For my purposes, Janet’s structure and drawdown courses–especially the cookies and clocks course, are wonderful. I was hoping that there would be courses to help us decipher the contribution of the threading, tie-up, and treadling. I want to be able to manipulate the draft (whether by changing the threading or tie-up or treadling) so that the fabric looks like I want it to look. Whenever I’ve played with drafts before to get different effects, it has felt like there are too many variables to keep in mind–as if there is some “key” I’ve been missing to really understand how everything works together. Most of the lessons so far have just solidified what I already knew–until cookies and clocks–that one was so illuminating. I’m hoping that there will be more courses taking us even deeper.

    I would also like a course on the different ways to affect the “hand” of the cloth. Just on a whim, I tried some tencel for weft on my last towels (with 8/2 ringspun cotton for warp). The towels were soooo soft, and after a few washings, really absorbent. I’m including in the idea of hand the drape of the cloth. I realize that fiber, sett, and structure will affect the softness and drape of the cloth, but how and what are the tricks? I like to sew garments with my handwoven cloth and sometimes I want more body or more drape.

    • Janet Dawson

      Administrator
      November 30, 2023 at 10:14 am

      Adding a note to myself on this one: perhaps a … if not a course, then a series of exercises? for weaving a fabric at different setts to get a body of samples for comparison. This would be something kind of like a piano student practicing scales, so the trick would be finding a way to make it not just useful practice and information, but also interesting and fun!

  • MaryDianne Krueger

    Member
    August 13, 2023 at 11:39 am

    I would love to read a draft with confidence. Such as what do you do if the square in a column is blank whether it be a Tie-up or threading or treading?????????????Thanks. Also, colors draft or directions can be very confusing.

  • Amber Pham

    Member
    August 19, 2023 at 4:30 pm

    There’s a great course for designing from an image (The Design Process), so what about a framework for designing the other direction, based on one or more yarns? Yarns don’t tell me what they want to be, and I think that might be a skill you could teach.

    • Joy Pate

      Member
      August 20, 2023 at 10:03 am

      I second this one. Interesting suggestion Amber!

  • MaryDianne Krueger

    Member
    August 20, 2023 at 11:50 am

    I want to understand how to thread the loom according to the pattern — any pattern for a 4-shaft loom or a rigid heddle loom. I find the directions to whirl around in my head?????

  • Cass Markovich

    Member
    August 29, 2023 at 8:11 am

    As a rigid heddle weaver I would love: to be able to take a handweaving.com pattern and convert it to a rigid heddle. OR to have a list of drafts on the site that I could feel confident creating on a rigid heddle. I loved learning about ice dyeing and would like to learn other not complicated forms of dyeing wool yarn. Since I live in Mn. how can I ice dye in the winter snow?

    I would also really like to understand what fibers and sett make lovely draping garments. Tien, how do yfou determine what yarns to use in a given piece? I know you sample but small samples aren’t always revealing.

  • Cass Markovich

    Member
    September 11, 2023 at 8:25 am

    Thanks for keeping this forum going! As a rigid heddle weaver I would:

    1. Love to have office hours for Carly. There are so many RH questions I would love answered.

    2. I have mentioned this but will put it into writing. As RH weavers learn to warp and weave 3 shaft twills or designs, I would love to have Carly pick a design from Handweaving.net, show us how to translate it for RH and design a project.

    3. I would love to learn how to do double width fabric on the RH. This could be a whole course. I mentioned to Carly that so far Liz is not doing a specific class on simply double width weave.

    4. I would love to learn how to really incorporate thick and thin yarns. Is there a formula or specific yarns to use.

    5. Carly makes incredible sweaters and clothing. I would love to do a class that we can make a simple garment such as a vest. (not poncho) And use hand sewing verses machine finishing techniques.

    6. I would love to take a finishing techniques class for my weavings. I am thinking such as how to join 2 pieces of woven fabric together with a specific invisible stitch. Also, this would go into how to incorporate button holes that are stable into my garments.

    I am sure given more time I can think of more ideas. Some of these are Blog quality too.

    • Carly Jayne

      Member
      September 11, 2023 at 5:09 pm

      I love all of these! Thank you Cass!

  • Cass Markovich

    Member
    November 8, 2023 at 12:11 pm

    I am interested in several things. (of course!)

    1. I like taking design step by step through all the different structures.

    2. I would love to sew simple garments I can do by hand as well as by machine. Patterns that show this such as the cocoon coat etc.

    3. One of the members did warp painting that was stunning. I would love to learn how to do this step by step.

    • Janet Dawson

      Administrator
      November 9, 2023 at 4:50 pm

      Can you elaborate more on “taking a design through all the different structures”?

      • Cass Markovich

        Member
        November 9, 2023 at 10:08 pm

        LOL Janet, I wrote this at night and I am not sure what I meant! When I process this (if I process this) I will get back to you.

        • Cass Markovich

          Member
          November 9, 2023 at 10:10 pm

          I think I meant stages: pick a draft, draw the threading, sequence of heddles, density and finally spacing.

  • Cass Markovich

    Member
    November 19, 2023 at 6:54 am

    I replied a while back but as I think more about courses, this is what would interest me.

    1. Carly: I would love to learn how to weave a double width piece. I need help with this.

    2. Janet: I would love a course on krokbragd.

    3. Tien: I would love to go deeper into gradients. Now that I do twill and other 4 shaft weaves, what are some ways to use gradients? In one of your pieces you showed the members, you had created shadowed valleys with colors.(Possibly the gold and black piece?) I would love to know how this is done, how many threads to use and colors.

    Thanks

    • Janet Dawson

      Administrator
      November 30, 2023 at 10:01 am

      I did a fair bit of work with krokbragd at the end of the summer, and even built myself a spreadsheet to design in that I might be able to turn into a design tool for the site!

      • Cass Markovich

        Member
        January 9, 2024 at 4:30 pm

        Thanks Janet…..I will be looking forward to a class.

      • Mary Dyer

        Member
        January 10, 2024 at 4:07 am

        This would be awesome!

  • Sarah Ullenberg

    Member
    November 28, 2023 at 8:53 am

    I would love to see a class on learning the structure/how to weave deflected double weave. I have the book Double with a Twist by Marion Stubenitsky but have not dove into it yet…

    • Janet Dawson

      Administrator
      November 30, 2023 at 10:02 am

      I’m in a study group that’s working through Double With a Twist right now! I’ve been noodling over what sort of DDW content I might produce, and this would be a really fun topic for @tien to get her color hooks into!

  • Mary Wood

    Member
    November 28, 2023 at 11:50 am

    I found the class on working with Holiday color palettes helpful and it occurred to me that I would also like to do classes on the four seasons (i.e., colors of fall, spring, winter and summer). It helps me a lot to constrain the color pallet first because I get too carried away liking too many colors!

    • Janet Dawson

      Administrator
      November 30, 2023 at 10:03 am

      We’re definitely planning more Color Palette courses, and have put your suggestion for one based on the seasons at the top of the list! Thanks! :D

  • Cass Markovich

    Member
    December 16, 2023 at 8:06 am

    AND….for rigid heddle I would like to know how to do cramming and skipping on the RH. How to effectively use thick and thin yarns, how to use the variable dent heddle and for everyone…..how to do warp painting. I would also love to know how to make simple garments that do not require complicated sewing and even hand sewn garments. Thanks

    • Amber Pham

      Member
      January 8, 2024 at 7:12 pm

      Yes, sewing with handwovens is a goal of mine, as well!

  • Sandra Lincoln

    Member
    January 11, 2024 at 12:25 pm

    Are you still taking suggestions? I have been looking at Rep Weave. Not really understanding it.

    • Janet Dawson

      Administrator
      January 13, 2024 at 4:02 pm

      Pretty sure we will never NOT be looking for input. :)

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