THE SILK WEAVING STUDIO & SANJO SILK OFFERS EXCITING
SPINNING, WEAVING & embroidery CLASSES
SILK, spinning & colour blending workshop
Oct 24-26, 2025 SOLD OUT
second workshop Oct 29-31 (see updates below)
Join Kim McKenna and your host, Diana Sanderson of the Silk Weaving Studio, on Salt Spring Island for a weekend immersed in silk and colour
registration thru Eventbrite-second workshop opening 9am May 2, 2025
Oct 24-26, 2025 SOLD OUT
second workshop Oct 29-31 (see updates below)
Join Kim McKenna and your host, Diana Sanderson of the Silk Weaving Studio, on Salt Spring Island for a weekend immersed in silk and colour
registration thru Eventbrite-second workshop opening 9am May 2, 2025
Workshop Fee: $364
The fee includes a beautifully curated materials kit (retailing at $169), a complimentary Welcome Dinner, two complimentary light lunches, a coupon from SANJO SILK Ltd. for 10% off your next fibre or yarn purchase, a coupon for 10% off Sweet Georgia Yarns hand-dyed yarns and fibres plus a coupon for 15% off for the first payment of an All-Access Monthly or Annual subscription at the School of Sweet Georgia.
https://www.sanjosilk.com/
https://www.schoolofsweetgeorgia.com/
Dates: October 24 to 26, 2025 SOLD OUT , second workshop October 29 to 31,2025
Times: See Schedule below
Place: Salt Spring Island, B.C.
We strongly recommend you make ferry and accommodation reservations as soon as possible. Salt Spring Island can either be glorious in the fall or wet and cool. If the weather cooperates, we can spin on the balcony overlooking Ganges Harbour. If the weather is inclement we will work indoors where we can keep ourselves warm and cozy.
Maximum Number of Participants: 10
Description:
This year’s silk spinning workshop is all about colour. Join me, Kim McKenna, and your host, Diana Sanderson of the Silk Weaving Studio, on Salt Spring Island for a weekend immersed in silk and colour.
Session 1 - Wild Silks, natural coloured and dyed
Over the course of the weekend we will work with the natural coloured silks listed below as well as eri and tasar silk which have been custom-dyed by Diana Sanderson expressly for this workshop. Before we start blending the silks in your kit with the handpainted wool provided, we will examine the unique attributes of:
In this session you will delve into the world of colour; blending handpainted and natural silks with handpainted wool from SweetGeorgia Yarns. Kim will walk you through a series of colour blending exercises to help you explore the concepts of hue, value, saturation, tints, tones, shades, relationships between hues on the colour wheel and the relationships between values on the value scale.
Session 3 - Colour Design Strategies & Weaving Tips
In this session Diana & Kim each review their approach to colour in their work. Diana will share how she designs her handpainted warps. Kim will explain her approach to choosing the colours for her warps, her fibre preparation methods, and how she spins different colour effects for her silk weft yarns. In addition, Diana and Kim will share some of their best tips for weaving and working with silk.
Session 4 - Colour Blending
With the exercises in the Session 2 under your belt, it is time for you to put your understanding of colour theory to the test. Using natural and dyed silks from your materials kit, along with handpainted wool top from SweetGeorgia Yarns, you will create your own wool/silk blend, or blends, which you will then spin into a handspun skein, or skeins, that resonate with your own personal taste.
Schedule:
Friday 6 pm for 1st workshop, Wed for 2nd workshop
Complimentary Welcome Dinner, provided by your host, Diana Sanderson. Please bring your spinning wheel to this dinner as your “plus one” so Kim can make sure it is tuned and ready to go in the morning.
If you have any food concerns, please contact Diana [email protected]
Saturday 9:00 am Session 1 & 2 for 1st workshop, Thurs for 2nd workshop
12 pm - 1:30 pm Light complimentary lunch
1:30 - 2:30 pm Session 2
2:30 - 4:30 pm Session 3
6 pm Potluck dinner
Sunday 9:30 am - 12 pm Session 4 for 1st workshop, Friday for 2nd workshop
12 pm - 1:30 pm Light complimentary lunch
1:30 - 4:00 pm Session 4, continued
Materials: Your curated materials kit contains 100g of natural coloured silks, 100g of custom-dyed Eri, 100g of custom-dyed Dabha, 120g of SweetGeorgia Yarns handpainted Corriedale, and 50g natural light grey Corriedale.
CANCELLATIONS
We strive to create a well thought out and engaging experience for students within an intimate setting. Unfortunately, we are not able to refund workshops under any circumstances due to the time and preparation required in advance of the workshops.
Workshops are fully transferable, and we’re happy to accommodate a friend or family member to come in your place. Please contact [email protected] if you need to arrange for an alternate attendee.
COMMUNICATION
When you register, please provide an email address that you monitor regularly, to check for updates regarding the class
The fee includes a beautifully curated materials kit (retailing at $169), a complimentary Welcome Dinner, two complimentary light lunches, a coupon from SANJO SILK Ltd. for 10% off your next fibre or yarn purchase, a coupon for 10% off Sweet Georgia Yarns hand-dyed yarns and fibres plus a coupon for 15% off for the first payment of an All-Access Monthly or Annual subscription at the School of Sweet Georgia.
https://www.sanjosilk.com/
https://www.schoolofsweetgeorgia.com/
Dates: October 24 to 26, 2025 SOLD OUT , second workshop October 29 to 31,2025
Times: See Schedule below
Place: Salt Spring Island, B.C.
We strongly recommend you make ferry and accommodation reservations as soon as possible. Salt Spring Island can either be glorious in the fall or wet and cool. If the weather cooperates, we can spin on the balcony overlooking Ganges Harbour. If the weather is inclement we will work indoors where we can keep ourselves warm and cozy.
Maximum Number of Participants: 10
Description:
This year’s silk spinning workshop is all about colour. Join me, Kim McKenna, and your host, Diana Sanderson of the Silk Weaving Studio, on Salt Spring Island for a weekend immersed in silk and colour.
Session 1 - Wild Silks, natural coloured and dyed
Over the course of the weekend we will work with the natural coloured silks listed below as well as eri and tasar silk which have been custom-dyed by Diana Sanderson expressly for this workshop. Before we start blending the silks in your kit with the handpainted wool provided, we will examine the unique attributes of:
- Muga: a lovely golden coloured silk that sparkles when it catches the light.
- Peduncle tasar: a fibre that has a mesmerizing depth and complexity to it. This fibre has a soft lustre and its dark rich brown colour reminds one of oil rubbed bronze.
- Eri silk: a soft white colour with a soft pearlescent sheen.
- Kosa silk. a new fibre sourced by Sanjo Silks, the Kosa silk in this workshop is from a strain of tasar known as Dabha. Dabha, is a creamy light honey colour with a sparkly lustre.
In this session you will delve into the world of colour; blending handpainted and natural silks with handpainted wool from SweetGeorgia Yarns. Kim will walk you through a series of colour blending exercises to help you explore the concepts of hue, value, saturation, tints, tones, shades, relationships between hues on the colour wheel and the relationships between values on the value scale.
Session 3 - Colour Design Strategies & Weaving Tips
In this session Diana & Kim each review their approach to colour in their work. Diana will share how she designs her handpainted warps. Kim will explain her approach to choosing the colours for her warps, her fibre preparation methods, and how she spins different colour effects for her silk weft yarns. In addition, Diana and Kim will share some of their best tips for weaving and working with silk.
Session 4 - Colour Blending
With the exercises in the Session 2 under your belt, it is time for you to put your understanding of colour theory to the test. Using natural and dyed silks from your materials kit, along with handpainted wool top from SweetGeorgia Yarns, you will create your own wool/silk blend, or blends, which you will then spin into a handspun skein, or skeins, that resonate with your own personal taste.
Schedule:
Friday 6 pm for 1st workshop, Wed for 2nd workshop
Complimentary Welcome Dinner, provided by your host, Diana Sanderson. Please bring your spinning wheel to this dinner as your “plus one” so Kim can make sure it is tuned and ready to go in the morning.
If you have any food concerns, please contact Diana [email protected]
Saturday 9:00 am Session 1 & 2 for 1st workshop, Thurs for 2nd workshop
12 pm - 1:30 pm Light complimentary lunch
1:30 - 2:30 pm Session 2
2:30 - 4:30 pm Session 3
6 pm Potluck dinner
Sunday 9:30 am - 12 pm Session 4 for 1st workshop, Friday for 2nd workshop
12 pm - 1:30 pm Light complimentary lunch
1:30 - 4:00 pm Session 4, continued
Materials: Your curated materials kit contains 100g of natural coloured silks, 100g of custom-dyed Eri, 100g of custom-dyed Dabha, 120g of SweetGeorgia Yarns handpainted Corriedale, and 50g natural light grey Corriedale.
CANCELLATIONS
We strive to create a well thought out and engaging experience for students within an intimate setting. Unfortunately, we are not able to refund workshops under any circumstances due to the time and preparation required in advance of the workshops.
Workshops are fully transferable, and we’re happy to accommodate a friend or family member to come in your place. Please contact [email protected] if you need to arrange for an alternate attendee.
COMMUNICATION
When you register, please provide an email address that you monitor regularly, to check for updates regarding the class
Introduction to Rigid Heddle Loom Weaving
April 29, May 6 & 13 2025. 6:30-9:00pm-
SOLD OUT Next class will be fall 2025. Please email [email protected] to be notified of upcoming dates.
This course will take you from being a non-weaver to being a weaver. It will introduce you to 2 types of weaving on a super portable Knitter’s Loom, a type of rigid heddle loom.
- Balanced, flat weaving – used for wearables, table linens, etc.-
-Textural work – suitable for decorative wall hangings and art
You’ll get a bag full of interesting yarns to use as weft in your work, as well as beautiful Sanjo Silk 50% Silk 50% Merino Wool 12/3 (#10-056 ) for your warps.
You’ll become knowledgeable about the loom, the materials, and the basic technique of weaving; how to put the warp on, and take the finished work off; how to introduce texture to your work.
You’ll learn what you need to know in order to proceed to weaving wearable pieces, table linens or tea towels. You’ll also learn techniques for creating a textural decorative piece. And you’ll know the differences in how to approach these 2 types of weaving.
Join the fun, be part of a real-live class, be inspired by the creativity of your classmates, and become a weaver!
The class will be held at the beautiful and inspiring Silk Weaving Studio (in the Sandbar courtyard on Granville Island)
Maximum class size is 5 to allow for lots of personal attention.
$295, includes most of the materials you’ll need, and the at-home use of the loom for the course and sometime after. (to be announced)
Eventbrite link for registration which opens April 1,2025
When you register please use an email that you monitor regularly in order to see any updates on the class.
SOLD OUT Next class will be fall 2025. Please email [email protected] to be notified of upcoming dates.
This course will take you from being a non-weaver to being a weaver. It will introduce you to 2 types of weaving on a super portable Knitter’s Loom, a type of rigid heddle loom.
- Balanced, flat weaving – used for wearables, table linens, etc.-
-Textural work – suitable for decorative wall hangings and art
You’ll get a bag full of interesting yarns to use as weft in your work, as well as beautiful Sanjo Silk 50% Silk 50% Merino Wool 12/3 (#10-056 ) for your warps.
You’ll become knowledgeable about the loom, the materials, and the basic technique of weaving; how to put the warp on, and take the finished work off; how to introduce texture to your work.
You’ll learn what you need to know in order to proceed to weaving wearable pieces, table linens or tea towels. You’ll also learn techniques for creating a textural decorative piece. And you’ll know the differences in how to approach these 2 types of weaving.
Join the fun, be part of a real-live class, be inspired by the creativity of your classmates, and become a weaver!
The class will be held at the beautiful and inspiring Silk Weaving Studio (in the Sandbar courtyard on Granville Island)
Maximum class size is 5 to allow for lots of personal attention.
$295, includes most of the materials you’ll need, and the at-home use of the loom for the course and sometime after. (to be announced)
Eventbrite link for registration which opens April 1,2025
When you register please use an email that you monitor regularly in order to see any updates on the class.
Cancellation policy for all classes:
Eventbrite fees are non-refundable. Class fees are non-refundable unless class is cancelled. In the event of unforeseen instructor absence all efforts will be made to re-schedule missed classes. If for some reason you are unable to attend the course, you may send someone else in your place. Please contact us at sanjosilk at gmail dot com
PLEASE CONTACT US AT [email protected] TO BE NOTIFIED ABOUT FUTURE CLASSES
Eventbrite fees are non-refundable. Class fees are non-refundable unless class is cancelled. In the event of unforeseen instructor absence all efforts will be made to re-schedule missed classes. If for some reason you are unable to attend the course, you may send someone else in your place. Please contact us at sanjosilk at gmail dot com
PLEASE CONTACT US AT [email protected] TO BE NOTIFIED ABOUT FUTURE CLASSES
We are a dealer for Ashford looms and accessories.
Please enquire.
Please enquire.
