We are a dealer for Ashford looms and accessories. We offer 10% discount on Ashford orders over $400. Please enquire.
THE SILK WEAVING STUDIO OFFERS EXCITING SPINNING & WEAVING CLASSES Select from beginners weaving 101 and level 102, with Amanda Wood, introduction to tapestry with Ruth Jones and silk spinning with Kim McKenna
PLEASE CONTACT US AT SILKWEAVEDIANA@GMAIL.COM TO BE NOTIFIED ABOUT FUTURE CLASSES
sPINNING CLASSES - April 30, 2022- see bleow
Sanjo Silk Spinning Workshop with Kim McKenna via zoom
Sanjo Silk has sourced and set aside three high quality fibres for this virtual mini-workshop. You will be working with hand-painted wool/silk sliver (in two different colourways), muga silk and peduncle tasar silk.
The wool/silk is a well-blended 50% Merino and 50% Bombyx sliver that has been custom dyed by Diana Sanderson. Bombyx, or mulberry, silk comes from a species of domesticated silkworms. When spun using a worsted draft, the silk lends the yarn lustre and incredible drape while the wool lends loft and elasticity.
Muga and tasar are semi-domesticated species of non-mulberry silkworms. The muga silk chosen for this workshop is a gorgeous natural golden colour whose lustrous silken strands sparkle when they catch the light. The peduncle tasar silk has a soft metallic sheen. Depending upon the strain of tasar silkworm, the lustre can be reminiscent of a bronze patina or an antique pewter colour. In blends muga and peduncle tasar add a touch of sparkle and depth, respectively, to your handspun.
In this workshop Kim will be sharing her new technique for preparing carded rovings. Although time does not allow us to ply during this short workshop, Kim will also make time to share/explain her plying method and give you some ideas for plying with the 60/2 silk yarn provided.
The $98 workshop fee includes approximately 100 grams of fibre and a quill of 60/2 hand-dyed silk yarn. These materials normally retail at $44. Along with your materials, you will receive a coupon from Sanjo Silk Ltd. for 10% off your next fibre or yarn purchase. The colourway package you receive will be luck of the draw as we are not able to accommodate special requests for colours.
Please be sure to include your email address, mailing address and phone number in all communications. This information is required for shipping of materials and emailing of your Zoom invite. Closer to the time of the class, an email with additional information and access code to the Zoom on-line class will be sent to the email address you provide. Note: Eventbrite calendar reminders do not require any response on your part.
Important Shipping Note: Please contact Diana as soon as possible to advise her if you will be picking your materials up at The Silk Weaving Studio on Granville Island or if you require your materials to be shipped. silkweavediana@gmail.com
Materials will be shipped 3 weeks prior to the workshop. Shipping cost is $15 within Canada and $20 to USA. Materials will be shipped by Friday, April 8, 2022 at the latest.
Equipment List: You will need:
a solid working knowledge of your wheel
to be able to spin a continuous yarn
a spinning wheel and its accessories (bobbins, orifice hook, etc.). Flyer-led wheels with a Scotch tension set up are preferred.
Handcards, non-slip drawer liner/mat and clamp. You will be blending fibre with your handcard clamped to a tabletop or other sturdy surface. The drawer liner/mat material helps to minimize slippage. The carding surface extends beyond the table top while the clamp secures the handle to the table.
Diz and orifice threader
scissors
large smooth bowl to hold spinning fibre
smooth silky cloth or scarf for your lap to keep the silk from catching on your clothing
Note-taking and labelling supplies including baggies, permanent marker and index cards (any size) to organize your samples.
One-hole punch (optional).
WEAVING CLASSES
Three Classes with Amanda Wood - with small class size to encourage one on one instructor engagement Sept class was sold out Future classes- please stay tuned, we hope to offer them in the spring 2022
Introduction to Rigid Heddle Weaving September 9, 16 and 23, 2021 (Thursdays 6:30-8pm) SOLD OUT- contact us to be on the list for the next offering.
Love lining things up and working in a meditative way? Yearning to weave cloth? Rigid heddle looms are a perfect introductory tool. In this course you’ll learn everything you need to start weaving on your own with teaching artist and weaver, Amanda Wood.
ABOUT THE COURSE The rigid heddle loom is a simple yet robust tool that produces beautiful cloth. With the portable and easy to use Ashford Knitter’s Loom, we will spend three weeks working through the entire weaving process. From setting up for weaving, choosing yarn, basic weaving techniques to appropriate finishes. Students will be well prepared with skills and inspiration for future weaving projects after completing this introductory class. Expect a fast-paced, inclusive class where students are encouraged to try new things.
SKILL LEVEL Absolute beginner
TOOLS AND SUPPLIES A notebook, pen and a pair of small scissors are helpful. Each student will be provided with a loom, tote bag, shuttles for use during the workshop, and a selection of silk and silk blend yarns which can be used at home in between classes. Students will also receive a 10% discount on yarns and looms purchased through the studio while enrolled.
Colour and Weave on the Rigid Heddle (October 2021- postponed- please stay tuned
If you have some experience working with a rigid heddle loom and you would like to learn how to use two colours and two shuttles to create more complex colour design in your work. In this course you’ll learn the ins and outs of two shuttle colour and weave patterns with teaching artist and weaver, Amanda Wood.
ABOUT THE COURSE Colour and weave is a wonderful weave structure for beginning to think about colour and pattern without straying from plain weave. If you want to make more complex looking cloth but also enjoy the rhythm of plain weave then this class is for you. This project-based class will tackle the complex looking but very straight forward colour and weave warp and weft stripe patterning. We’ll learn to warp with two colours and to use two shuttles to create a silk scarf. Expect rhythm and repetition as we wrap our heads around the colour shifts that happen when we switch shuttles.
SKILL LEVEL Advanced beginner. You’re familiar with basic weaving terminology and you’ve woven a few pieces on your own successfully.
TOOLS AND SUPPLIES A notebook, pen and a pair of small scissors are helpful. Each student will be provided with a loom, tote bag, shuttles, pick up sticks for use during the workshop and a selection of silk yarns which can be used at home in between classes. Students will also receive a 10% discount on yarns and looms purchased through the studio while enrolled.
Pick up on the Rigid Heddle Loom November 2021 (6:30-8pm, 2 weeks) postponed, please stay tuned If you have some experience working with a rigid heddle loom and you’re dying to shift outside of the woven grid and make some lacy patterns. In this course you’ll learn the ins and outs of using pick up sticks to create purposeful weft and warp floats with teaching artist and weaver, Amanda Wood.
ABOUT THE COURSE Pick up sticks are the next step to creating more complex cloth on a rigid heddle loom. By creating additional sheds, we are able to make floats on purpose! Over two weeks we’ll spend time learning the fundamental techniques behind warp and weft floats and learn to put them together to design future projects. We’ll create a scarf that showcases different patterns as a functional sampler. Expect repetition and quiet focus as we build a beautiful complex cloth.
SKILL LEVEL Advanced beginner. You’re familiar with basic weaving terminology and you’ve woven a few pieces on your own successfully.
TOOLS AND SUPPLIES A notebook, pen and a pair of small scissors are helpful. Each student will be provided with a loom, tote bag, shuttles, pick up sticks for use during the workshop and a selection of silk yarns which can be used at home in between classes. Students will also receive a 10% discount on yarns and looms purchased through the studio while enrolled.
AMANDA WOOD A graduate of the Textile Arts program at Capilano University, Amanda has been teaching weaving for over three years. She loves connecting with student interests and helping them realize their ideas. As a member of the Canadian Guild of Weavers and the Craft Council of BC, she is an active member of the local weaving community. Her work is grounded within the context of traditional hand weaving yet lives in the space between art and craft. Upcoming exhibit:https://craftcouncilbc.ca/interwoven-amanda-wood/ interwoven | a multi sensory exploration of the ways cloth mediates care and time. How is the tactility of cloth interwoven and unseen in our daily lives? What happens when that sensory experience of cloth is altered, replaced with a different sensory experience or even removed? Craft Council of BC July 8 - August 19 www.amandawoodstudio.com
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 sanjosilk@gmail.com if you need to arrange for an alternate attendee.
email: silkweavediana@gmail.com to be notified when dates and details of the weaving classes are available.
Tapestry Weaving with Ruth Jones
Tapestry Weaving with Ruth Jones- we hope to offer these classes in the future- please contact us to be on the notification list
Tapestry is a weft-faced cloth. The weaver lays the wefts into the warp in a discontinuous pattern, based on his or her artistic plan.
Ruth Jones is an Aubusson-trained tapestry designer and weaver with a background in Classics and Fine Arts. She believes that patience, required for skill-building, pays off in gained visual and manual dexterity.
An article about Ruth’s work appears in the Winter 2019 issue of the magazine Surface Design. Among other venues in Canada and the UK, her work will be exhibited in 2020-2021 in America Tapestry Alliance Biennial exhibition 13.
The course fee of $195 includes instruction, two bobbins and silk and wool yarns for class time. You can bring your own loom pre-warped or purchase a pre-warped loom for $90. Please email silkweavediana@gmail.com if you wish to order a loom.
Class size is limited to 5, allowing personal instruction.
The course scheduled for 3 consecutive evenings: Please contact us if you are interested in being notified when we have new dates.
Ruth is planning an advanced tapestry workshop and would like to structure it around the students needs and availability. Please write to silkweavediana@gmail.com if you are interested or to be on the contact list.
For registration- see links for Eventbrite with each class
Refund 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
We are a dealer for Ashford looms and accessories. Please enquire.