Bound Plattväv & Rya Variations with Åsa Viksten Strömbom
Rare opportunity to study with a world expert
Instructor: Åsa Viksten Strömbom
Dates offered 2024: Aug 5–9
Learn the fascinating history of these techniques from our special Swedish guest teacher Åsa Viksten Strömbom. You will have a loom to yourself to experience bound plattväv, also known as bottentäckeväv. This unique structure, woven by two master weaver brothers in the 1800s, a story that Åsa has researched in detail. The threading, treadling, and choice of color and material will give the fabrics a varied appearance. Each participant can expect to have a finished piece for a small pillow cover by the end of the week.
A second project on shared looms will offer an opportunity to experience weaving rya on a twill ground, making both sides of the fabric uniquely decorative. Learn the function and history of coverlets woven in this fashion from a native immersed in this knowledge. A special feature of this technique is that the knots are not visible on the smooth side. You will learn at least two different ways to make the knots.
Projects
On your own loom:
Each student will have a “home base” loom with a 2-meter bound plattväv warp to thread and weave on.
Shared looms:
Three small Rya looms will be shared, both in the threading and weaving.
Classroom sessions
Åsa will provide us with several classroom presentations presenting the work and research she has done on these fascinating techniques, along with an inside view of the history and culture behind them.
Schedule
Mon – Will be spent threading and tying up the looms.
Tue – We will start to weave and rotate to new projects as needed. With 6 students and 9 looms, students will not feel rushed to move on. Some projects will take more time than others.
Mon–Fri – Classroom sessions will build on each other through the week, providing a thorough exposure to many examples, techniques, materials, and designs.
My name is Åsa Viksten Strömbom and I live with my husband Leif, my looms, and Rufus the cat in a house in Bälinge, a small village about 8 miles north of Uppsala.
My focus is to weave products for daily use. I like to use older fabrics as a source of inspiration to create products adapted to our times. Natural materials are my favorite, but sometimes even slightly odd materials can become features in the fabrics.
I also enjoy offering lectures and courses. With me in my luggage are two books that I have written. One is about two weaver brothers and their technique bottentäckeväv. The other book is about weaving and materials past and present in Uppland. Both contain historical flashbacks and weaving records.
Check out Åsa’s books in our store:
- Bottentäcken och vävarbröderna i Kubbe (Bound plattväv coverlets and the Kubbe’s weaver brothers)
- Upplandsvävar i ny form (Uppland weaves in a new form)
Find more info on Åsa’s site textiltdaochnu.com
Textilt Då och Nu
(Textile Then and Now)
Register now
Prerequisites: Vävstuga Basics or considerable weaving experience
Max enrollment: 12
Location: Barn Studio
Course fee: $975 (includes all instruction and studio time, course handouts, lunch Mon–Fri, dinner Thu)
Materials fee: $75
Days offered: Five-day session, Mon–Fri
Schedule: Instruction time 9:00–noon and 1:30–4:00. Once a session begins, the Barn studio is available at all hours. Exceptions: on the last day, checkout must be completed by noon.