(2023) Swedish Classics

Builds on the techniques taught in Vävstuga Basics and has a similar format.

Instructor: Becky Ashenden

Dates offered 2023:Aug 14–18, Aug 21–25

Check our Calendar if you’re curious about other classes held concurrently.

An in-depth study of several classic weave structures commonly found in traditional Swedish handwoven textiles makes this class the logical next step after Vävstuga Basics. Students will go home with a greatly enhanced feeling of confidence in all aspects of their weaving, as well as gaining new experience with a wide variety of our beautiful cotton, linen, and wool yarns, and even weaving on a drawloom.

5 packed days, 5 projects

Tablecloth in tow linen – Your warp will be wound ahead in your color choices, and you will start by pre-sleying on a loom to yourself, followed by a basic loom dressing review.

Monksbelt runner – Two pattern blocks on a plain weave linen ground, set up and ready to go using wool or linen weft

Rosepath bag or belt – Ornate patterning with so many color possibilities. Loom will be set up and ready. Blanket wool on a linen warp.

8-shaft twill – Explore multiple treadling variations. Loom will be set up and ready. Cotton and linen.

Sword damask – Learn the magic of weaving damask blocks with only 4 shafts

Mon

Setup day

In this five-day class, each student spends the first day dressing their own loom, starting with pre-sleying a pre-wound warp in their chosen colors.

Topics include:

  • Pre-sley review
  • Beaming using a trapeze, special tips for linen
  • Comfort while threading the heddles and sleying the reed
  • Efficiency and accuracy of the Vävstuga tie-up system in review
  • Weaving sword damask

Tue–Thu

Weaving days

Once students get comfortable weaving on their linen tablecloth, we start to rotate onto the other projects.

Topics include:

  • Handling multiple shuttles
  • Weaving on a single ply linen warp
  • Gaining confidence with multiple treadles and blocks
  • Noting the differences between tie-up systems
  • Review of using a temple
  • Weaving on a drawloom

ALL WEEK

Classroom learning

A review of drafting as it relates to all of our projects, and other valuable information that can’t fit in our Basics week.

Classroom topics include:

  • Record-keeping, in the form of a detailed project sheet for each of our five projects
  • Drafting of monksbelt, rosepath, twill and satin structures
  • Drafting with blocks
  • Yarn sample cards, with multitudinous woven pieces to show how each of our many yarns are used
  • Hemming your linens
  • Sett theory, including a very detailed sett chart
  • Pre-sley calculation
Classics course

tow tablecloths

Classics course

tablecloth closeup

Classics course

monksbelt

Classics course

monksbelt closeup

Classics course

rosepath

Classics course

rosepath closeup

Classics course

8-shaft twill

Classics course

twill variant

Classics course

design classes

Classics course

yarn samples

Classics course

hemming

Classics course

sett theory

Classics course

drafting

Classics course

design classes

Register now

Prerequisites: Vävstuga Basics (Why does everyone need Basics?)

Max enrollment: 4

Course fee: $950 (includes all instruction and studio time, course handouts, lunch Mon–Fri, dinner Thu)

Materials fee: $100

Days offered: Five-day session, Monday–Friday

Schedule: Instruction time 9:00–noon and 1:30–4:00. Exceptions: on the last day, instruction ends at noon, and checkout must be completed by 3:00. Once a session begins, the Barn studio is available at all hours.

Scroll to Top