MAWS - Montana Association of Weavers and Spinners
Cabin Fever Virtual Workshops
You will need to pay online for each class separately or register by mail
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1/11/2025 Weave Structures: Totally Twill - The Basics and Beyond
Time: 10 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. MST
Instructor: Robyn Spady
Robyn Spady was introduced to weaving at a young age and has woven for more than 50 years. She completed HGA’s Certificate of Excellence in Handweaving (COE-W) in 2004. Robyn is fascinated by the infinite possibilities of crossing threads and loves coming up with new ideas to create fabric and transform it into something new and exciting. She is committed to turning the weaving world onto uncommon and advanced weave structures. Robyn is also the founder and editor of Heddlecraft® magazine. Robyn has two videos on twill weave available through Long Thread Media as well as a master weaver ebook. Robyn will start the program with basics before going on to advancing twill. Then she will tackle network-drafted twills and will wrap up with double diagonal twills and a question and answer period. Home | Spady Studios (will not be recorded)
Fee $10 must register before 1/8/2025
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This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC
2/8/2025 Diameter Control for Spinners
Time: 10 a.m.- 12:00 p.m. MST
Instructor: Michelle Boyd
Join Master Spinner Michelle Boyd to explore all the ways you can change up the size of your yarn and shake up your spinning! Michelle will look at changing your diameter without changing how you spin by changing the way we set up our spinning wheels and how we use our fiber, then talk about planning for different diameters. There will be a discussion of how grist and diameter overlap and how they are differ and ways to use both to change the size and shape of any yarn.
From her home in Canada, Michelle will present this as a lecture and demonstration, but if you want to spin along with Michelle, you are invited to have a little bit of your favorite prepared fiber and your spinning wheel near your screen. Michelle’s new book, Twist is scheduled to be released in November of 2024. Preorders are available https://simplecirc.com/ply-magazine/item/11169/twist-pre-order-book-by-michelle-boyd This presentation is suitable for spinners of all levels of experience. (will be recorded and kept for 30 days)
Fee $10 must register before 2/6/2025
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3/8/2025 Crocheting borders, joining squares for weavers, knitters, crocheters
Time: 10 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. MST
Instructor: Rosann Fleischauer
Adding a bit of crochet flair to your woven, knitted or crocheted project is a lovely way to truly customize your piece. In this class we'll learn how to work your border directly onto your woven or knitted or crochet fabric without creating holes with a small steel hook. This is easier on your hands and allows you to properly fit the edge. It also provides a good edging if you need to join pieces and use the join as you go crochet methods. By starting with 5 inch or larger pre-made squares, it is easy to learn basic crochet stitches and borders. Bring two at least 5-inch square pieces. If it is woven fabric, a coarser weave such as a fingering to worsted weight weft is easiest to learn on. For woven pieces, work two rows of running stitches around your square prior to class with a sewing machine or by hand 1/8" and 1/4" in from the edges all the way around. Rosann often uses a heavier carpet weight thread. We will use this small channel between the two rows of stitches to start our work. For knitted or crocheted squares, create two 5-inch squares with knit or crochet using worsted weight yarn. Bind off your swatches.
Massachusetts-based Rosann will discuss pairing of yarn and hook, gauge, learn the chain stitch, single crochet, double crochet, and treble crochet and use all of these to create decorative edge and/or use this to join two squares together. Class materials: approximately 25 grams worsted weight yarn in a contrasting color to see your stitches for this workshop, a tapestry needle, a sharp sewing needle, US Size H or 5 mm crochet hook. This class will be recorded and available via Youtube link) Check our Rosann’s work at https://firstbytedesigns.com/ This class is suitable for beginner to more advanced crocheters.
Fee $10. Must register by 3/6/2025
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4/12/2025 Split Shed Weaving
Time: 10 a.m.- 11:30 MST
Instructor: Deborah Silver
Learn to transform traditional pattern structures into a signature method of hand-weaving using only four shafts. This process allows weavers to blend weft colors and create curved designs in multiple weave structures with no need for graphed pick-up designs. All weft yarns travel from selvedge to selvedge, differentiating this cloth from tapestry. Deborah Silver is a native of Cleveland, Ohio. She discovered her love of weaving while attaining her BFA at the Cleveland Institute of Art, majoring in Fiber and minoring in Drawing. Deborah pieces are shown widely at juried shows. Deborah is the author of The Technique of Split-Shed Weaving. Check out this technique at https://youtu.be/HzeCA-Iz7qY and Home | Deborah Silver Weaving Studio (program will be recorded and kept for 30 days)
Fee $10 Must register by 4/10/2025​