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Workshops

Weaving workshops in London for adults and kids in groups or one-to-one.

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Weaving from Waste Workshop @ Craft Central

One-to-One Weaving Sessions @ MS Studio

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New Acacallis Blanket | One-Off

This is one of my most recent pieces. It is made with a natural undyed British alpaca in sandstone weft and a natural undyed British wool in white and grey warp with Aegean Blue details in plain weave.
It’s the first of a series made with a mix of alpaca/wool pieces and I love its simplicity and minimalistic look combined with raw natural edges.
I was very tempted to keep it for my self, but I decided to give it away.
It will be available for all my followers on a very special price for a week before being available on the shop.
Hidden link via bio.

Warp is now wrapped on the back beam and currently threaded almost halfway. You can see the steps (backwards) by scrolling the images.
To be honest threading in such a wide and medium thickness warp, is quite boring, but it could be very meditative listening to the right music/podcasts. Also it is an extremely essential step of setting up the loom.
The threading plan, meaning the sequence (which shafts and in which order) the warp ends are threaded, determines the way the warp is lifted for the weft to come in following the lifting plan/pattern while weaving. So you need to be focused and organised. It is way easier to count and pre-organise all the heddles you will need and count off the complete repeats to avoid mistakes.
Lastly, thank you all for your messages and your questions on the stories. It’s very interesting to talk about different ways these steps could be done and remind myself why I choose a certain way.
More stories to follow with reeding, tying up the warp and finally start weaving.

NEW WARP: 826 ends of natural undyed white British wool / 13 meters long / 150 cm wide : 15 hours of wrapping on the wrapping mill.
Next step will be to spread the warp in small groups using a raddle/spreader to achieve the desirable width and wrap it with tension around the back beam of the loom using paper in between of the layers to avoid the overlapping yarns to get tangled.
I will make a series of posts and stories following all the basic steps of these project from setting up the warp to weaving and finishing and try to explain what is happening and why and how long it takes.
So if you have any questions go ahead and hit me!

On the loom // checking a just finished and cut-off throw for any mistakes and loose/broken ends before the finishing starts: washing, stitching/knotting/crocheting, steaming and brushing.
The finishing part of a woven piece is as much important as the setting up and the weaving. With the right finishing a woven piece ‘comes to life’. Photo: @aluncallenderphoto

“Why Craft Matters?” is the question the inaugural Harewood Biennial seeks to answer. Curated by design critic @hugomacd the exhibition crosses generations and disciplines, mixes classic and contemporary and uses @harewoodhouse as a platform to showcase and question the very definition of skill and craft today.
For me craft means much so more than handmade, it is the necessary opposite to our machine-made world. It slows everything down, keeps traditional techniques alive, and enables me to make something by myself. It is more than just a way of making things; it’s a way of thinking.
Craft questions the different processes of dealing with the material world, and it brings back a certain level of human dignity. Its values teach us love, empathy, and wisdom.
The resurgence of craft is already rippling around us through the food and fashion industry and in order for it to last, we need to spread the message that ‘where’, ‘why’ and by ‘whom’ something is made, matters.

Exhibition runs until 1st of September
Photo: Xenodice & Deucalion Floor Cushions and Phaedra V2 Throw - Credits @jontywilde

Thank you so much everyone who came to the workshop. It was a great pleasure to meet you and weave with you.
Special thank you to @holeandcorner and @samlukewalton for the lovely hospitality and for sharing stories and secrets spots of the local area. A making retreat indeed!
Next workshop will be in May - too busy with a commissioned project in April.
Subscribe to the newsletter to get notified about new dates.

From the back of the loom //
I absolutely love that photo which was taken a couple of weeks ago by @sarahweal who visited the studio as part of my collaboration with @thegarnered, and she caught me while a was replacing a broken warp end.
At the moment the loom is warp-less, which I always find quite sad, but I am waiting for new yarns to arrive for a commissioned project which will keep the loom busy for about two months.
In the meanwhile I am finishing (stitching/crocheting/brushing) some new pieces and also getting ready for the first in series making retreat - special weaving workshop with @holeandcorner. Can’t wait!

Warping a frame loom with a strong 4ply cotton yarn to test some ideas for the upcoming Weaving Workshops.
Tip: The choice of the warp yarn should be always carefully considered as it is the foundation of your woven piece and the base on which you will weave. It should be strong and smooth and be able to withstand the friction and stretching created by the weaving.
Traditional cotton warp for tapestry weaving is great for frame loom weaving as it consists of 4-5 cotton threads high-twisted, which gives it strength and durability. In addition the natural smoothness of cotton ensures that your weft will pass smoothly across the warp.
While warping the loom you should make sure that you have an even tension across the loom but also slightly flexible. Uneven tension will create a waviness on your woven piece.
If you want to learn more about weaving and try it by yourself join me in one of my next workshops.
There are two spaces only left for this Saturday’s workshop @craftcentraluk (link in my bio) and a few still available for the special one in Dorset @holeandcorner (link in H&C bio). In both workshops the aim of the class will be to not only cover a wide range of weaving techniques but also encourage you to explore your own distinctive voice as a weaver.

A wooden frame loom, weaving tools and instructions booklet will be provided in a recycled-cotton pouch to take home. Materials and yarns will be also provided, but your are welcome bring your own house textiles-tablecloths, bed sheets, pillowcases, and T-shirts,and learn how to turn them into yarns and use them on your weaves.

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