Barbara Cabral

Barbara Cabral received her MA from the University of Akron researching the use of madder in Ohio coverlets. She has taught Contemporary Needle Arts at the University of Akron and in Tallin, Estonia, where she collected Estonian and traditional card-weaving textiles. She lectures on textile topics including Pictorial Needle Felting, Sewing with Handwoven fabric, Khmer Hol (Ikat), Natural Dyes, Working with Lotus Fiber, and Estonian Knitting.

Since the early 1980s, her work has been exhibited in Ohio. More recently, she has exhibited in Florida. In 2020 she received 1st place in the HGA fashion show Seasons of the Smokies for a woven and needle-felted cloak. She has raised silkworms since 2013, an experience that led her to travel to Thailand and Cambodia where she visited textile venues and met with weavers, dyers, golden silkworm farmers, and conservators. She continues to travel to Cambodia to study Khmer Hol (Ikat) and lectures and leads workshops on Khmer weaving.