Ever wonder what late 18th and 19th century textiles were really like ‘woven at home’ and not bought from a store? This workshop is your chance to explore the textiles that were woven on treadle looms before and after the Industrial Revolution in New England and the Mid-Atlantic states. You will go from “simple” two shaft work [plaids and coverlets] through the much-needed bagging and on to the more complex [4-shafts and up] work done by those who enjoyed weaving and those who wove for barter or pay.
There is something in this workshop for every level of weaver. Weaving time is a round robin and you will be moving from loom to loom. The workshop will be interspersed with slides, actual textiles to look at, and gentle ‘lectures’ about the weave structures. Many examples will be provided to suggest how these patterns may be used in the 21st century. How to decipher the “old drafts” will also be covered.
