Tapestry Weaving at Halcyon Yarn
Continuing Education in Tapestry Weaving
Halcyon Yarn is a great place to learn or advance your tapestry weaving skills, and to find excellent resources and products.
It’s been a pleasure hosting Barbara Burns and a wide range of tapestry students for her workshops. The excitement and creativity flows throughout these workshops. Taking a Line for a Walk – Continuing Education in Tapestry Weaving just wrapped up last week and it offered students a deeper dive into the technical aspects of tapestry weaving.
Students of various skill levels worked on how to control a line within the tapestry, honing the skills of choosing where and how any two colors in composition meet, whether it is a thin line or a large shape. Students learned how to weave a smooth line of consistent thickness no matter what direction it travels. Students explored using highs and lows, stealing and stepping, to create smooth curves and angles. This class provided the opportunity to work on the tapestry surface, warp and weft tension, work in opposing sheds, consider weft thickness vs. warp, sew slits, and other skills.
An excellent next step for the beginning to intermediate tapestry weaver with some experience, or for a seasoned weaver who wants to sharpen skills. We’ll be offering this, as well as introductory tapestry weaving, again this winter. Check the class calendar for more dates soon!
About Barbara Burns:
Instructor Barbara Burns studied tapestry at West Dean College in Sussex, England. She has also studied here in the US, most notably with Archie Brennen and Susan Martin Maffei. She has taught private students and workshops in NY and Maine. Barbara’s tapestries have been exhibited both nationally and internationally. She has received awards from as far away as Serbia and England.
Barbara also contributes to the American Tapestry Alliance through her blog on the Mastering of Self-Promotion as an artist. This wonderful resource is a great tool for those looking for “the tools you need to promote your work in a professional manor…”. Please visit Barbara’s blog here for further information on topics ranging from writing artists statements to the business of art and selling. Barbara will be among the fiber arts demonstrators at Halcyon Yarn’s Open House on Saturday October 7th as well.
The video below gives a brief look into a Tapestry Workshop that took place earlier this year at Halcyon Yarn. It’s a great overview of what you can expect if you plan to join us for a class!
TWiNE (Tapestry Weavers in New England) at Halcyon Yarn: September 30th
We are also excited to announce that we will be hosting the Tapestry Weavers in New England at Halcyon Yarn this month! Join TWiNE on Saturday, September 30th at 1:00 pm for a tapestry show-and-tell and discussion.
TWiNE, one of several regional tapestry weavers groups in the United States and Canada, was established in 1991 to support contemporary tapestry artists from New England and afar. TWiNE consists of approximately 45 members with experience ranging from full-time professional artists to fairly casual weavers, including teachers, textile professionals and gallery owners. TWiNE members have put on numerous group shows in their 23 year history.
In addition to showing members’ work, TWiNE also focuses on educating the public about contemporary tapestry design and technique. Membership is not limited to residents of New England and currently includes members from every New England states as well as California, New York, Colorado, and Canada. Currently. Members organize three meeting a year. They share news of their own work and projects as well as maintaining regular contact through email.
The event does not require registration and is free – we hope you’ll join TWiNE and Barbara Burns at Halcyon Yarn on September 30th!
Past blog posts, and member work can be seen here: TWiNE
