Inkle Loom Weaving Level I

Activity

Vertical cascades of delicate stripes, geometric motifs and checkers seemingly criss-crossing a narrow width tape, are common features on some of our narrowest textiles. This type of weaving, called ‘Band Weaving,’ or in our case ‘Inkle Weaving,’ refers to the hand production of narrow woven fabric. This fabric may be called tape, band, inkle, strap, belt, back strap, trim, and more.

Historically, band weaving often accompanied nomadic peoples, as strips of cloth were achievable on portable, tiny looms, and larger textiles (if needed) could be produced by sewing strips together. But these bands, so diverse in their patterns and designs are wonderful and useful in their own right, serving as ties, belts, straps, headbands and sturdy string. The strips are also often used decoratively, to edge other objects and garments.

The term “Inkle” simply means “ribbon” or “tape” and refers to any warp-faced woven good made on any type of loom, from backstrap to box-looms.

In this introductory class, participants will explore the basics of band weaving on an Inklette Loom.  Bands woven in various fibers and patterns will be compared and contrasted. Examples of small items made from and with bands will be discussed along with the basics of warping a loom.  Ultimately, participants will learn how to read and design simple patterns and to weave their own beautiful band using an Inklette Loom.  Once the basics of band weaving are learned and practiced, the possibilities are endless.

Date + Time
Saturday, March 29th

10 – 1 pm ET
Location
This workshop will take place virtually on Zoom

Cost
$100

Prerequisites
None! This class is designed with beginners in mind.

Materials

• Ashford Inklette Loom with Belt Shuttle
• Weft: at least 8 yards of 8/4 cotton carpet/rug warp (Amy recommends Maysville).
• Warp: Five skeins of Tatter thread. Two skeins of a darker color, two skeins of a lighter color, one skein of an accent color. If you choose to source your weft thread elsewhere, durable linen, cotton, or hemp are preferable.
• Scissors
• Paper + pencil for pattern making
• Optional: Color pencils matching 8/4 cotton warp colors
• Optional: Measuring tape

Our Teacher

Amy Ashdown is a fiber artist, craftswoman, and homemaker living on a smallholding in Upstate NY with her husband and seven children.  She grew up in a creative home where handmade items and craftsmanship were highly valued.  Her creative journey of over 30 years has included various crafts – quilting, mosaic, sewing, and ultimately weaving.  She finds inspiration in nature and its seasons, as well as the designs and patterns of numerous cultures from around the world.  While her weaving often results in unique handmade goods, her real passion is for enjoying each step of the creative process as she experiments with new designs and patterns.