Pattern at the Fell of the Cloth: Weft Kasuri
3-day workshop with Beth Ross Johnson
May 29-31 9:00 - 4:00
Weft ikat provides a way of working with ikat that can be controlled or spontaneous. In this class on Day One, the class will be held at Local Cloth Studios in Asheville, Students will tie and dye simple ikat resists onto their weft yarn using cold water fiber reactive dyes. Days two and Three will be held at Johnson Farm where using a variety of techniques, students will line up or shift these patterns as they weave to motifs resembling flames, waves, or clouds that travel across the fabric and can bend and curve. Looms will be threaded in advance. A discussion of warp ikat tying will be part of the class as well as historical images.
About: Beth Ross Johnson is a weaver, teacher and workshop leader living in Black Mountain, North Carolina. She grew up in Charleston, South Carolina and when she became interested in weaving and textile arts, learned initially from students from Norman Kennedy, later studying with him for many workshops. A lifelong fascination with Asian art led to an interest in Japanese textiles and she has had two extensive stays in Japan to study kasuri (ikat weaving and dyeing) and sakiori (rag weaving) with master weavers there. Other avenues of exploration have been sashiko stitching and nyoho-e (Zen stitching). Recent studies have been in the ikat traditions of Europe, influenced by the 18th century wave of Orientalism on the continent, and woven structures like sashiko-ori and kasuri-ori that mimc hand stitching and ikat processes. The craft schools, weather, and music compelled a move to western North Carolina in 1980 where she has worked a number of arts related jobs (including in environmental and craft preservation in Cherokee) while maintaining a studio and teaching in formal and informal institutions. She is now weaving and teaching full-time and is co-authoring a book on Sashiko-ori.
Workshop
Ability level: Students should be able to warp their own looms
Loom Requirements: 4 shaft floor or table loom. Not for rigid heddle looms
Location
Friday- Local Cloth in Asheville
Saturday-Sunday- Johnson Farm
Participants will provide:
A warped floor or table loom (not for rigid heddle)
Width: 10" W
Length: 3 1/2 yards
EPI: 16
Warp Yarns: 8/2 or 10/2 navy or other dark color cotton yarn
We will be dyeing with a navy dye so you can have a warp in that color or not. Beautiful
effects can be obtained with burgundy, dark teal, rust, colored warps.
Weft Yarns: Mercerized cotton 8/2 or 10/2 natural or white on cones or balls.
Bring some light or dark colors of the same weight to mix into weaving if you have them.
At least two boat shuttles with bobbins.
A plastic bag (for dyeing day)
Bobbin winder if you have one (we can share)
Scissors or snips that you are willing cut plastic tape with
Graph paper notebook, pen or pencil
Fabric marker- water soluble
Ruler
Lunch, drinks, snacks as desired. (No lunch provided)
Instructor brings:
Kasuri tape for tying
Tying pegs and some clamps for workshop use
Handouts
Dyes, chemicals
Cancellation policy Refunds can be processed for cancellations until May 4.
