March

The Llan-Gors Textile, an early medieval masterpiece

Louise Mumford-Senior Conservator, Archaeology, Museum of Wales, will talk about the Llangorse textile. This small fragment of fabric was found buried in mud in a Welsh lake. It was painstakingly restored to reveal an early medieval masterpiece of weaving and embroidery.

March-April

Exploring a simple weave on 4 shafts, Ms and Os

This workshop is an opportunity to investigate the simplest of all block weaves: Ms and Os. This weave structure is traditionally associated with domestic table linens, however it can also offer the possibilities of many different fabrics by varying textures, colours, weft sequences, sett or weave repeats. The workshop aims to offer opportunities to learn about the role of ‘blocks’ in weaving with looms with 4 shaft or more. Practical outcomes can include a series of fabric samples showing how to be creative with one weave structure (useful if you are thinking of tackling the AGWSD weaving certificate)., or, the opportunity to use your woven samples to plan and make a longer length of fabric for a scarf, bags or table linen.

The workshop assumes that you have access to a loom with four shafts or more. Information will be given in a form suitable for table loom weavers as well as those using floor looms. A single-coloured warp made from a smooth, reliable yarn such as 8/2s cotton, cottonlin or plied wool would be a good choice to begin together with as wide a range of weft yarns as you wish.

May

Braids from the Andes

In the Andean highlands of South America braids have been used for hundreds of years to make slings for fighting, protecting crops from birds, and by herders to guide their flock and protect them from dangerous animals. Today slings are still used by herders but other slings embellished with pom-poms, tassels and fringes are used in dances. Instructions for making these Andean sling braids using either cards or a marudai (Japanese braiding stool) are available, but I prefer to make them as they would be made in the Andes with the yarns held in my left hand and manipulated with the fingers of my right hand, and in the workshop I will be explaining how to do this.

Sling braids are not the only type of braids made in the Andes and I will also be featuring some woven braids. From Bolivia there are some narrow flat braids with patterns made by finger manipulation of the warp threads before passing the weft. These small braids are sometimes used as an edge trim for a small carrying cloth or shoulder shawl with the weft being used to attach the braid as it is being made. Another braid, this time from the highlands of Peru and Bolivia, is a tubular one known as Ñawi Awapa (Eyes on a Cloth) in which warps are crossed and diverted to produce colourful diamonds in a ‘snake-back’ effect. This is another braid that can be woven either as an independent band or attached to the edge of cloth by the weft as it is being made.

June-July

Dyeing challenge

In 2018 we had the weaving design challenge and in 2020 came the spinning challenge and, inspired by the high-level of participation and the enjoyment expressed by the participants, we are pleased to offer a dyeing challenge in 2022. These challenges encourage us to break out of our usual thinking patterns and open up new design possibilities while having fun and working within the boundaries of the “hand” we are dealt.

1. Each participant will be dealt 5 cards from the following categories
   • Natural or synthetic dye
   • Fibre type ie cotton, wool, silk etc
   • Yarn, unspun fibre or fabric
   • Technique
   • Colour or Inspiration
2. Participants may keep their hands or ask for one or two replacements
3. A list of each person’s challenge will be posted
4. Requests for ideas and assistance are welcome
5. Links to previous dye workshops will be posted

If you complete one challenge you may request another.

July

Annual Guild Discussion Week

A time of evaluation for the Online Guild. This week features an open discussion in which all members are encouraged to participate.

September

Fleece sorting and washing

Spinning wool from a well-prepared fleece brings so many pleasures and advantages over spinning predictable and somewhat bland industrially prepared top with which we are all so familiar. If you have fleece and need help getting it ready to spin this is the place to be.

This workshop will focus on washing your fleeces - those beautiful, exciting bags of wool we all fall in love with but which all too often sit alone in their bags in a shed because we don't know how to deal with them. Different fleeces from different breeds offer lots of challenges and we want to be able to make the right choices as we go.

We will also look at selecting, skirting and sorting fleeces prior to washing, as well as drying, opening and getting ready to card or comb those beautiful, now perfectly cleaned locks. This workshop will ideally be hands on with people working directly with their fleeces. The overview will be about general principals and the workshop will be participant led so we can drill down into the specifics as they arise, ideally supported with your pictures. if you have not got fleeces yet hopefully you will leave the workshop with a better understanding of what to seek out and what to leave behind.

October

Celebrating 20 years

In this series of talks we celebrate 20 years of the Online Guild and look at its past, present and future.   We share the journeys taken by Margaret and the first members of the guild to establish the OLGWSD.  Founder members tell of their crafting background and what the guild has meant to them as well as describing memorable workshops from both tutor and students’ perspectives.   The talks include insights into behind-the-scenes activities that keep the guild running smoothly and finish with thoughts on ideas and challenges for the future.

October-November

Handspun to handwoven

This course aims to guide you, step-by-step, through my process for using handspun yarns for weaving projects.

We'll begin by learning to spin a worsted or semi-worsted yarn of specified, consistent diameter and twist. This will be suitable for both warp and weft. I suggest that participants sample and practise with different fibres, which could include longwools, silk, alpaca, Tencel and fibre blends, with at least one 'end project' in mind - either a finished item (ie. a scarf) or a length of fabric.

We will learn how to measure yarn, estimate sett for different weave structures, calculate the quantities of warp and weft yarns required, and sample efficiently for the intended project whilst minimising loom waste.

Other effective uses of handspun yarn in weaving projects will be discussed - fancy yarns as accents/supplementary warps, singles yarns to create textured 'collapse' fabrics, handspun in combination with commercial yarns.

December

Festive Greetings

An opportunity for members to upload Festive Greetings, created by any means, to a dedicated photo album.

Febuary

Sprang

Sprang is an ancient method of constructing fabric that has a natural elasticity. Its appearance is similar to netting, but unlike netting, sprang is constructed entirely from warp threads. Archaeological evidence indicates that sprang predates knitting; the two textile forms bear a visible resemblance and serve similar functions but require different production techniques. Source: Wikipedia. This workshop will introduce you to the craft, guide you through learning the technique and share examples of the items that can be made using the technique, for example hats, hair nets and bags.

March-April

Spindle spinning, talk and workshop

We will start with a talk on the Spindle’s place in history and explore the range of different types of spindles.

Then the practical part; Peter Leonard will lead a workshop on spinning with drop spindles and supported spindles.

Michael Williams will describe what makes a perfect spindle in his article and the workshop will end by inviting tutors, speakers and members to share their spindle experiences, collections and other uses they have found for the spindle. We look forward to hearing about and hopefully seeing photos of cherished spindle collections and why spindle spinning is good for the soul.

April

Talk: Flax processing, past present and future

Join Rosie to learn all about flax processing, and try your hand at turning straw into gold. We will cover a brief history of all things flaxen, as well as practical instructions for home processing and exploring future of flax as a disrupter of the fast fashion status quo. By the end of this course you’ll know all about retting, rippling, scutching and heckling.

Rosie has recently completed her MSc Fashion and Textile Management at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh and is excited to share her flax research with you. We will explore the connection between agriculture and textiles, and (virtually) visit a modern flax processing mill in France. Maybe you’ll be inspired to grow your own flax patch in the garden this year too!

May

Weaving Damask for re-enactment

Erica Jones is owner of weavolution.com and has been weaving for over 20 years. Her specialities are teaching brand new weavers and medieval textiles and show you how these textiles were woven on a drawloom. The workshop will introduce you to some Medieval Damask textiles. A medieval damask you can weave with no modifications on an 8 shaft loom, plus how to make special heddles to weave a reconstruction of one of the oldest damask textiles on a 4 shaft loom.

June, July

Basic historical looms - warp weighted and backstrap

Warp weighted looms

The warp weighted loom is one of the earliest looms known to us. It appears in ancient Greek vase paintings as early as the 6th century BCE and was used in many parts of Europe until superseded by horizontal floor looms. In various forms it survived in domestic use in Nordic countries until the early 20th century, in a few cases as late as the 1950s, according to The Warp-weighted Loom by Marta Hoffman. It still features occasionally in accounts of its use by enthusiasts and among re-enactors, especially the ‘Vikings’. This event will feature a weaver researching the ancient Greek loom through study, reconstruction and practice. In addition, we will look at the experiences of modern users, including some Guild members, in constructing and using an assortment of warp weighted looms. There will be ideas for making a small loom out of easily found materials.

Backstrap looms

The backstrap loom is sometimes described as ‘primitive’. However, this does not mean that the weaving that can be done on it is primitive or poor quality, as you can see if you google ‘backstrap weaving’. Backstrap weaving is an ancient technique that is known to have been practiced since about 2500 BC in the Americas, particularly in the Mayan villages of Guatemala. The warp is attached at one end to the weaver and at the other to a solid object like a tree or a post. The weave structure is plain weave, but many embellishments, such as brocade, can be added during weaving.

The backstrap loom is simple and affordable, consisting principally of a set of sticks, some string and a strap. When not in use it can be rolled up with the weaving and carried by the weaver wherever she wishes.

This workshop is for beginners, whether you are a beginning weaver or have never used a backstrap loom before. You will learn what is needed to make and set up a backstrap loom, how to warp it and how to weave a simple piece such as a new backstrap. If there is time you may be able to weave a larger piece, such as for a bag.

July

Annual Guild Discussion Week

A time of evaluation for the Online Guild. This week features an open discussion in which all members are encouraged to participate.

September, October

Foraged dyes from temperate zones

A natural dye workshop with a special focus on foraging for dye materials and on sustainability.

Tutor Mel Sweetnam is a natural dye educator and fibre artist living on Canada's east coast. She combines her life-long fibre arts studies and postsecondary academic studies in biology to explore and teach a vast array of plant-based mordants and dyes, and an ecological stewardship approach to all fibre arts. Mel's hope is for participants to explore their local plants for evidence-based, accurate dyeing, with their own and the planet's health as a priority - as well as being full of colour and fun. The workshop will cover basic natural chemistry of dye materials and processes, and help participants learn how to discern accurate information on natural dye methods from widespread online misinformation.

October

Talk - historic Spanish rare breed sheep

@Mutur-Beltz is a family project run by Laurita Siles and Joseba Edesa. With a focus on sustainability, the circular economy, quality and the preservation of the ecosystem and the local traditions, @mutur_beltz contributes to the preservation of the Carranzana sheep breed, as well as the textile traditions associated with the Karrantza Valley, located in the Basque Country of Northern Spain.

During this talk Laurita and Joseba will show us the “four legs” that form the @mutur_beltz project: the wool, the sheep (milk and meat), the art associated with the textiles, and the people that inhabit the Karrantza Valley.

The wool - As a way of bringing value to the Carranzana sheep, Laurita and Joseba have created a collection of yarns and garments using the wool of this breed. It is worth noting that this is the first time that the fleeces of the Carranzana sheep have been processed to create yarns perfect for weavers and textile artists. The yarn created is a reflection of the characteristics of the breed.

The sheep – Laurita and Joseba will introduce us to the history and characteristics of the Carranzana sheep. <[p>The art associated with the textiles - An important part of the @mutur_beltz project is the creation of a residency for artists focused on the use of the Carranzana wool as a working material. “La Residencia Artística del Buen Vivir” (The Artistic Residency of the Good Living) takes place each year during one week in the Karrantza Valley, during which, while sharing the home of Laurita and Joseba, the artists explore the impact that the Carranzana sheep have in the life of the valley.

The people that inhabit the Karrantza Valle – Finally Laurita and Joseba will introduce us to some of the people from the Karranta Valley, whose lives are interlinked with the Carranzana sheep

November

Modular knitting - basics and beyond

This workshop will cover the basics of modular knitting: how to make squares that join as they knit, and then looking at other tessellating shapes that can also be picked up from each other to make a seamless piece of knitting. This is a wonderful way of building knitting in blocks, moving away from the ‘normal’ straight-row knitting.

Usually, modular knitting is worked in garter stitch to make a flat fabric, but then how do you shape it to make garments? Those who wish to progress will explore using different stitches that do the shaping for you, opening up endless possibilities for using this intriguing way of knitting. www.alisonellenhandknits.co.uk.

December

Festive Greetings

An opportunity for members to upload Festive Greetings, created by any means, to a dedicated photo album.