Textile Kick

It’s probably the cooler temperatures finally arriving to the East Coast, but recently I have been on a total textile kick.

I have several big design projects in the works, and as part of those plans, I have been exploring how I can incorporate different fabrics, weaves, colors and treatments into my designs.

The more I learned, the more I wanted to try out some of the techniques I read about for myself. (I will admit that finally finishing my year-long quilt project gave me the confidence boost I needed.)

Loop of the Loom on the Upper East Side of Manhattan offered a great exploratory Saori weaving session. The technique is easy to pick up, and allowed for freedom of exploration of different materials and textures; a great opportunity to push the boundaries of pattern and structure. By the end of the session, I had woven a small sample - worthy of a wall hanging or pillow front.

A few weeks later I visited the Textile Arts Center in Gowanus and took a Bobbin Lace Making intensive class. The patterns are as intricate and complex as you would expect (read: very!). In the day-long intensive we covered and practiced basic stitches, plus learned the history of different lace making techniques and schools. The class was informative and built upon the skills I have mastered in embroidery and crochet - I highly recommend, especially if you are well versed in other needle arts.

TAC is worth a visit - peruse their class offerings site - you can study several different mediums and classes are available for all levels.

These classes gave me the push I needed to make some headway on a few sewing projects that I will be sharing soon - stay on the lookout for more details (and a big project reveal too)!