The Weave Shed

Zâ€“Twist is a new Arts Council funded programme for Somerset Art Works (SAW) and Stroud International Textiles (SIT). Z – Twist has brought together artists, designers, textile producers, educators and curators to raise the profile of high quality textiles in Somerset and the south west – past, present and future.

Since January 2014 three contemporary designer/makers; Lucy Lean, Penny Wheeler and Debbie Smyth have been undertaking a residency to enable them to develop a new body of work with support from textile manufacturers; John Boyd Textiles, Fox Brothers & Co Ltd and WSP Textiles, local heritage collections with resident hosts Somerset College and Stroud International Textiles (SIT).

There are two opportunities to see the results of the residencies, which promises to be inspiring and a fascinating insight from three highly skilled artists who have explored and researched to create a final body of work.

Exhibition: Pink Cabbage Gallery.
1 Middle Street, Stroud, England GL5 1DZ. 31st May â€“ 13th June 2014.
Opening and meet the artist talks from 11am on 31st May.
Open: Wednesday to Friday

Times: 11am -5pm , Saturday 10am -5pm
Details: sawztwist.wordpress.com
Telephone: 01458253800
Email: info@somersetartworks.org.uk.
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Courses: Tapestry weaving

25 April 2014 |

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Introduction to Tapestry Weaving
Tutor: Caron Penney

Fashion and Textiles Museum,
83 Bermondsey St,
London SE1 3XF
Tel: 020 7407 8664
Dates: 3rd – 4th July 2014,
Times: 11.00am – 4pm each day, this workshop requires a minimum of five students to run.

In this two day workshop students will learn the basic weave techniques used to create a tapestry, these include plain weave, soft diagonals, hatching, blending and shaping. The course will start with a demonstration of the warping-up process and participants will get experience of this process before starting to weave. By the end of the workshop participants will take home a completed tapestry sample.

There will be group tuition and demonstrations during the two day workshop which is suitable for beginners – intermediate levels.
The workshop costs Â£160.

To discuss the course content please contact the tutor at caron.penney@btinterent.com
To book a place,Â telephone 020 7407 8664 or contact the Fashion and Textile Museum

Explore Tapestry Weaving
Tutor: Caron Penney
West Dean College,
West Dean,
Chichester,
West Sussex,
PO18 0QZ
Tel: 01243 811301
Dates: 9th – 15th August 2014, this workshop requires a minimum number of students to run.

This workshop is designed to elp complete beginners, intermediate weavers and returning students to develop a clear understanding of the basic structure and materials of tapestry. Introductory techniques will be covered initially; they include shaping and shading.

More complex techniques can be considered during the workshop they include, interpretative skills, circles, using supplementary warps, or making textured tapestry.

An illustrated talk will cover other weaversâ€™ work and reference material will be available throughout the workshop. There will also be a visit to the West Dean Tapestry Studio during the course.

The workshop costs Â£623 (5% online discount).

To discuss the course content please contact the tutor at caron.penney@btinternet.com
To book a place telephone 01243 811301 or contact West Dean College

To view the course details please visit this link

Bonnie Kirkwood Ltd: Freelance woven textile designer required

14 April 2014 |

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Bonnie Kirkwood Ltd (MA RCA) based at Cockpit Arts Studios in Central London, is looking for a freelance woven textile designer,Â MA student or MA graduate.

The applicant must be a creative and enthusiastic individual, initially flexible with their time and be available during specific contracts and busy periods. Working closely with Bonnie Kirkwood the applicant will gain invaluable knowledge, by working on varying projects designing high end fabric collections for international fabric mills.

Responsibilities will include using cad programmes to present design concepts, weaving seasonal sample collections by hand, warp and loom set up and general admin. This role could potentially lead to a more regular position for the right person.

Skills required:Â confident weaving knowledge and experience on a 24 shaft ARM loom, warp winding and loom set up,Â excellent colour skills and weave structure knowledge,Â confident Photoshop and Illustrator design skills for weave and print designing (and have access to use photoshop / illustrator programmes). Additionally research trend and fabric qualities, excellent time management, reliability and organisational skills are essential and an ability to work independently in a confident manner.

Salary â€“ day rate: to be discussed
For further details or questions please contact Bonnie Kirkwood at bonnie@bonniekirkwood.com . Tel: 07813666907.

Award application: The Peter Collingwood Trust 2014

14 April 2014 |

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Fiorete Group : The magic fabric

13 April 2014 |

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Fiorete began its production in 1934 at Como, Italy specialising in the production of interior decorative fabrics, using the natural fibres of the time such as silk and cotton. By 1950 they were the first company to use synthetic fibres. At Fiorete, they have been constantly innovating and investing in R&D and in their production system.

Fiorete have created a system of refined domotics which include a yarn warehouse that is fully automatised and bidirectional connections between the weaving plants and management system. They feel they are a leading company in quality innovation gaining the Seri.co certification and OEKO-TEX.

Fiorete fabrics has been used in well known projects, by leading designers and architects in and around the world such as; Aria Sky Suites by Peter Marino, Las Vegas, The Burj Khalifa Armani Hotel, Dubai and the Nhow Hotel by Karim Rashid, Berlin.

With this spirit of constant innovation, search for new development and after three years of intensive studies, Fiorete have developed a new technology which allows weaving and integrating optical fibers on jacquard looms.

The optical fibre is a thin strand of glass or synthetic cable that carry light from one end to the other, without light in its length. The optical fibre filters out ultraviolet rays and infrared, does not transmit heat thus it is inflammable and can be immersed in liquid, making it one of the safest materials to use. It is compact, fan-less, has high light output, multicolour illuminators that requires almost no maintenance and is extremely energy efficient.

Its versatility makes it today, the most suitable alternative lighting systems where until recently was not possible to achieve better results in the desired colour definition that can be used for a multitude of lighting applications in home decoration and interior architectures. Due to these features it is now used in various sectors such as exhibitions, various types of industries, the arts and crafts, museums and scenography just to name a few.

The starting point for Fiorete was the vision to explore all the possibilities given by this new generation yarn such as the optical fibre, normally used in other fields and industries and to find an application to the industrial textile world. They were very excited in to be able to control light while giving radiance to our fabrics. In other words bringing “life” into fabrics.
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Exhibition: By the Banks of The River Lea

13 April 2014 |

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Over the Autumn of 2013 weaver Ali Holloway walked the length of the River Lea from its source in Bedfordshire to where it eventually joins the River Thames at Limehouse.

Prompted by the experience of this solitary walk she has used the medium of woven cloth to recall the colours, textures, moods and rhythm of the walk.

Following the River Lea walk in roughly 8 mile sections she documented her experience as she went, with photographs, drawings and a blog. This inspiration has been transformed into a collection of hand dyed and hand woven pieces which are often sculptural, collaged and hand stitched.
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Profile: Catarina Riccabona

31 March 2014 |

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Catarina Riccabona is a London-based textile designer / weaver. Originally from Austria she came to London to work in publishing, but after some time decided to change her career.

She did a Foundation Course at Chelsea College of Art and Design followed by a BA (Hons)Â in Textile Design at Central Saint Martins where she specialised in woven textiles. Catarina started her own textile design business upon joining Cockpit Arts in May 2012. She is also a recipient of the Cockpit Arts/Clothworkersâ€™ Foundation Award 2012/13.

Using traditional hand-weaving techniques Catarina designs and makes woven fabrics for scarves, cushions and throws. Each piece is made from start to finish in her Deptford studio. Her distinct aesthetic language is informed by a sound ecological concept based on a strict selection of yarns.

Main image photography by Gareth Hacker, courtesy of The New Craftsmen.
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Woven Light: Swedish School of Textiles

21 March 2014 |

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Woven Light was exhibited at Stockholm Furniture Fair 2014. Under the theme light â€“ material â€“ structure the textile design students from the Swedish School of Textiles, University ofÂ BorÃ¥s, explored the interaction between different light settings and light qualities and the creation of woven textile structures. Special light emitting and reactive materials were introduced, including reflex materials, â€œglow in the darkâ€ and PMMA optical fibres. The aim wasÂ to introduce the students to Smart Materials and current textile research in the context of traditional weaving techniques. The course has been lead by Ulla Ranglin, hand weaving expert, accompanied by Barbara Jansen, textile design researcher in the area of light emitting textiles. They areÂ also members of the Smart Textiles Unit at the Swedish School of Textiles.

The exhibitors were Ellinor Eliasson, Frida Samuelsson, Joanna VikstrÃ¶m, Malin Bobeck, Therese Amus GidlÃ¶f. Textile design students in their 3rd year.

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Lisio Foundation – Florence

21 March 2014 |

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Florence has been one of the most important centres of textile culture since the Renaissance. The Lisio Foundation in Florence, Italy, organises courses and seminars in English for institutions or private groups on specific historical, technical or practical themes, and for individual training courses and developing research projects.

The courses are aimed at students, technicians and textile designers and the school program provides full immersion classes on : analysis of textiles and laces, conservation and creating jacquard textiles.

The educational program has been designed to broaden textile culture and ensure the preservation on antique techniques. The Lisio Foundation school also has looms for figured silk velvets and gold brocades.

The Foundation also manufactures to order, various forms of figured silks. The designs and patterns of the collection are part of the legacy left by the original LISIO Silk Mill. They represent all the decorative typologies in vogue between the Middle Ages and the early 1900s either reproduced from original period textiles or reconstructed from depictions in paintings by the great masters of Italian art.
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