Exploring Laces Workshops

Lace structures look beautifully complex, yet are deceptively simple to weave once the design is understood. This session is designed for novice and intermediate weavers and covers a different type of lace each month, with students going home with a handwoven tea towel in their choice of colour.

Each class will cover the history and design of the lace structure, then students will weave a tea towel designed exclusively for this class on a pre-warped four shaft loom. There will also be discussions about how to design drawdowns for future projects, as lace is beautiful for scarves, shawls, and table linens.

This session is structured so that students can take as many of the classes as they would like, with a discount if all four classes are taken. Additionally, if a student signs up for the complete session, they will be offered the opportunity to weave twice the amount of tea towels for a low additional fee. If the weaving is not completed in class, students have the opportunity to arrange studio time within the following three weeks to finish their project.

September 9^th (10am to 1pm) – Canvas Lace (Periwinkle)

Originally designed as cloth for embroidery, canvas is characterised by a double pick. This is a wonderful learning opportunity to start to understand lace structures and using a floating selvedge to allow for multiple picks in the same shed.

October 7^th (10am to 1pm) – Huck Lace (Green)

A traditional towel design, huck lace is characterised by circles of plain weave that appear like magic after the fabric is washed for the first time. This structure can be adapted in a myriad of ways, most notable in the length of floats.

November 4^th (10am to 1pm) – Swedish Lace (Beige)

Jokingly referred to as “huck lace on steroids”, the adaptability of Swedish lace’s block structure allows the weaver to personalise their weaving. Students will learn how incidental threads allow more flexibility in design, allowing them to create their own patterns with ease.

December 2^nd (10am to 1pm) – Bronson Lace (Burgundy)

Also called “barleycorn”, Bronson lace is a stable fabric with large pattern areas. This class will also touch on Bronson Spot, allowing students to see historical variations stemming from the same structure.

Prerequisite: Learn to Weave or equivalent beginner weaving class; students must be able to understand treadling, throwing the shuttle, beating, winding bobbins, etc. Knowledge in how to read a drawdown is preferred but not necessary.

Traceable Textiles is excited to bring in guest instructor Brenda Boychuk to teach this session. At five, Brenda was taught to quilt by her grandmother, and her love of fibre arts has only grown ever since then. She enjoys the tranquility of creating an object from scratch; and appreciates the joy her creations bring to loved ones. After retiring from a career in IT, Brenda has been able to spend the last decade sharing her fibre arts knowledge with students and empowering them to produce the creations they are dreaming of. When not at the loom, Brenda can found making what her daughters call “overly complex quilts” or knitting at the campfire with her dog snoring away on her lap.

Inclusion and Adaptations

At Traceable Textiles, our goal is to make fibre arts accessible and enjoyable for everybody. As most of our classes involve detailed verbal instructions and the use of the student’s hands and feet, please contact us if you may need adaptations to conventional methods. This forewarning allows the instructor time to prepare any techniques or tools that will help you succeed in the class.

Workshop and Drop in Policy

All workshop and studio drop in registrations are non-refundable. Each event requires significant time and preparation, including pre-arranged materials to ensure the best possible experience for participants.

Workshop and Drop in spots are transferable. If you have any questions, please contact us directly.

In the event of a cancellation due to low enrolment or unforeseen restrictions, we will provide alternative options for registered participants.

Only students are allowed in the studio during classes.

This policy allows us to continue offering high-quality workshops and bringing in skilled instructors. We appreciate your understanding and support!