We’ve almost all had some form of weaving experience as kids. Whether you had a toy loom with basic yarn or went to a factory or cultural center where they talked about it.
Weaving made a short appearance in my life as a child, but didn’t really stick. What I made was never good enough to do anything with. So I thought it was odd when I saw a weaving class and immediately signed up. It was a good decision.
The Teacher
First off: Gabrielle, with Copperdot Weaving’s, work is beautiful. That is important to understand for two reasons. One, she knows what she’s doing. Two, you don’t. Yet. I say that specifically because it can be hard not to feel frustrated when your piece isn’t perfect like hers. (But they do still turn out pretty good!)
Gabrielle was a great teacher and came around multiple times to make sure we understood the process and techniques. She taught at a good speed and encouraged us to photograph and record her as she demoed so that we could refer to them later. She really seemed to embody her craft: creative and lighthearted, yet measured and precise at the same time. Most of us left the class wanting to sign up for her intermediate level class, Loom Weaving Workshop: Textures & Techniques, immediately.
The Setting
I love Paper Craft Pantry. It’s light, airy, and simple. Plus, a glass of rose and snacks are always waiting for you at your seat. When we arrived, our stations were set with everything we’d need and a rainbow river of yarn balls was arranged down the tables with all of our yarn options. There were about 10-12 students total which was a good size for you to get the one on one time you needed for questions, but also allowed us to be inspired by what the crafters around us were doing.
The Class
The class was three hours and Gabrielle warned us from the very beginning that we would not be finishing our pieces in that time. We all got about halfway done, which she said was faster than normal. During the class, we walked through the tools we needed, including a highly advanced “pusher” aka: a plastic fork. This key tool helps push down your yarn vs. pulling it which can cause your piece to be an hourglass instead of a rectangle. We learned how to warp (string) the looms, learned different techniques for different textures and patterns, and learned how to do the terrifying task of removing your work from the loom.
We left feeling inspired and ready for more. In fact, I immediately went home and finished my piece. I plan on signing up for Gabrielle’s next class at The Paper Craft Pantry, maybe I’ll see you there!
