Weaving and Drafting Workshop, Nov. 2, 9, & 16 (Sunday afternoons), 12-5pm, Brooklyn

$450.00

Instructor: Samantha Bittman

Class Description:

The Weaving and Drafting Workshop will take place over three sessions and cover drafting a basic woven sampler with pencil and graph paper, project planning, and setting up and weaving on a 4-harness Schacht floor loom. During the first session, participants will learn how to draft their own weave draft samplers from scratch.Project planning will also be covered more in depth, including various methods determining an EPI based on warp thread, choosing an appropriate reed size, and project sizing.The second session will cover dressing the loom, following a weave draft for threading, techniques for checking for mistakes along the way, tie-up variations, and beginning to weave.The final session will include weaving according to the drafted pattern as well approaches to deviating from the plan.The class will conclude with cutting off projects from the loom, finishing edges, and clean-up.

This class is intended for those with some weaving experience; however, it is not required to have any experience in drafting weaves.There will be the opportunity for those who already have drafting experience to create an Overshot sampler, otherwise, participants will draft basic 4-harness sample blankets covering basic weaves and striping the warp. Note: This class does not break for lunch.

Level: Advanced Beginner+

Instructor Bio:

Samantha Bittman is a visual artist and educator based in Kingston, NY.  In her art practice, she works with weaving to generate patterned painting supports, graphic wallpapers, and tiled installations.  She has taught at various institutions including Rhode Island School of Design, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Tyler School of Art, Penland, Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, Kent State University, and the Textile Arts Center in Brooklyn.  In 2022, she founded Catskill Weaving School, an artist-run school that offers in-person and online weaving and weaving-related classes.  She has participated in residency programs at the Josef and Anni Albers Foundation, Sharpe-Walentas Studio Program, Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture, Bemis Center for Contemporary Art, and Ox-Bow School of Art.  In 2024, she received the Teaching Artist Cohort Award through the Center for Craft, and in 2012, she received the Artadia Award.  She holds an MFA from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and a BFA from Rhode Island School of Design.

Images:

(3) Samantha Bittman

Cancellation Policy:

Please consider carefully before signing up for one of our classes or purchasing a class for another person.  Due to the small class size for in-person workshops and the limited number of looms, each person makes an important contribution to the group dynamic and cancelling within short notice can make it difficult to fill your spot.  If you do need to cancel, please be aware of our policies:

There are no refunds for class fees.  However, if the cancellation is 30 or more days before the start of the workshop, you have the option of rescheduling for a different class free of charge.  If the cancellation is fewer than 30 days from the start of the workshop, there is the option of rescheduling only if your spot is filled from the Waitlist.  You also have the option of transferring your class reservation to another person at any point.  The closer the start date, the more difficult it can be to fill a spot from the Waitlist.

No refunds will be given on gift certificates.  (Updated 04/24/2025)

Instructor: Samantha Bittman

Class Description:

The Weaving and Drafting Workshop will take place over three sessions and cover drafting a basic woven sampler with pencil and graph paper, project planning, and setting up and weaving on a 4-harness Schacht floor loom. During the first session, participants will learn how to draft their own weave draft samplers from scratch.Project planning will also be covered more in depth, including various methods determining an EPI based on warp thread, choosing an appropriate reed size, and project sizing.The second session will cover dressing the loom, following a weave draft for threading, techniques for checking for mistakes along the way, tie-up variations, and beginning to weave.The final session will include weaving according to the drafted pattern as well approaches to deviating from the plan.The class will conclude with cutting off projects from the loom, finishing edges, and clean-up.

This class is intended for those with some weaving experience; however, it is not required to have any experience in drafting weaves.There will be the opportunity for those who already have drafting experience to create an Overshot sampler, otherwise, participants will draft basic 4-harness sample blankets covering basic weaves and striping the warp. Note: This class does not break for lunch.

Level: Advanced Beginner+

Instructor Bio:

Samantha Bittman is a visual artist and educator based in Kingston, NY.  In her art practice, she works with weaving to generate patterned painting supports, graphic wallpapers, and tiled installations.  She has taught at various institutions including Rhode Island School of Design, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Tyler School of Art, Penland, Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, Kent State University, and the Textile Arts Center in Brooklyn.  In 2022, she founded Catskill Weaving School, an artist-run school that offers in-person and online weaving and weaving-related classes.  She has participated in residency programs at the Josef and Anni Albers Foundation, Sharpe-Walentas Studio Program, Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture, Bemis Center for Contemporary Art, and Ox-Bow School of Art.  In 2024, she received the Teaching Artist Cohort Award through the Center for Craft, and in 2012, she received the Artadia Award.  She holds an MFA from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and a BFA from Rhode Island School of Design.

Images:

(3) Samantha Bittman

Cancellation Policy:

Please consider carefully before signing up for one of our classes or purchasing a class for another person.  Due to the small class size for in-person workshops and the limited number of looms, each person makes an important contribution to the group dynamic and cancelling within short notice can make it difficult to fill your spot.  If you do need to cancel, please be aware of our policies:

There are no refunds for class fees.  However, if the cancellation is 30 or more days before the start of the workshop, you have the option of rescheduling for a different class free of charge.  If the cancellation is fewer than 30 days from the start of the workshop, there is the option of rescheduling only if your spot is filled from the Waitlist.  You also have the option of transferring your class reservation to another person at any point.  The closer the start date, the more difficult it can be to fill a spot from the Waitlist.

No refunds will be given on gift certificates.  (Updated 04/24/2025)