Two weaving classes, Simply Scandinavian with Connie Westbrook and Rag Rug Weaving with Deb Sharpee, wrapped up our 44th season of classes with many yards of warp! We can think of no better way to finish classes than to have a studio full of weavers working at Sievers looms, the foundation of Sievers School. Connie’s beautiful Scandinavian-inspired handwovens provided lots of possibilities for students’ class projects, focused on clean lines and simple designs. The class wasn’t only about weaving, it also included a tour of the Washington Island Stavkirke and a daily afternoon “Fika” break with treats. Last year we shared Connie’s delicious chocolate cake recipe, which made another appearance this year. We may try to obtain Tuesday’s special Swedish […]
Forty and forty-one
These were two of our favorite numbers this year! Forty for Sievers School’s 40th anniversary year and forty-one for our 41st season of teaching classes. With the origin of Sievers based on weaving, it was very appropriate that our last two classes were #40, Beginning Weaving with Nancy Adams and assistant, Susan Johnson and #41, Magic Carpet Ride:Rag Rug Weaving with Deb Sharpee. It was the perfect way to finish our 2019 season and mark those two milestones. From a variety of samples, perfect for beginning weavers, students learned the basics of weaving on a floor loom and were able to finish their first project and then go on to dress the loom and weave a second piece. Most of […]
Roll out the Rag Rugs
New fabrics, recycled fabrics, men’s ties, new sheets and old sheets whether plaid, plain or patterned all found their way into works of art for floors and walls in Deb Sharpee’s Rag Rug Weaving class, our last class of the 2018 season. Most people wove at least two rugs or a combination of rugs, runners or place mats. Laughter and conversation within the class provided some of the fuel that kept the weavers weaving, not to mention the few well-placed jokes in Deb’s handout. According to Deb, the nutshell view of this class is: Design…Arithmetic…Prep…Weave…Finish! This class has been “the closer” for the past few years and it’s a perfect and cozy way to take us from […]
Rag Rug Weaving & Fall
Wow! Where did the time go? Our final class of the 2017 season, Rag Rug Weaving with Deb Sharpee, finished last Saturday. It seems like such a short time ago when we greeted the first students on June 5. As they say, time flies when you’re having fun! As usual, the rag rug studio was filled with colorful fabrics, great design inspirations and ideas, laughter and friendship. From the start when the carpet warp rolled onto the looms to the finish when quite a variety of rugs and runners rolled off, not a heddle, shuttle, sewing machine, student or teacher were idle. Instead of full-sized rugs, some of the students wove runners like the one on the left. In preparation for the rug on the right, the […]
Finishing with a flourish
Finishing our 2016 season of classes with a flourish of color and design were eight students in Deb Sharpee’s Rag Rug Weaving class. It’s such fun to see the rugs come to life. Many times, the fabrics used in the rugs have stories behind them. Every time, students go home with one, two or more rugs that are sure to delight the floors awaiting them! This teal and grey Diamond rag rug is a gem! Deb brings a mangle for students to prepare fabric strips for weaving. These rugs are sure to make happy feet! When we started our first class of the season on June 3, we didn’t realize how quickly the next five months would […]
