Education

If you are interested in booking a workshop or lecture with Su, please email me at [email protected] or use the Contact tab in this website. We can discuss which workshop will work best for your group. Su’s fee structure is available at your request, via email or the Contact tab.

All lectures run approx. 1 to 1.5 hours with time for questions at the end. Equipment necessary for lecture – VGA to VGA digital projector with high resolution, screen, microphone if required. Equipment must be provided by the host.

Learn how to choose colors that will work together in handwoven items.

 

All lectures run approx. 1 to 1.5 hours with time for questions at the end. Equipment necessary for lecture – VGA to VGA digital projector with high resolution, screen, microphone if required. Equipment must be provided by the host.

Handweavers have a unique opportunity to construct cloth. We can begin creating pattern with weave structure and carry on to embellish the surface both during and after weaving. Learn many creative ideas to begin your explorations into surface design.

 

All lectures run approx. 1 to 1.5 hours with time for questions at the end. Equipment necessary for lecture – VGA to VGA digital projector with high resolution, screen, microphone if required. Equipment must be provided by the host.

Learn to understand this problematic fiber to be able to work with it in many interesting structures outside the confines of plain weave.

 

All lectures run approx. 1 to 1.5 hours with time for questions at the end. Equipment necessary for lecture – VGA to VGA digital projector with high resolution, screen, microphone if required. Equipment must be provided by the host.

Learn what makes a Tied Unit weave work, and how to design any pattern you choose to weave in a Tied Unit weave structure.

 

2-3 day workshop.

Learn the basic principles of weaving parallel threadings and treadlings utilizing color rotations that allow four colors to appear on the surface of the cloth!

Useable color theory, actual woven samples, and lecture will enable students to weave a sampler in class, and looms will have enough warp prepared to weave a full-sized scarf when sampler is completed.

Intermediate skill level required. Students MUST be able to perpare the loom and have some concept of regular Doubleweave.

This is NOT a workshop for rank beginners!

1-day workshop.

A brief overview of color theory through mostly discussion of the value scale and application to dyeing, begins this workshop. Students then learn to mix chemical water and dyestocks from powdered dyes. Students will paint a minimum of two cellulose warps. Different application techniques will be taught, and both steaming and batching of dyed warps will be utilized.

For any level student.

1-3 day workshop.

Students will learn the basics of weave drafting on graph paper and then weave what they have drafted. This helps encourage a relationship between the printed draft and the structure of the woven cloth.

Students will end up with a sample notebook of many of their designs, have a good foundation in pattern drafting, and get the experience of weaving what they design!

Beginner Level and Beyond.

3-day workshop, 1.5-hour lecture.

Through the use of warps and sample weaving and colored yarns, we will explore the basics of color theory and interaction through experimentation and weaving. Practical ideas, useable color theory, samples, and paper experiments, along with handouts and lecture notes will enable students to complete a color theory notebook for themselves to use throughout their weaving careers!

Beginner-to-Intermediate level.

1-day workshop.

Students will learn to mix discharge agent Thiorurea dioxide and use it to alter the color of commercially-dyed fabric, or the student’s own handwoven fabric. Each student will work on a piece of fabric large enough to create a kimono-style jacket.

NO sewing will be done in class, but detailed instructions will be given to construct a garment.

3-day workshop.

Learn to do complex-looking pickup designs, without counting, on only 4 shafts! This simple method allows the weaver to create intriguing and complex designs using a technique even the most beginning weaver can understand and apply.

Students will work on their own, pre-warped looms.

A good workshop for beginning weavers!

1-day Seminar or 3-day Workshop.

Learn to read and understand a profile draft. Then learn how to design your own! This seminar (or workshop) is for weavers who understand basic thread-by-thread drafts and are ready to investigate the world of profile drafting and unit weaves.

Students will need graph paper and pencils. A nominal materials fee will include handouts.

3-day workshop includes weaving design on loom.

Intermediate-to-Advanced level.

3-day workshop.

Explore rug weaving using the versatile techniques of Taquete and Samitum. Students will weave a rug sampler in class, while learning how these two weaves work so they can use them at home. We will also cover some other important rug weaving information.

3 or 5-day workshop, 1.5-hour lecture.

Working with 100% cotton cloth or participant’s own cotton handwoven fabrics, we will learn to dye, embellish, screen, print, stamp, and foil the surface of cloth. (Not all techniques will be taught in the 3-day version).

All techniques are applicable to handwoven fabrics. Discussion and demonstration of the subtle differences in techniques from commercially woven to handwovern fabrics will be thorough. (5-day workshop version includes loom-woven Shibori and devore)

Beginner Level and Up.

Understanding Rayon Chenille 2.5-hr seminar and 1.5-hr lecture, 3-day workshop.

Su Butler literally wrote the book on Rayon Chenille weaving! Rayon chenille scares many weavers. Su will help you understand the fiber and the idiosyncrasies of successfully weaving with Rayon Chenille. 3-day workshop includes students weaving and finishing a rayon chenille scarf on their own looms.

If you have always wanted to weave sumptuous chenille but were afraid to try, this is the workshop for you!

Advanced Beginner -> Advanced Level: Students must know how to read a draft and be able to prepare a loom for weaving in one afternoon.