Handweavers & Spinners Guild of Victoria

Classes

The Guild's Teaching Committee selects and offers classes on all aspects of weaving and spinning. Classes are held at the Guild rooms unless otherwise specified

Class times vary depending on the subject and the Tutor's availability. They may be during weekdays or evenings, whilst some are offered at weekends.

Classes covering other specialised topics or techniques may be arranged in response to expressions of interest from potential students, or in response to tutors with particular knowledge expressing willingness to provide such classes.

Keep abreast of the most recent curriculum by visiting the website regularly.

If you wish to attend classes please telephone the Guild on (03) 9387 9222 (do not email) to register your interest and leave your name, address and telephone number. Information will be mailed in due course. Office hours are Tuesday to Friday, 10am to 3pm.

If you are not a member and would like to join download a Membership Application Form here.

Certificate Weaving Course 2012

click here for details

Certificate Spinning Course 2012

click here for details

First Term Classes 2012

Classes to be held in the Guild Rooms

Click here for an Enrolment Form

Application Closing dates

1. Introduction to Spinning, Tuesday 31 January 2012
2. Introduction to Weaving, Tuesday 24 January 2012
3. Next Step Weaving, Tuesday 31 January 2012

Enrolment forms from the Guild. Tel. 9347 3008 or download an enrolment form here

INTRODUCTION TO HAND SPINNING

Students are not required to have their own spinning wheels, but may bring their own spinning wheel to class if desired.

Some topics that will be demonstrated, learned and discussed during classes are:

- Fleece and its properties
- Why a fleece is suitable for a beginner
- Fleece types/how to wash fleece
- Wheel adjustments, flyer mechanism. tension, double band and scotch tension. Care of your wheel
- Fleece preparation — Combing, Flicking, Carding, Drum and Bench Carding Making rolags
- Hand /foot co-ordination.
- Spinning an even yarn
- S and Z twist
- Plying a balanced yarn.
- Skeining and scouring yarns.
- Use of noddy noddy, umbrella swift and ball winder.
- Natural and commercial dyes.
- Other fibres — silk, mohair, alpaca, cotton, camel.
- Blending — colours and fibres.

There is a limited number of spinning wheels that may be hired for the 5 weeks course. Students will need to leave a $100 deposit before the wheel is taken off the premises. The wheel needs to be returned at the end of the eight weeks for the deposit to be returned in full. A hire fee of $10.00 per week will apply after this time.

INTRODUCTION TO 4 SHAFT WEAVING

The aim of this course is to introduce students to 4 shaft weaving and enable them to have the confidence to continue weaving independently at the end of the term. Students will usually weave a small article eg. scarf, cushion, table mats.

There is more satisfaction for a beginner in having a useful piece of weaving that they have planned from start to finish, dealing with all the attendant problems of design, choice of yarns etc as well as the technical problems in their particular weave.

Students will be able to borrow a Guild loom but it should be noted that a deposit of $100 is required if the loom is taken off the premises. This entitles the student to the use of the loom for the 8 weeks of the course and up to 2 weeks afterwards to enable them to finish their project. If the loom is returned by this time the deposit will be refunded in full.

NEXT STEP WEAVING

This course reviews the basics and moves on to examine different weave structures, combining weaves and a closer look at drafts with an introduction to profile drafts. Yarn choice, sett and colour will be discussed in relation to individual projects.

4 –shaft loom required. Further information contact Janet 5425 5537 or bptjanet @ gmail.com

Certificate Weaving 2012

4 shaft weaving

The Course is very comprehensive, starting with the basics of weaving, moving on to weave structures, designing and finishing with a final project. The course is tutored by Ilka White with course co-ordinator Gerlinde Binning, a Master Weaver trained in Europe.

Cost: Members $995, Non Members $1045 (Includes $80.00 material fee) 17 One Day classes – Exercises will be set for each topic
Tutor: llka White, Co-ordinator: Gerlinde Binning
Venue: – Guild Rooms, 655 Nicholson Street, North Carlton, 3054 Telephone: 9387 9222

Registrations will be accepted strictly in order of receipt.

Deposit of $395 (members) or $445 (non-members) due by 8th December 2011
Looms and Equipment may be hired from the Guild.

Please note that this course does not carry accreditation, however participants are asked to undertake genuine commitment to completion of all topics.

Full details of the 2012 Programme, 4 shaft weaving, are contained in the brochure - available to be downloaded here.

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Certificate Spinning 2012

The course aims to provide students with the opportunity to study the characteristics, preparation and spinning techniques, of a variety of protein and cellulose fibres, so as to understand the spinning process in order to design and produce yarns for a specific purpose and to be able to furthur pursue any area of interest in which the student wishes to develop knowledge and expertise.

Objectives: To understand the properties of different fibres, to develop expertise in a variety of different spinning techniques, to be able to spin to a given specification for a special purpose, to explore the possibilities of yarn design, to produce a comprehensive reference folio, to produce an article of your own choice, demonstrating the suitability of the choice, preparation of the fibre and the spinning technique appropriate for the end product.

Cost: Members $815, Non Members $855

Times: This course will be held one day per month: morning session  9.30am—12.30.pm and afternoon session 1.00pm - 4pm.

Venue: – Guild Rooms, 655 Nicholson Street, North Carlton, 3054 Telephone: 9387 9222

Registrations will be accepted strictly in order of receipt.

Deposit of $315 (members) or $385 (non-members) due by 6th January 2012. Installment payments of $250.00 will be due on
14th April and 1st July, 2012.

If there are more applications than places available, then a ballot will be held on 7th January and applicants will be notified.

Please note that this course does not carry accreditation, however participants are asked to undertake genuine commitment to completion of all topics.

Full details of the 2012 Programme are contained in the brochure - available to be downloaded here.