Discover the unique and innovative ways you can get the most out of weaving on a nail frame. Explore and experiment with this small four selvedge loom to create work that expresses your individual creativity.

A nail frame is the perfect mini portable loom and can be used as both a sample frame to aid your larger tapestries or can be used as a small frame in its own right. This course will help you understand how you can get the most out of your frame.

Over the course of this three-day workshop, you will produce a variety of small experimental woven samples to help you understand a variety of warping techniques, including three-dimensional effects, twisted, shaped and supplementary warps.

Taking inspiration from your source material, we will try knotting and wrapping, and we will combine and experiment with materials, textures and a variety of yarns to produce truly individual results.

We will be looking at examples of nail frame weaving from the tutor and also the work of artists, such as Sheila Hicks, Magdalena Abakanowicz, Peter Collingwood, Lenore Tawney, Ann Sutton and many others to help explain methods and application, and to inspire you in your own work.

This course is designed to be an enjoyable three days of experimentation and creativity and will help further your knowledge and experience of the woven form.

Included

On this course, the College will supply some of the materials, including a nail frame (approx. 31x35cm) for each student.

What students need to bring

To get the most out of this course it is best to have source material to take inspiration from: this can be magazine tears, holiday photos, drawings or photos from an existing project, a theme or colour range to work with..

An old fork or mini beater, a tapestry bobbin if you have one.

Any yarn that you would like to weave with, i.e. wool, cotton, linen, paper yarn or strips, raffia, jute, sisal, string, plastic twine, nettle yarn, rovings, acrylic, rayon or fishing twine, coloured wire, strips of shiny or colourful paper, short lengths of yarn or butterfly bundles left over from other projects. Shoelaces or leather strips.

Plastic bags that can be sliced into strips, strips of card or coloured paper. Coloured warps (if you have them)

This course uses small amounts of lots of different materials, so short lengths can be easily used, so there is no need to buy lots of expensive materials. Small quantities of coloured paper yarn, wool, cotton, linen, anything that can be incorporated into your weaving

Notebook or sketchbook

Tapestry needles

Additional information

Wear appropriate clothing/aprons for the workshop or studio, this includes stout covered footwear i.e. no open-toes or sandals. Safety boots, if specified.

Arrival day
Residential students can arrive from 4pm, non-residential students to arrive by 6.45pm for registration
6.45pm: Welcome, followed by dinner (included)
8 - 9pm: First teaching session, attendance is essential

Daily timetable
Course teaching 9.15am - 5pm (lunch included)
Dinner: from 6.30pm (included for residential students)
Evening working: students may have access to workshops until 9pm, but only with permission from the tutor and provided any health and safety guidelines are observed

Departure day
Course teaching: 9.15am - 3pm (lunch included)
Residential students will need to check out of rooms by 10am

Please note, the tutor may make slight variations to the daily timetable as required

Terms & Conditions