New Band Carving and Band Weaving duo class coming up this June

Sorry folks! I have been away from my blog for a whole year!  

Lots has been happening. Roger and I have been traveling around the country teaching and demonstrating our carving, pottery and weaving skills.  And am pleased at the outpouring of interest in our chosen trades.

We have been to several fair demonstrations throughout Florida, Minnesota, Iowa, Oklahoma, New York, New Jersey and North Carolina, Connecticut and Massachusetts with no sign of stopping this coming year.

As far as carving band looms and weaving, we still participate in the Connecticut Fiber Festival this April and the New England Fiber Festival in November, along with teaching at Northhouse Folk School in Grand Marais MN in early July and the Vesterheim Museum in Decorah Iowa in July.

Our couples class in Minnesota is already posted. With only 4 couples to join, bring a spouse, a friend or significant other, the class fills up fast.  Sorry no singles. We like the idea of sharing and all working together. We will be teaching how to carve a one of a kind loom, the old way, with knives and gouges, a fancy beam and shuttles. Experienced or beginner, you will design and learn chip carving and new techniques for an item that was so important in early times.

In the same room, we like consulting with each other... "Is this shuttle too big... more bevel?", "Be sure to clean those holes and slots or the threads will catch".  

Weavers start with stripes and plain bands, but quickly move to pick-up and other fancy styles. Students learn how to cut and warp, design patterns, use different fibers, bookmarks, shoelaces, fancy trims and also come away with a backstrap of your own design.

All this done with humor and stories of where the looms and weaves originated and why.  The only problem is going home with the urge to make more sizes and styles of looms and bands!

All takes place in the wonderful little town on Lake Superior. Many students come to take a class and go around town for shopping and great foods, enjoy the fishing wharf and boat rides, stay at bed and breakfast, hotels and campgound. Stay for July fireworks over the lake and meet some fellow crafters.

For more information check the links below:

https://northhouse.org/course-session/carve-a-loom-weave-a-band-carving-session-6-30-2026-0900

https://northhouse.org/course-session/carve-a-loom-weave-a-band-weaving-session-6-30-2026-0900

Can' attend a class this year? Learn to weave with my book, "Tape Loom Weaving... Simplified" available on Amazon....  https://www.amazon.com/Tape-Weaving-Simplified-Regina-Britton/dp/B00CGHISGS#

The book also includes a couple of simple ways to make looms for those of use who don't fancy carving.

Happy weaving!

Nordic Fest 2024, Decorah Iowa

Hello Folks!

It has been another crazy year. Just about a year since I posted my last blog!

I had a slow start this year. After my trip to Florida Fairs in February and March, I had a back and leg injury and was worried that I wouldn't make it to all my years events.  So I didn't get much done last spring... nothing to write about!

But I bounced back and headed out to the Mid-West in June and July. I went to my fairs in Minnesota demonstrating my pottery and weaving on band looms. 

I had a great time with old and new friends and demonstrated in the Vesterheim Museum during the festival.

Just wanted to share with you all some photos I took of the fiber arts they have on display at the Museum.

After the museum we stopped in our friend Susan Kramer in Wisconsin to check out her new supply of old looms.  If you are interested in acquiring one of these lovely looms, give her a call on her card bclow.

New to Band Weaving?  See Amazon.com or www,eastknollpottery.com to order my book,

Tape Loom Weaving... simplified. My book covers the basics of making, setting up, weaving plain and pick-up bands and much more.

And I wish you happy weaving!

Shopping for some old band looms in Wisconsin.

 

In the middle of winter, last month, I got to visit with some friends and with Suzanne Kramer in Wisconsin. She has lots of items from the Scandinavian and German immigrants. 

I bought an old woven band a few years ago. A fine weaving and pom poms on the ends.

This year I bought a small childs bonnet. I have been working on a series of Scandinavian bonnets over the last few years and it is nice to have an original one.

In the old days, people mended their  tools. Unlike today where you can buy plastic and cheap tools, throw them away in land fills and buy new ones on Amazon or Walmart, people mended their tools. The tools were made of better materials, hand crafted with the knowlege of skilled craftsmen.   In the past I have found some looms that were mended with staples and pins.  

A mended wooden bowl and spoon

Another mended wooden bowl

I did buy a plastic little loom from Stoorstalka, which I love for its size and I dont worry about breaking it. I bought a cheap portable pottery wheel on Amazon that isnt too bad, but gave it to my sister. I bought fabric and yarn at Walmart last month... Walmart is only a 1/2 mile from my old house.

But it is nice to visit Suzanne and see some great old tools and think of the folks that made and used them. 

Fun tools

Nice rug.

And of course Suzanne has band looms that I believe are currently available for sale....

And this cool... thing... Does anyone recognize what this is used for?

New to band weaving?  Visit my web sight www.eastknollpottery.com for places I will be working at this year. My book, Tapeloom Weaving.... Simplified, is available on my web site and on Amazon.com.

Sign up for future blogs and search my past blogs for patterns, photos and information... just use the search bar and type in bands or looms to weed out my posts on weaving from my pottery and other adventures.

Get a loom, have fun weaving!

Band Weaving for the Holidays.

Last year at this Holiday time, I did a post about making bands to give away at Christmas. This year, I am posting some of the things you can do with your bands for holiday gift giving from my previous blogs. So get out your looms or your box of scraps and share your creative skills with your loved ones!

 New to Band Weaving?   Making decorative and useful bands is easy on an inkle, backstrap, paddle, box or rigid heddle.  An easy way to start is with my book, Tape Loom Weaving... simplified.  Available on my web site, eastknollpottery.com or on Amazon.

Check out this blog and my pinterest pages for more ideas of bands and the looms they are woven on...

https://www.pinterest.com/potterymom1/weaving-bands-tapes/

https://www.pinterest.com/potterymom1/weaving-band-looms/

Now go and be creative!

Band Carving and Weaving Class... North House Folk School... this coming June

My husband Roger and I are teaching another class at North House Folk School in Minnesota this June.

Band weaving.... https://www.northhouse.org/course-session/carve-a-loom-weave-a-band-weaving-session-6-27-2023

Loom carving.... https://www.northhouse.org/course-session/carve-a-loom-weave-a-band-carving-session-6-27-2023

This is a couples class. Traditionally, a young man would carve a loom for the girl he wanted to marry. He would carve simple or elaborate designs expressing his love. He would leave it on her doorstep. If she took it in and accepted it, she would be consenting to marry and she would begin weaving beautiful bands. If she did not accept it, he would have to make a new one for the next girl. The saying goes along with the same idea of offering a mangle board (a sort of wooden iron for pressing linen) that a young man may make for his sweetheart... "Beware of the man with too many mangle boards!"

Our couples class is for two people. Bring along a spouse, indended or friend. One of you will carve a loom, shuttle and beam and the other will learn how to chart patterns, set up your loom and weave plain and fancy bands,  At the end of three days, you both will have a loom, shuttle and carved beam to share, a belt, bookmarks, fancy bands and know how to weave. A total package deal! 

We work together on this project so we can have fun talking about what the weaver needs in a loom and everyone will understand the mechanics of how the weave structure works.

Fun for all in a wonderful Folk School setting.  MUST BRING A PARTNER! This is a two part class. Click on the links above to see more photos, read about the instructors and get more information.

Dates

Tue, Jun 27th, 2023  –  Thu, Jun 29th, 2023

Course Details

Hours: 9am-5pm each day

Tuition: $315.00  for each part of the class

New to Band Weaving and not ready to take a class? 

Find my book, Tape Loom Weaving... simplified... on my website www.eastknollpottery,com or on Amazon.

 

Book Bags with Woven Bands... Great Christmas presents!

 This Christmas I made some book bags for my family members who liked to read. I wove a band for each with my band looms. They would make great presents any time of the year and come in handy for other uses.

For Meta, a cat lover, I found a needlepoint at the thrift store. I just put a backing on the needlepoint and attached a bag with lining. Then I wove a band to match for the handle.

For three year old Eamon, I found a small placemat, attached it to a lined bag, made a band to match for a handle and filled with three fun animal books.

Erin's bag was also a placemat. It was sturdy and doubled fabric, so I just folded it in half, stitched up the sides, wove a handle to match and put in some knit and craft books.

My last bag was designed to be a shopping or knit bag also for Erin. For the pocket, I used an old wooden fabric or walpaper stamp and acrylic paint. I made 2 bags, attached the pocket to one side, stitched the two bags together and wove a matching handle. Since this was a shopping bag, I added some kitchen items.

New to band weaving? You can try out my book, Tape Loom Weaving...simplified, on my site www.eastknollpottery or on Amazon. Unlike most books on band weaving, this is a step-by-step easy way to learn how to make a loom, set it up, weave simple stripes and the more advanced pick-up patterns. Then please, look at the wonderful new, old and foreign band pattern books available today.

Want to learn more about this early activity? Check out my pinterest pages for loom ideas, patterns and weavers around the world at https://www.pinterest.com/potterymom1/weaving-band-looms/.

And search my blog above for more projects on making a loom and weaving, just type in loom or band and many free patterns and ideas will pop up.

Go out and be creative!

Band and Tape Winders

 

Ways to store your bands, display them at events, or sell at events. 

In the olden times people wrapped their bands on flat "spools" called winders. The same winders that also are great for holding embroidery threads in your stash, these winders can hold your tapes and bands, and a lovey way to display them.

Winders were made of paper, card board, wood and bone.

And today, we can make some lovely band winders from old cards too. 

The winders I like to use are a little larger than those designed for thread, more durable and can hold a longer band.  These are replica's of older winders and can be used over and over again.

You can, of course make your own.  I always encourage people at my demonstrations, to make your own!  However, for those of you who are not handy, you can now purchase them on my web site, www.eastknollpotterycom.

Yes, I am a potter, but I also demonstrate and teach band/tape loom weaving. There is a page on my site that is specifically about bands.

I would love to hear from you and share your creations. Let me know what you have been doing... and photos are always welcome!

New to band weaving? You can try out my book, Tape Loom Weaving...simplified, on my site or on Amazon. Unlike most books on band weaving, this is a step-by-step easy way to learn how to make a loom, set it up, weave simple stripes and the more advanced pick-up patterns. Then please, look at the wonderful new, old and foreign band pattern books available today.

Want to learn more about this early activity? Check out my pinterest pages for loom ideas, patterns and weavers around the world at https://www.pinterest.com/potterymom1/weaving-band-looms/.

And search my blog above for more projects on making a loom and weaving.

Go out and be creative!