March Program Night - Designing at the Loom with Multiple Warp Chains - Kathrin Weber

Designing at the Loom with Multiple Warp Chains
Kathrin Weber

Kathrin Weber has been a full-time studio fiber artist since 1980. Her work revolves around dyeing, weaving and teaching with a fearless enjoyment in using hand-dyed color. She enthusiastically encourages students to dive into color and no matter what her classes are officially entitled, they are ultimately about color, technique and weaving good fabric.

“My goal in my work, as well as for my students’ work, is to design and weave well made personal fabric using efficient techniques in set up, weaving and finishing. I approach designing and weaving with more anticipation of unfolding possibilities and less rigid pre-determination of the final product. This approach leads to a creative flow of physical time spent at the loom and to weaving projects that leave the door open to fabrics that are beyond original intent and planning.”

This presentation focuses on techniques for working with multiple warp chains while designing at the reed. There is huge freedom in sitting at the loom and making well informed decisions as you design and setup, but it can be a nightmare without a system to keep all your yarn under control. Fabric for towels will be the project that Kathrin demonstrates while helping us explore the possibilities of simple, effective use of materials.

These playful techniques require no pre-planning other than having enough threads for the width of fabric you want to create. You will discover a few ideas that wake up creativity in your weaving. Guaranteed. The last 30 mins will be reserved for Q&A.

Kathrin is also the keynote speaker for the Contemporary Handweavers of Texas 2025 Conference in College Station, May 22-25, 2025.

Kathrin Weber has been dyeing and weaving professionally since 1980. The first thirty years was focused on creating and selling her own finished woven products. Since then she has been dyeing yarn for other fiber artists and teaching the techniques she developed.

Kathrin has a strong belief in encouraging technical proficiency and personal design. She served 6 years on the Standards Committee for Southern Highland Guild and as the chair of Standards for Piedmont Crafts Guild. She has taught at Penland, Arrowmont, John C. Campbell Folk School, Peters Valley, Appalachian Crafts School, Fiber Guilds and Fiber Conferences across the country. She is a member of Southern Highland Handcraft Guild. blazingshuttles.com