In picturesque Bavaria, Advent season has a heart-warming, hand-made feel. During this time, the 4 weeks before Christmas, everyone has decorations hanging about that were made years ago by the family’s young ones. Start that tradition in your own home with this free mini-lesson in how to make the spice-and-seeds mosaic ornaments called Baumschmuck!
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Temari balls are exquisitely wound and embroidered gems that are given in Japan as a very special gift to a loved one on an auspicious occasion. Easy to learn at a beginner’s level, the intrigued student can follow the craft up many layers of complexity, and never become bored with this technique. It has chieved the proud level of an art form.
This delightful technique originates in SE Asia, and uses a simple loom construct; a piece of bamboo… or for non-tropical climes a dowel from the local hardware store. The woven band sports beaded selvages in the student’s favorite colors, and can be used for bracelets, hatbands, headbands, choker necklaces, cell phone case handles… the possibilities are endless!
This technique is a relatively new invention, that melds ideas from time-honored and proven traditions: the Japanese art of Kumihimo braiding contributes the stand on which the braid is formed. However, the hollow braid that results resembles more closely the English tradition of straw plating. By using wire instead of fiber or straw, the result is a stunning 3D braid that can be used for a variety of jewlery, especially necklaces!
Cotton Spinning Made Easy, by Joan Ruane, a renowned cotton spinning teacher, is a classic film that will never grow old. This video takes you step-by-step through the process of spinning cotton on our wheel and shows you how to store and use your lovely handspun cotton yarns.
In Cotton Spinning With The Takli, Joan Ruane, a renowned cotton spinner and teacher, not only teaches you how to use the little metal takli support spindle, but she includes instruction on the Indian book charkha. “Take to spinning to find peace of mind. The music of the wheel will be as balm to our soul. I believe that the yarn we spin is capable of mending the broken warp and woof of our life. The charkha is the symbol for nonviolence on which all life, if it is to be real life, must be based.” –– Mahatma Gandhi.
Delightfully easy to make, while looking deceptively complex, these stars are popular in Europe, especially at Christmas time. You will see them hanging in windows there, with light shining through them. The class is geared for adults, but the technique is easy enough for children. No experience needed to make beautiful stars – first time!
This tutorial is offered free of charge, being a durable reference for Marilyn’s Viking Knitting students at conferences across the nation. View the multi-step process of attaching the findings to the pulled coil, from the seat with the best view in the house!
Making cloth of you own – from the very start – is something that many people are curious about… but some folks are intimidated by a 48" wide warp, and very few of them have space in their home for a floor loom! Here is the perfect way to ‘dip your toe in’ to weaving! All parts of the weaving process are covered, from start to finish (over 2 hours of instruction). Bands that are woven on the inkle loom are narrow weaves used for shoelaces, one-of-a-kind dog leashes, clothing trim, backpack straps, lanyards, camera straps, belts, hatbands… bands have 1001 uses!
Tablet Weaving is a portable band weaving technique that produces intricate patterns with little equipment and no loom required.
Come learn the basics:
