Band Weaving Workshop

Friday 3 October OR Saturday 4 October, 10.00 - 16.00 

Two wooden weaving heddles against a background of brightly coloured woven bands

Tickets: £70 (Members £56), includes lunch and refreshments

On this one-day course with well-known weaver Susan J. Foulkes (Durham Weaver), participants will have the opportunity of looking at weaving equipment in the Pitt Rivers Museum collections and learning how to weave with reproduction heddles, based on those in the collections.

Workshop Programme (tbc)

  • Introductory talk
  • Weaving with a reproduction South Shields heddle: threading the warp & basic weaving techniques, including tubular weaving
  • Second warp for the South Shields heddle: simple band patterning
  • Third warp for the Pompeii heddle: threading the warp and weaving

Background information to the course by Susan J. Foulkes

 

I am a weaver specialising in band weaving. In my 2011 survey of heddles existing from the Roman era, I listed nine in European museums. Since then the number of reported finds has risen to twelve. Three heddles are incomplete, but the final size of nine can be determined. Some of the Roman examples feature additional holes that are not present in modern examples but do appear on a Swedish medieval heddle of 1350 – 1500CE. Two heddles are known from Bryggen Norway dated 1248 – 1352CE. These three heddles are the first representatives of rigid heddles in the archaeological record after the Roman era.

The collection of heddles in the Pitt Rivers museum shows the variety in use during the 19th and early 20th century. The comparison between these and the Roman examples in the workshop demonstrates the unusual form of the Roman heddles. The range of narrow bands that can be woven using modern heddles will be illustrated revealing the limitations of the Roman finds. We will explore the range of bands that can be woven on two reproduction Roman heddles including tubular weaving. A backstrap will be used. Participants will be able to continue their own exploration after the workshop. The booklet will contain instructions, additional patterns and references.

I will demonstrate weaving techniques and warping and threading a heddle.

Each participant will receive: information handouts, a backstrap cord, one shuttle, two reproduction Roman heddles, three warps and weft, and other small items need for weaving (clip –it & threader). There will be an opportunity to try different weights of wool and linen yarn.

It would be helpful if participants could bring a notebook & scissors.

Bibliography 

Foulkes, S J (2011) Roman Rigid Heddles: a Survey, Archaeological Textiles Newsletter, 52, pages 41 – 47