The Woven Rug — new winter sessions

SIGNUP WILL GO LIVE IN THE WEBSHOP OCTOBER 2, 2025 at 12 noon (central time)

Feb 6–8, 2026  •  Feb 20–22, 2026

Marshall, North Carolina

Overview

In this three-day, all-levels workshop, you’ll design and embellish a handwoven wool rug as a living surface for color, story, and stitch.

You’ll arrive to a finished 3’ × 5’ natural wool rug and a pre-warped loom for experiments. At the loom, we’ll explore several boundweave rug techniques, weaving inserts and motifs that we’ll later darn and embroider into your rug. Think of the rug as paper: we’ll “draw” into cloth with line, texture, and color—layer by layer.

Inspired by the charm of historical European sampler embroideries—especially the wonderfully askew ones—our rugs become contemporary “topographical” maps of learning, where each new technique leaves a trace.

What you’ll learn

  • Multiple boundweave rug techniques for bold pattern and texture

  • How to adapt and remix traditional rug structures into contemporary compositions

  • Color relationships (hue, value, chroma) for rugs that read from across a room

  • Composition on cloth: scale, spacing, rhythm, and negative space

  • Darning + visible mending stitches to integrate woven inserts

  • Embroidered line as drawing: narrative marks, borders, and joins

Daily schedule (9:30–4:30 • 1-hr lunch)

Day 1

Introductions; brief history of darned samplers; overview of boundweave rug traditions. Guided loom studies. Evening option: begin darning on your rug at home.

Day 2

Experimental weaving lab—exploring variations in boundweave and inventive approaches to rug structure. Weave inserts and components. Evening option: continue darning on your rug.

Day 3

Finishing day: composition, darning integration, and embroidered line work. Group share + next steps for continued layering after class.

Follow-up

Six weeks after the workshop, we’ll gather again on Zoom for a group show & tell session. This is a chance to reconnect, share progress, and see how each person’s rug and creative practice have continued to evolve.

Materials & tuition

  • Tuition: $1,500

  • Materials fee: $500

    • Includes: one 3’ × 5’ wool rug, warp/weft yarns in a full color range, darning/embroidery threads, needles, off-loom materials, and shared tools.

Lodging

  • A few lovely cabins are available to rent on the same property where Amber will be staying. The cabins are nestled in the mountains, about 20 minutes from downtown Marshall. Each day, you’ll be able to catch a ride with Amber to and from the workshop, making the experience easy and communal.

  • You are also welcome to arrange your own lodging. There are several great options in downtown Marshall—some walkable to the studio. Contact Amber for recommendations.

If you are interested in either the cabins or downtown lodging ideas, please email Amber@ambermjensen.com for details and availability.

Food

There are several options for meals within walking distance of the studio:

  • Zuma Coffee & Bakery — a cozy spot for breakfast, coffee, and baked goods

  • Zadie’s — casual lunch and dinner right on the river

  • Madison Natural Foods — grocery store and takeaway lunches, with plenty of healthy options

  • Plus a handful of other local cafés and restaurants nearby

(You’re also welcome to bring your own lunch each day; there will be time set aside for a 1-hour break.)

Getting there

  • Nearest airport: Asheville, NC (AVL) — 30 minutes from Marshall

  • Other airports: Charlotte, NC • Greenville, SC • Atlanta, GA

  • We can help arrange a shuttle from downtown Asheville to the studio on the first and last day of the workshop.

  • For airport transfers, you can use Uber, Lyft, or a rental car to get to/from Asheville.

Who it’s for

Curious beginners to experienced weavers—no prior rug experience required. If you love color, texture, and storytelling in cloth, you’ll feel at home.

You’ll go home with

  • A finished (and further-finishable) 3’ × 5’ wool rug layered with woven inserts, darned joins, and embroidered line

  • A set of woven samples + stitch reference

  • A clear plan for continued layering as your life—and the rug—evolves

  • A follow-up community session to celebrate and reflect on your work

Location

115 Blannahassett Island, Room 106, Marshall, NC 28753

Detailed directions and a welcome packet arrive by email within a week of registration.

Questions / registration

Email Amber at Amber@ambermjensen.com.