The Sampler Blanket Workshop LAUNCH DATE : JUNE 9, 12pm central

I’ve always been very drawn to European historical sampler embroideries. Particularly, my favorites are ones where the stitches are a little askew. They are like a topographical map that was added to bit by bit as its maker learned and discovered new techniques. I’ve had this idea stewing for many years and I’m excited to finally be teaching this in person workshop I’ll be hosting this fall at my Minneapolis studio!

In this all levels class, we will sit down to a prewarped loom. I will guide the class through a series of woven experiments focusing on color, texture, and pattern relationships. My hope is to open students up to the unlimited possibilities for creating woven cloth that excite me each day in my own practice. We will have a full range of colors to play with and many alternative materials to investigate.

In part two of the course we will be given a pristine woven woolen blanket that I have designed special with our local woolen mill @faribaultmill that has been crafting blankets since 1865 here in my Minneaota home. As we transition from the loom to visible mending, we will learn about composition and stitch techniques to integrate the two mediums together. Students are encouraged after the class to continue creating on their woven blanket, adding more layers as their life and learning continue to evolve.

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Dates:

September 5-7 + 8 (optional 4th day included in cost. You are welcome to come work independently at the loom or off loom experimenting with darning techniques.)

OR

September 26-28 + 29 (optional 4th day included in cost)

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Day 1: 9-5pm / 1 hr lunch break

Introduction, history of darned samplers, Faribault Woolen Mill and overshot weaving techniques. Weaving independently. Go home with your blanket and begin darning, optional

Day 2: 9-5pm / 1hr lunch break

Experimental weaving techniques. Let’s go beyond the classic overshot and see what else we can come up with! Weaving rest of day. Go home with your blanket to darn woven pieces, optional

Day 3: 9-5pm / 1hr lunch break. Weaving and darning embroidery.

Day 4: 11-3pm

Independent studio work day. This is an add on day included in your tuition. If you would like to weave more on the loom or work more on your embroidered blanket I will have the studio open for you to work and ask questions.

$1500 tuition  + $250 material cost

*Location is in South Minneapolis. Exact directions and introduction will be sent in email one week after signing up. Please contact Amber@ambermjensen.com with any questions.