HandwovenThreads

I have two, "jack style" floor looms in my weaving/fiber studio, both by Harrisville Designs: a four shaft, four pedal and an eight shaft ten pedal. These two looms give me unlimited weaving design options. 

My weaving hobbies began in 1980 when I took a class provided by the Flint Institute of Arts. My spouse surprised me with my first loom, a kit I assembled, after my interest seemed real. He chose Harrisville Designs because that's the loom I trained on as a student. I love them.

I learned the basics of design, setting up a loom, tabby and twill weaves and even made a few items to give as gifts. I played around uncommitted to the craft for a few years but it wasn't until I retired from being a business owner that I took a more avid interest. 

Weaving is a commitment of time, time I didn't appropriate in our daily lives until 2017.

The Flint Institute of Arts still offered fiber art classes. The instructor is a gem! She takes on beginners as well as expert weavers in the same session dividing her time to individually instruct as needed. 

From my first class, taken every Saturday in ten week session, four times a year I was enthralled. Class hours are 10:00 am until 4:00 pm. A bonus to classes at the FIA, a student has unlimited studio time at the loom their working on outside of class during all museum hours allowing a student to visit their project seven days a week if desired. Several of we students would meet throughout the week. 

I enrolled with each new session five times ... and then Covid 19 hit. Classes were cancelled for a year. Classes have since restarted on Saturdays broken into two sessions, 9:00 am -noon and 1:00 pm to 4:00. Class size is restricted, too. Every effort is made to create a safe environment but I still have not re-upped for class.