Back to All Events

Workshop: Beth Johnson


 

Sashiko-Ori
(three day in-person workshop)

 

TO REGISTER:
Visit Workshop Registration Page when Open (Feb 8 members / Mar 1 non-members)

Dates:

Day 1: May 23, 9am - 4:30pm (Friday)
Day 2: May 24, 9am - 4:30pm (Saturday)
Day 3: May 25, 9am - 4:30pm (Sunday)

Class Description:

Sashiko-ori or Woven Sashiko challenges weavers to think about design in a different way as they learn to control the intersections of pattern threads in the warp and weft. 

Although identified technically as a supplementary warp and weft technique, the teacher’s investigations of this weave structure were inspired by the exploration of hitomezashi sashiko, a Japanese folk stitching method in which the embroidery threads intersect at right angles to produce beautiful stitched patterns that reinforce, repair or decorate cloth. These lines can be woven into a cloth in the warp or weft and the perpendicular or diagonal lines can be stitched in after the cloth is woven. Another option is to weave both lines in using minimum of six harnesses.

These patterns were woven in Japan, and examples of very similar fabrics are found among ancient Andean textiles, in England, identified as “coarse weave,” and in some Scandinavian pattern books that combine this patterning with stripes or checks.

In this 3-day workshop, students will learn to design and weave these patterns and learn ways to stitch patterns into the cloth which they can take home to work on. The workbook will give students some additional avenues to explore after the workshop.

This is not a round robin.

Skill Level:

Intermediate to advanced weavers.  Students should be able to read a threading draft and set up their loom.

Materials required:

  • Loom you are familiar with with at least six shafts (small floor looms are desired, but table looms will work).

  • 8 dent reed

  • Two Boat shuttles and bobbins

  • 1/2” or 1” raddle (if you have them, we can share and I’ll bring a couple for back to front warping)

  • bobbin winder (if you have one, we can share)

  • Sticks, corrugated paper, mats, whatever you use to beam on

  • Small tools, scissors, threading, sleying hooks, etc.

  • Graph paper or notebook

  • laptop, smartphone or tablet helpful for design process with free program the teacher will demonstrate.

Registration:

SWG Members: noon on February 8th, 2025
Non-members: noon on March 1st, 2025

Class size:

Max 16

Cost:

$100 Deposit, non-refundable and at time of registration. Estimated cost $310, based on 12 students enrolled, $230 based on maximum enrollment. In addition, a material fee of $62 will be charged to each workshop participant to cover warps, weft yarns, stitching supplies and the workshop workbook. The final cost will depend on the number of students enrolled.  Final payment is due during the workshop.    

Location:

TBD

 
 

About Beth:
https://www.bethrossjohnson.com/

Beth Ross Johnson is a weaver, teacher and workshop leader living in Black Mountain,  North Carolina.  She grew up in Charleston, South Carolina and when she became interested in weaving and textile arts, learned initially from students from Norman Kennedy, later studying with him for many workshops.  A lifelong fascination with Asian art led to an interest in Japanese textiles and she has had two extensive stays in Japan to study kasuri (ikat weaving and dyeing) and sakiori (rag weaving) with master weavers there. Other avenues of exploration have been sashiko stitching and nyoho-e (Zen stitching). Recent studies have been in the ikat traditions of Europe, influenced by the 18th century wave of Orientalism on the continent, and woven structures like sashiko-ori and kasuri-ori that mimc hand stitching and ikat processes.  The craft schools, weather, and music compelled a move to western North Carolina in 1980 where she has worked a number of arts related jobs (including in environmental and craft preservation in Cherokee) while maintaining a studio and teaching in formal and informal institutions.

Previous
Previous
May 22

May: Beth Johnson (in-person)