Classes at the Center

Many of our classes are taught by recognized masters in their field, and we proudly offer instruction in Northern New Mexican traditions such as Chimayó-Style Weaving, Jerga, and Colcha Embroidery. Current classes are listed below. The two prices listed are for
members/nonmembers (one membership benefit is 20% off on classes). Besides regular youth classes, we also offer a summer fiber arts day camp for children ages 6 to 13.

July - September 2010 

Class Schedule

Class Descriptions and Registration in pdf format 

July

KNITTING FOR NEWBIES with Holly Priestley - $24/$30; materials extra.
Do you envy those knitters you see clicking happily away at their knitting? Then consider joining Holly Priestley for this fun introduction to the craft of knitting. Students will learn knitting basics including how to cast on, knit, and bind off. They will begin (and may potentially finish) a small washcloth. Students please bring size 10 straight knitting needles and a ball of Lily Sugar ’n’ Cream yarn (we will also have needles and yarn for purchase here). Holly Priestley is a senior at New Mexico Tech and has been knitting since she was knee-high to a grasshopper. She sells her knitting patterns and projects online and hopes to own a yarn store someday or become a professional knitwear designer.
Saturday, July 17; 9:30am to 12:30pm.

LEARN TO KNIT CONTINENTAL with Holly Priestley - $24/$30; bring your own yarn/needles.
Are you a “thrower” who wants to be a “picker”? In the English (or American) style of knitting, the yarn is carried in the right hand and “thrown” around the needle. In the continental style, the yarn is carried in the left hand and “picked” with the right needle. Most people agree that Continental-style knitting is somewhat faster than English and many think it creates less strain on the wrists. In this class, students will learn how to knit continental style. There is no organized project – students are encouraged to bring their own needles and yarn or ongoing project.
Saturday, July 17; 1:30pm to 4:30pm.

SUMMER EVENING WEAVING, SESSION 1 with Trish Spillman - $72/$90; students supply yarn; optional materials fee for loom purchase, $112.
It’s summer, and you’re busy with the kids, with making a living, with travel plans, with keeping the plants watered … how do you fit in time to weave? Trish Spillman to the rescue, with a planned series of three different opportunities to weave at EVFAC in the evening, over the course of a week, using Schacht’s Cricket loom (or bring your own, or ask us about renting one for class). Rigid heddle looms are simple to use yet can help weavers of all ages create delightful pieces. Trish will lead you through the basics of preparing a warp and dressing the loom, then help you get started on the project and follow up with instructions for removing and finishing it off the loom. Bring yarns you’d like to weave with or come early and buy a small amount of yarn at EVFAC. (Feel free to bring a brown-bag dinner, too.) This class is for those new to weaving, or those who have done some weaving and want to explore the rigid heddle. Trish Spillman is EVFAC’s esteemed founder. She began her career in New York City as a fashion merchandiser at Bloomingdale’s and eventually found the love of her life in weaving. She has never met a loom she didn’t like, and her joyful, spirited teaching style is truly unique.
Session 1: 5:30pm-8:30pm on Monday, July 26, Wednesday July 28 and Monday, August 2.
Session 2: 5:30pm-8:30pm on Wednesday, August 18,Thursday, August 19 and Monday, August 23.
Session 3: 5:30pm – 8:30pm on Wednesday, Sept. 8.  Thursday, Sept. 9 and Monday, Sept. 13

SOUMAK AND SHAPED TAPESTRY with Kathe Todd-Hooker – $204/$255 – materials extra.
The class is an exploration of Soumak and shaped tapestry. Soumak techniques that will be covered are vertical soumak, line soumak, structural soumak, textural soumak, and using soumak in the designing process. At the same time we will be studying the nature of shaped tapestry by using scaffolding, pulled warps, and other techniques to create a small container. There will also be an introduction to creating kumihimo braided handles and bead handles. A tapestry weaver since 1980, Kathe Todd-Hooker has an abiding interest in historical textiles, symbols, and how those symbols have been used in textiles. She has taught nationally and internationally in her field of tapestry weaving and small-format tapestry weaving, design, color theory, and the Old Believers. Her work has been shown in such diverse places as Taiwan, Poland, Hungary, and Canada.
3 days: Friday, July 30 + Saturday, July 31 + Sunday, August 1, 9am to 6pm.

WEAVING ON AN INKLE LOOM with Annie MacHale - $32/$40; materials extra.
This class will introduce students to the wondrous possibilities of creating warp-faced bands on this simple loom. Learn basic setup and how to plan patterns and weave with straight edges. Many examples will be presented to inspire you with ideas for some of the possible patterns and projects. Several types of pickup patterns will be discussed and demonstrated. This class is suitable for beginning weavers or for floor loom weavers who want to try something different. Students can purchase relatively inexpensive cottons at EVFAC for use following the teacher’s suggestions. Annie MacHale began weaving at 17 on an inkle loom she built with her father’s help. An experienced teacher, Annie also demonstrates regularly at festivals and fairs near her home in Soquel, CA. Her work is in several galleries as well as her online shops. To view some of Annie’s photos and read about her inkle weaving adventures, please visit www.ASpinnerWeaver.com.
Saturday, July 31; 12pm to 4pm.
 
August

BEGINNING WEAVING WORKSHOP 1 with Rohna York - $176/$220, materials extra.
For those just starting to weave or those who need a refresher course. Using cotton and other nonwool fibers, we will learn how to make a warp, warp the loom (including reading a draft), and do a series of basic weave patterns while creating a useful dishtowel. Students will select project yarns at EVFAC under Rohna’s guidance. Rohna learned to weave at the Southwest School of Arts and Crafts in San Antonio, Texas. After moving to Santa Fe, she worked for a time at EVFAC. You will find her weaving “wearable art” and the occasional rug. She enjoys the more complex weave patterns. Rohna’s laid-back style and unfailing patience and good humor make her ideally suited to teaching beginning weavers.
Thursday–Sunday, August 5–8, 10am to 4pm.

COLCHA EMBROIDERY with Beatrice Maestas Sandoval - $48/$60, materials included.
Learn how to use the colcha stitch that has been part of traditional embroidery in New Mexico since the Spanish Colonial era. Today we are seeing an increasing level of interest in preserving this beautiful local fiber art tradition. Absorb the history of this art form as you learn the basic colcha stitch and create a colorful design. Yarns for class are supplied, and you can also purchase colcha yarn for a future project at EVFAC. Making her home in Las Vegas, NM, Beatrice is an accomplished spinner, dyer, weaver, embroiderer, and tinsmith whose work has won many prestigious awards. She is passionate about preserving New Mexico’s fiber traditions, and her warm and encouraging teaching style has made her a favorite with many EVFAC students.
Saturday, August 14, 9:30am to 4pm.

SUMMER EVENING WEAVING, SESSION 2 with Trish Spillman.
Wednesday, August 18, Thursday, August 19 and Monday, August 23; 5:30pm to 8:30pm. Please see description in July.

INTRODUCTION TO CHIMAYO-STYLE WEAVING with Lisa Trujillo - $156/$195, materials extra.
This class is an opportunity to absorb the basics of this local New Mexican weaving tradition from a master practitioner. Students will learn how to combine angles and forms to create this unique form of woven expression. Students need to warp a Rio Grande loom prior to the class (please call EVFAC for warp specifications) and will work with Clasgen’s 4-ply (EVFAC has a wide color variety). Ideally, students should have enough weaving experience to control edges well in weft-faced weave, but confident students with only limited weaving experience should also consider taking this class. Lisa’s work has received numerous awards at Spanish Market and other venues and is part of collections around the world. She and her husband, Irvin, have poured decades of dedication into building their successful business, Centinela Traditional Arts, in Chimayo. They generously support the development and preservation of traditional fiber arts in New Mexico in a variety of ways.
Friday, Saturday & Sunday; August 20–22; 9:30am to 4:30pm.

GETTING ACQUAINTED WITH MIXING PROCION DYES with Donna Sebastian - $48/$60, materials fee $20.
Mixing dyes is different than mixing paints! We will work with Procion dyes to make a reference book for custom mixing of colors to dye fabric. We will make a personal color wheel and value scale and learn the necessary principles to achieve harmonious colors. Dye safety will be emphasized. (Note: This class includes a 1-hour lunch break.) Donna made her first garment at the age of 3. Excellence in fabric selection and execution of detail in the final garments are the hallmarks of her work. She has extensive teaching experience in the areas of sewing (including fitting and alterations), synthetic dyes, and surface design. A past owner of a custom dressmaking business in California, Donna now makes her home in Silver City, NM.
Saturday, August 28, 9:30am to 4:30pm.

DYEING COTTON FABRIC WITH PROCION DYES with Donna Sebastian - $48/$60, materials fee $30.
Using six basic Procion dye-mixing colors, we will learn to mix the perfect color for dyeing fabric. We will make a dyed color wheel of fabric and then dye a six-level value scale with the color of your choice. And just for fun (time permitting), we will do some low-immersion dyeing to see how the dyes blend and make their own beautiful colors. The materials fee covers dyes as well as 4 yards of cotton fabric per student. While this class is meant to build upon what students learn in Donna’s Saturday class, students may choose to take either class on its own. (Note: this class includes a 1-hour lunch break.)
Sunday August 29, 9:30am to 4:30pm.

September

SUMMER EVENING WEAVING, SESSION 3 with Trish Spillman.
Wednesday, September 8, Thursday, September 9,  and Monday, September 13; 5:30pm to 8:30pm. Please see description in July.

INTRODUCTION TO COTTON SPINNING with Joan Ruane - $52/$65; materials fee $10.
This is part 1 of Joan’s Classic Cotton Spinning Workshop (see below for part 2). It is a basic introduction to cotton spinning designed to give the spinner an understanding of both cotton and their wheel. Students will learn how and why to adjust their wheel for this fine, short-staple fiber. The class will also cover proper techniques for spinning different forms of cotton fiber and finishing yarns for weaving or knitting. (Note: class includes a 1-hour lunch break.) While taking a workshop with Persis Grayson, Joan fell in love with cotton spinning and has never looked back. She has been teaching spinning for almost 30 years. She has owned and operated fiber art shops in Florida and Arizona and formed educational retreats for handspinners throughout the Southwest. Presently she is teaching at the Bisbee (Arizona) Fiber Studio and supplying shops with “Easy to Spin” cotton sliver for handspinners. Learn more about Joan’s adventures in cotton spinning at www.cottonspinning.com.
Saturday, September 11, 9:30am to 4:30pm.

INTERMEDIATE COTTON SPINNING with Joan Ruane - $52/$65; materials fee $10.
his class, which is part 2 of Joan’s Classic Cotton Workshop, reviews day 1 and reinforces proper spinning techniques for cotton. A quick review of carding is done to make sure everyone is doing it correctly. The easiest method of plying cotton singles and finishing techniques are taught. In the afternoon, we will look at spinning many different kinds of slivers and blending colors. Students with cotton spinning experience may choose to take this class alone; if you are new to cotton spinning, please sign up for the Saturday class and consider taking this one, too, to extend your skills. (Note: class includes a 1-hour lunch break.)
Sunday, September 12, 9:30am to 4:30pm.

NATURAL DYEING WORKSHOP with Robin Reider - $120/$150, materials fee $30.
Join Robin at her home for a weekend of natural dyeing during the beautiful late summer season. Students will dye wool using local plants, including onion skins, marigolds, chamisa, and cota. Imported plant dyes such as indigo, madder root, cochineal, brazilwood, and logwood will complete the color range. Students will create a recipe file and learn to use alum mordant to fix the color and additives to shift the colors. Students will leave with around 6 pounds of dyed wool and a thorough understanding of the dye process from start to finish. Wool can be purchased from the instructor (in 3 shades of white and 3 shades of grey – 3 ply/113 gr. per 4-oz. skein) or brought from home in 4-oz. skeins. Robin is an award-winning, nationally recognized tapestry weaver who uses natural dyes to color her wool. You can learn more about Robin and see some of her exquisite tapestries at www.weavingsbyrobin.com.
Saturday & Sunday, September 11–12, 9am to 5pm.

BEGINNING WEAVING WORKSHOP 2 with Rohna York - $176/220, materials extra.
For those who need a little help with their next project or with just getting back to weaving. Not sure where to start? In this class we will work with planning a project: fiber and sett selection, calculating yarn needed, plus warping and weaving problems. Come with a project in mind (or not) and leave with a completed project and ready for the next one. This class is intended to be a continuation for students from Rohna’s Beginning Weaving Workshop 1, but those who are weaving for the first time are also welcome. Rohna learned to weave at the Southwest School of Arts and Crafts in San Antonio, Texas. After moving to Santa Fe, she worked for a time at EVFAC. You will find her weaving “wearable art” and the occasional rug. She enjoys the more complex weave patterns. Rohna’s laid-back style and unfailing patience and good humor make her ideally suited to teaching beginning weavers.
2 weekends: Saturday–Sunday, September 18–19 and September 25–26, 10am to 4pm.
 
ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS: SEWING GARMENTS FROM SQUARES & RECTANGLES with Nat Dean - $32/$42, materials fee $5
Are you challenged by figuring out just what to do with those beautiful rectangles and squares of fabric that you have created or collected? Do you want to learn how you can make something even more fabulous out of them? This hands-on concept and flat-pattern-making workshop will give you some creative solutions. You will make several small-scale patterns and a full-size pattern that you can use on your own, plus see and try on items of clothing made with the same approach. Be prepared to put on your thinking cap and enjoy the process! While sewing techniques will be touched on, this is not a sewing class. In addition, students may bring a piece of fabric they are thinking of turning into a garment for a brief, informal consultation with the instructor following class. Nat has lengthy experience teaching and consulting in the areas of both garment sewing and design as well as professional practices for artists. She is the owner of Ruta Zinc Handmade, Santa Fe, which specializes in elegant, one-of-a-kind garments. You can view her work online at www.rutazinchandmade.com.
Saturday, September 18, 10am to 2:30pm.

WEAVER’S TOOLBOX 1: WARPING SELF-SUFFICIENCY with Diane Bowman - $48/$60; materials supplied or supply your own.
Would you like to be able to warp all by yourself? Would you like to feel just fine about dressing a large loom on your own? Then join EVFAC’s own Diane Bowman for this first in a series of workshops that address the fundamental technical skills that need to be in every weaver’s “toolbox.” This class will offer hands-on practice in winding a warp as well as sleying, threading, and beaming a loom. Discussion will cover pros and cons of various warping methods and tips for solving common warping problems. EVFAC will supply cotton carpet warp for student “practice” warps, or students may elect to purchase warp at EVFAC if they have a project in mind. Diane is a lifelong artist who learned everything she knows about fiber arts at EVFAC.  She’s put on many a warp in the past 12 years!  Her favorite fiber medium is tapestry weaving, where perfect tension is important.  Diane is also the executive director of EVFAC.
Saturday, September 18, 10am to 4:30pm.