The Weavers Guild of Minnesota presents Kati Meek "Lustrous Linens" workshop and “For the Love of Lithuanian Weaving” lecture in August 2017.
LECTURE/ARTIST TALK
August 17, 2017, 7pm
“For the Love of Lithuanian Weaving” by Kati Meek
Location:
Textile Center, 3000 University Avenue Southeast, Suite #110, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55414, United States
Description:
The outstanding handwoven textile collections from museums in Kaunas and Vilnius, Lithuania, are presented with photographic slides, commentary, and museum-quality reproductions obtained during two research trips to this Baltic country. Participants are invited to examine the antique and contemporary examples. Special focus is put on the patterns of Lithuanian national costume, linen towels, coverlets, sashes and pillow slips.
Cost: Free and open to the public
WORKSHOP
August 18, 19, and 20, 2017
“Lustrous Linens – Weaving Linens with Success”
Location:
Textile Center, 3000 University Avenue Southeast, Suite #110, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55414, United States
Description:
Participants bring looms warped according to instructions provided and learn easy and revolutionary techniques for successful weaving with fine linen and cotton threads, beginning with warping with the Trapeze, progressing through ambidextrous threading and sleying from the center out, weaving with ‘live weight’ tension, and fine tuning the equipment and the weaver for easy, successful and lustrous linens. Mini-sessions are included on Lithuanian linen towels, warp building and finishing linens. This is a weave-on-your-own-loom and exchange, for a beginning linen notebook. The emphasis of this workshop is the process of weaving with special attention on healthy body mechanics. 18-24 hours, to 15 participants with basic weaving skills. Equipment: Two tables, garment rack, space for the student’s looms with good light, access to water, a hot plate and pan or microwave, bobbin winder, one-day use of a warping mill. Each brings 2 one-gallon and 2 one-pint size plastic bottles, 2, four-yard lengths of 1/8″ braided cotton cord, and their loom/shuttles.
Skill Level: Adventurous beginner to Advanced
Prerequisites: Students should have some experience warping and dressing a floor or table loom.
Register here>
ARTIST BIOGRAPHY
Kati has been handweaving since 1969. She was a pioneer in the National Endowment for the Arts Artist-in-the-Schools program with a year’s residency in Gallipolis, Ohio as handweaver, dyer, spinner and potter. She has been researching, weaving and reporting Lithuanian and Scottish Tartan handweaving techniques since 1983, with findings first published in Ars Textrina Vol. 1. Her weaving and reporting have been featured in Handwoven; Shuttle, Spindle & Dyepot; Lithuanian Heritage; Piecework; Threads; Fibre Focus; and Weaver’s magazines. She has been an invited lecturer at HGA Convergences in Washington DC, Minneapolis, Portland, Atlanta, Cincinnati, Vancouver, and Denver. Juried competitions throughout North America have featured Kati’s handweaving and spinning. So she can continue to weave, Kati practices Scottish Highland dancing, figure skating, and weight work to ward off arthritis, and integrates body mechanics and fitness into her programs. She has published two books:
Reflections from A Flaxen Past: For Love of Lithuanian Weaving, (hardcover, color), and a monograph: Warp with a Trapeze and Dance with your Loom. She is the designer of the recently adopted state of Michigan tartan and has begun work on a book of tartan weaving projects.
