|
FOLLOW US!
All meetings & groups are temporarily cancelled due to COVID-19 protective measures |
|
UPCOMING CLASSES
We can have classes again!! Spots are still limited for safety, so sign up early.
WEAVING
SPINNING
FELTING
One-on-one: By Appointment
|
We regret the recent passing of Michael Gallagher, owner of Nancy's Knit Knacks, Strauch Fiber Co, & Heavenly Handspinning. He will be greatly missed by all. You can read the full memorial here. |
|
Eugene Textile Center
Facebook Group
for Creative Customers
 Join the conversation, show off your latest projects, and connect with other ETC customers. |
Check out the new Dyeing Resources section on our website. We will be adding new articles and other information, so don't forget to check it out once in a while.
|
|
|
We are open regular hours:
Mon-Sat, 10am - 5:30pm
|
Guess what!
We can hold in-person classes again!
Registration is still limited in order to maintain a safe distance between students.
|
Thurs, Feb 25, 10-noon
Introductory Needle felting class, bring yourself and a little pot to 'plant' your cactus in.
|
Sat, Feb 20, noon-4
Learn to dye cotton and other cellulose fibers. Bring yarn and fabric to life with Procion MX dyes!
|
Sat, March 27, 10-4
Get started with Rigid Heddle weaving. Bring a loom or use one of ours and make a soft scarf from start to finish!
|
Sat, March 13, 10-4
Join us for an all day felting class where you will make adorable little gnome homes. Just bring yourself!
|
Sat, March 20, noon-4
Use the power of the washing machine to take the tedium out of wet felting. Make a fabulous felted scarf and have fun doing it!
|
We are working up to creating a variety of online classes. Join us for a FREE demo class or sign up for an online version of our popular Intro to Fiberworks
|
Thur, Feb 18, 3pm
Tips, tricks, and techniques for using Texsolv to its fullest.
|
Sat, March 6, 3-4
Winding a good warp is the first step in dressing your loom well. Learn some new techniques and get your warp winding questions answered.
|
Friday, Feb 12, 10-1
This class is for those who have never gotten off the ground using Fiberworks. Learn the basics and take your weave design to the next level.
|
Get a little something for your sweetheart (or yourself!) in our super secret flash-sale
Mark your calendars!
ONLY on Valentine's Day weekend: Feb 13 & 14
Take 15% off your entire order
with the online code: SWEETHEART
|
|
New Limited Edition Wheel
|
|
Speaking of something for your sweetheart ...
Schacht is making a limited edition CHERRY Ladybug wheel
Pre-order yours today(or on Valentine's Day weekend!)
|
|
The Pacific Northwest has been home to many renowned weavers and loom-makers. Margaret and John Bergman are two early examples. Margaret was born in 1872 in a small town in central Sweden. She learned to weave from her mother, who was a professional weaver. In 1902, Margaret moved to Washington and married her fiancé, John Bergman.
After 14 years and six children, Margaret convinced her husband John to build her a Swedish-style loom and she began weaving again. At first she wove rugs and tablecloths for neighbors and local customers but she was soon asked to demonstrate and lecture on her weaving. In 1935 she helped form the Tacoma Weavers' Guild, the first established weaving guild in the western United States.
Besides her expertise in the technical aspects of weaving, Margaret was known for her experimentation in structures and design. She developed a variation on the Summer and Winter weave that is now named after her (The Bergman Technique). Rather than the normal X, O, or brick pattern, the cloth has a rosepath design. You can study some of her drafts and designs in the old periodical, Northwest Weavers. The Nordic Museum in Seattle has many samples of Margaret's weavings online.
|
|
With all of Margaret's traveling about, teaching weaving, she needed a loom that was portable and could be moved with the warp intact. Along with her husband John, they built and patented the Bergman Suitcase loom in 1933. A handful of years later in 1936, they designed the larger folding Bergman loom. Their son Arthur joined in and it became a booming family business. The Bergman looms were sold to weavers all over the Northwest and were used for teaching weaving in the Army hospitals as well as the state hospitals, as a form of therapy.
The original Bergman looms were built up until the 1970s. Margaret's brother, Johan Iwald, began building his own version of the folding loom which he sold in Sweden as the Iwald Loom.
Here at ETC we get used Bergman looms periodically, and they are always fascinating! I hope we can all live by Margaret's often quoted words:
"Share what you have. Nothing ever comes out of a closed fist."
|
|
We'd love to hear from anyone who knows more about Margaret and John Bergman.
|
|
|
Sincerely,
Suzie, Staff and Buddy (the shop puppy)
Eugene Textile Center
2750 Roosevelt Blvd., Eugene, Oregon
541-688-1565
|
|
|
|
|
|
