Announcing Online Weaving in Beauty Classes in Navajo Techniques
Sampler weavings produced by Weaving in Beauty students
Tempe, AZ Over the past 12 years, Jennie Slick and I have taught over 300 people how to weave the Navajo way, but not everyone who is interested can make the trip to the Southwest or get into one the workshops that we do on the road. Starting on January 30, I’m going to try doing an online Beginning Navajo Weaving Techniques class. Participants will need a high speed Internet connection and a headset and microphone in addition to a Navajo style loom, yarn and some tools. A web camera is helpful, but not necessary. Cost for this first time effort will be $30 per student to help defray the cost of the virtual classroom. The class will be held on Sunday afternoons from 3 PM to 5PM Eastern time, 1 PM to 3PM Mountain time and will run for five weeks. In that time, students should be able to finish a 12″x16″ sampler weaving. I’ll schedule office hours when students can ask questions through online chat and I’ll also be available via email. This first session will be limited to eight students.
The curriculum will include
- warping the loom
- mounting the warp
- starting to weave
- designing on the loom
- interlock joins
- turned joins
- problem solving
- finishing
We will warp the looms in the first lesson, get the looms set up and start weaving in the second session, work on interlock joins in the third session, try turned joins and diagonals in the fourth session and work on finishing in the last session. No prior weaving experience is assumed or necessary; you just need to have an open mind and some free time. Download access to handouts detailing the course content is included in the cost of the class. I’ll schedule future sessions depending on the results of this class. If you want to try accessing the virtual classroom to see you you’ll be able to participate, I’ll be glad to arrange that before or after my textile conservation work day on a first come, first served basis.
Quick update on 1/4/2010: Right now, the class is full. There are a couple of students who aren’t sure that their Internet connections can handle it, so their seats may open up. Please contact me if you’d like to know if and when the class will be offered again. Upon registration, you’ll receive a list of materials needed, access to handouts and we’ll schedule a brief meeting to check out the classroom connection.
Hagoshíí (so long for now)
Mary Walker
Mary, an online virtual campus is so exciting for those of us that can’t make your classes due to travel distance.
What a brave and exciting way to share your knowledge… I have taken many other classes online, and will be interested to hear how teaching something so hands-on, in a virtual manner, works out! Good luck to all, especially you as the teacher.
I would be very interested in joining this class,but I don’t have a loom and would like a plan for building one can you help?
I am just beginning t explore spinning and weaving. I have access to a spinning wheel and Navajo Churro wool. If you offer another class, I’d be interested in participating. Are there plans for building the type of loom you mentioned or a vendor you recommend?
very interested would like details–nervous about on line – will require handholdingLOL
How exciting, Mary. I sure hope it works out because hopefully next year I will have a laptop with a camera.
Happy New Year!
Wow! What a cool idea. I will be interested to see how this works out. I will be interested when the advanced class comes up after I have been over for the weaving class and textile tour.
I’ve become a big fan of your website and look forward greedily to every update. I especially like the way each update offers other entries on a similar topic to read as well. I have a few books about Navajo weaving but they do not show the close up shots that your website shows. It is almost as good as seeing the rugs in the flesh.
Keep up the good work.