Title: Sculptural Tapestry with Beads and Wire

Instructor: Rebecca Smith

Dates: May 18, 2026 – 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
May 19, 2026 – 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM

Member Cost: $230.00 plus $20 materials fee (covers weft yarn, beads, needles, thread, wire, and handout) to be paid at workshop.

Non-Member Cost: $260.00 plus $20 materials fee (covers weft yarn, beads, needles, thread, wire, and handout) to be paid at workshop. Non-member registration will open at Noon on March 19, 2026 if space is still available.

Workshop Description: This workshop will teach how to make beautiful free standing or framed decorative woven art.

• • Explore diversifying your tapestry weaving skills by learning how to incorporate seed beads that capture light in unique ways, and wire to make your tapestries three-dimensional.

• • Explore eccentric weft using a variety of novelty yarns.

• • Learn loom-based bead weaving and how to combine bead weaving and yarn weaving in your tapestry.

General information and supplies that all participants should bring to the workshop:
A small tapestry loom. Upright tapestry looms are ideal but some students bring a table or rigid heddle loom. Students should have a little weaving experience including how to warp their loom.

NOTE: Looms need to be warped prior to the workshop. See details below.

New to warping a tapestry loom or need a brush up? For guild members, the tapestry group will be glad to help you set up and warp a loom to be ready for the class. Contact Janette Gross janettemgross104@gmail.com or Maggie Clark mageern@pacbell.net for assistance.

Pre-Workshop Preparation

Loom

The ideal loom is a self-standing frame loom with both shedding device and tension control.

• • Most Mirrix looms work great, but not the Safron loom or any loom equipped with the comb that Mirrix sells, it will fray your warp.

• • Table looms and rigid heddle looms: will work if you are able to maintain high tension on the warp.

• • Hokett looms and similar: not advisable, you need to be able to get your hands behind the warp.

Warp

• • 10/2 perle cotton in a dark color is best. I always use black. Equivalent sized yarns are okay.

• • Warp your loom at 5”-6” wide with a sett of 10 or 12 epi. At 10 epi you will use larger beads (size 8 seed beads) than for 12 epi (size 10 Delica beads), so make your decision based on your ability to work with small beads.

• • Mirrix loom users: warp for tapestry, not bead weaving. Use the warping rod so that the warp can be advanced.

• • Table loom and rigid heddle users: warp 2 yards.

• • Warp the loom with an uneven number of warps.

• • Be careful to warp with very even tension.

• • Do not double the selvedge threads.

• • Do not weave a header or twining, we will do that in class.

Weft

• • Yarn: We will use a variety of weft yarns. I will supply many different yarn types, but you are encouraged to bring your own interesting yarn types such as nubby, metallic, fuzzy, space -dyed, etc. Tapestry wool will also be used.

• • Beads: beads, beading needles, and beading thread are supplied as part of your material fee. Bring your own if you wish. We will use size 8 seed beads or size 10 Delica beads.

• • Wire: wire will be provided (20g and 22g).

Other Useful Tools

• • Mandatory: tapestry bobbin; tapestry fork or beater; scissors; paper and pencil; tapestry needle; 2 weights approx. 5 oz. each, able to be hung; a few straight pins

• • Optional: wire cutter, wire straightener