Booking takes place through my website, and priority is given to those who have already expressed an interest by signing up to the waiting list.
Double huck is a double cloth consisting of two layers of huck lace. As in regular double weave, the two layers can be exchanged to create a variety of patterns and textures.
How many reasons do you need? I started exploring double huck because (1) I was excited about being able to stitch two layers together invisibly and still have ‘holes all the way through’.
Then I discovered (2) that the lacy fabric had a beautiful drape for scarves and wearables, when woven in a fine yarn, and a gloriously squishy, bouncy quality when woven in a thicker yarn.
Finally (3) came the pattern possibilities and – as a weaver who is very greedy for pattern – I got hooked.
But if neither (1), (2) or (3) appeals to you, then I can only offer pure curiosity as a reason for trying it.
The course has recently expanded to an action-packed six weeks. We’ll warp up in week 1, get started weaving double huck in week 2, then from weeks 3 to 5 we will explore a host of variations. We’ll look at layer and half-unit exchange; stitched layers; pattern exchange; and mixing structures and colours. By week 6 you will have all the tools to weave a small finished piece to your own design.
There will also be a special bonus session for those who want to look at designing for more than 8 shafts, and at the end of week six we’ll get together for a celebration of our accomplishments and a final Q&A.
You will need a minimum of 8 shafts. The practical part of the course will be devoted to getting as much out of an 8-shaft threading as we can. There will be a bonus session towards the end of the workshop for those who want to extend the principles to more than 8 shafts.
While you can create double huck on any kind of 8 shaft loom, I recommend using a table loom if you have access to one. A dobby loom (mechanical or computer dobby) will work well too. The next best option would be a jack loom, with either a rising or a sinking shed, but you will have less flexibility for mixing and matching design elements.
If you have a countermarche loom then it will be a challenge to do all the sampling we have in store, so it’s not suitable for the workshop. Although you will be able to weave double huck on your loom later, borrowing a table loom for the workshop itself will make it much easier to experiment.
If you haven’t done any double weave at all, then a better workshop to start with would be Understand Double Weave on 8 Shafts.
I recommend a yarn that is not too slippery. I’d avoid pure silk or Tencel to start with, and use wool, a wool blend, cotton or cottolin.
For an open, drapey weave I recommend a yarn which will bear long floats well. For scarves and cowls my preferred yarns are wool, wool/silk and alpaca/silk blends in the range 16/2 to 24/2 Nm. (For comparison, note that the Jaggerspun 2/18 yarns are equivalent to a 20/2 Nm, so right in the middle of this range.)
For a bouncier weave, cotton or cottolin is a good choice, or a thicker wool yarn, say 11/2 – 14/2 Nm.
Full details will be provided on enrolment, and the first week of the class will be focused on dressing the loom and choosing a good sett. Whatever yarn you want to use, we’ll find a way to get the best results!
Yes, you will. All the core teaching materials will be pre-recorded and available to you at any time. Each lesson is broken down into a series of short videos, with slides and transcripts you can print out for reference, as well as downloadable worksheets and examples. There is also a community forum where you can ask questions at any time. The live classes will be scheduled to try and accommodate as many different time zones as possible, but if you cannot manage any of those times then you will still have all you need to be able to weave.
You will have access to the real me. I’m recording the core teaching materials because this makes them available to everyone at any time. However, I will also be hosting live online sessions every week, and I will always be accessible via the community forum as well.
Live sessions are held at two or three alternative times each week, to offer as much flexibility as possible across time zones. Typical times are 10:30, 17:00 and 19:30 in the UK. You can select any of these as your preferred time to attend, but don’t need to stick to the same time each week. To check what they will be in your time zone I recommended this converter.
There’s no expiry date, so you can continue to access the course materials for as long as you like*. It’s my intention that this workshop should spark your interest in this rich and varied structure, and I hope you’ll come back and access the materials whenever you need a reminder or want to try something new.
* As with any technology, of course, this is subject to the life of the platforms where they are hosted. If for any reason that becomes an issue, I will give you as much notice as I can.
That’s my intention! I am really enthusiastic about double huck, and I want to keep spreading that enthusiasm. If you’d like to make sure you hear about future class dates, you can add your name to the waiting list.
If you haven’t done any double weave before, then this course is not going to be a good choice. If you are confident in dressing your loom, can read a draft, and have woven with more than one structure, e.g. plain weave and twills, have a look at Understand Double Weave on 8 Shafts instead.
No! I know there are some great weaving groups on Facebook, but I am not a fan of the Facebook environment, which I find noisy and confusing. I’ve chosen Circle as the platform where I host the private community for Weaving Space Online so that we have a quiet space to focus on weaving. If you haven’t used it before, don’t worry – I’ll help you get started.