Beginning Swedish Huck Weaving

20880 Olinda Trail North,Scandia MN 55073

16 September, 2023

Description

Swedish Huck Weaving is a fairly simple surface needlework technique that blends surface embroidery with weaving and produces seemingly complex geometric and linear designs on a particular type of fabric. Its origin is unclear, perhaps dating to the 1600s, but it was especially popular during the 1930s–1950s and is now enjoying a resurgence of interest. In this 3-hour workshop, students will learn its history, various types of fabrics and threads used, how to prepare the cloth and thread, how to weave the fabric using traditional methods, and how and where to select patterns and supplies for future work. Students will go home with a dish towel they’ve embellished from a design provided by the instructor. Skill level: No experience is needed. Student Age: 12 years and over. Supplies needed: The instructor will provide all materials. Materials fee (included in class fee): $16 per student for the towel blank, needles, pattern, and enough embroidery thread to weave a border. INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION Wendy Johnson is a fiber artist, spinner, weaver, dyer with her own dye line, teacher, and author of "Yarn Works: How to spin, dye, and knit your own yarn," and contributing designer of Swedish-themed knitting patterns found in three additional books published by Quarto Publishing/Voyageur Press/Creative Publishing International, and over twenty knitting patterns mainly inspired by her Swedish heritage and published through her Saga Hill Designs label. Wendy has a strong interest in all things related to her Nordic heritage, including all types of Swedish textile arts. Her expertise is in flax (linen) production and linen work. She has taught at the Weavers' Guild of Minnesota, Ingebretsen's Needlework Shop, and Three River's Park District, as well as through the City of Plymouth, Parks and Recreation Program. She is a 2022–2023 recipient of the American Swedish Institute Teaching Tools Grant, in which she is focused on educating others about Swedish flax history, flax production from stalk to fiber, and spinning flax to linen.