About
Class canceled via Sybil on 3/4 due to precaution and low enrollment.~tt
The BARN Fiber Arts Basketry program is very excited to offer a workshop in traditional fine skein willow weaving. Bill Roeder and Heidi Miller are Pacific Northwest master basketry weavers who teach students how to create baskets using the traditional German techniques.
Students will learn to prepare their own materials using specialized German “skeining benches”. Once materials are prepared the four-inch tall basket is woven over a wooden mold created for this class.
Following German tradition, great attention will be placed on detail and technique - including placement of stakes, control of stakes during weaving, German style twining, chase weave, 3 rod whale, installation of fully wrapped foot and rim.
Students should bring:
- Small lap towel
- Small sharp knife
- Small snips
- Small scratch awl.
- NOTE: The instructors will have tools to borrow for the workshop as well as available for purchase.
Details:
- Please note for this class, cancellation requests received 14 days or less before the workshop start date will not be eligible for a refund or credit.
- Materials Fee: There is a materials fee of $100 included in the price of class. Materials include enough White Willow to make a basket and other prepared materials, use of a wooden mold and a weaving stand. Tools will be on hand for your use or you can bring some basic tools – a small awl, sharp small knife, and a small water container.
- Tuition assistance is available. Click here to apply.
- Skill Level: Advanced Beginner -- workshop participants should have some previous experience in basket weaving. It is also important for students to be able to physically pull willow through the knives and be able to sit and weave intensively for hours each day.
- Ages 18+ Welcome.
- Tuition assistance is available. Click here to apply.
- For directions, transportation, and lodging information click Getting to BARN.
- Bring a bag lunch. We have a refrigerator for people to store their lunches and drinks!
Instructor Bios:
Bill Roeder began his basketry many years ago with commercial reed from Asia. As a partner in Fishsticks Basketry, Bill worked with many instructors from around the world, both weaving and learning the preparation of natural materials. Bamboo and working with Japanese artist Jiro Yonezawa became his focus. Beginning to teach was a natural progression. In 2003 Bill made his first skeined willow basket. He has studied privately with masters Alfred Schneider and Herr Popp many times since 2003 and this year’s study will be with Esme Hoffman in the Netherlands.
Heidi Miller began weaving seriously in 2009 when her aunt invited her to the Michigan Basket Weavers Convention. Discovering the huge variety of basketry styles and materials, Heidi became hooked on natural materials. Heidi has taken instruction from many of the finest teachers in the country and eventually round willow basket weaving became her focus.
Heidi and Bill met in 2010 when Heidi took a bent alder furniture class in which Bill was an instructor. Later, Heidi helped out as cashier during special events at Fish Sticks nursery. Bill offered her the chance to work with skeined willow and their future as instructor/student, and later as instructor/instructor came from that chance opportunity. They are both passionate about skeined willow and keeping the German tradition alive. They now travel to Europe together every year to study with the masters, as well as working together weekly. Heidi and Bill teach nationally.
