Fiber Crafts at Homestead Heritage

I love this place and everyone there. If you’re ever going through Waco, be sure to stop by Homestead Heritage and say hello to my friends. There’s something for everyone. It can get busy on Saturdays (they aren’t open on Sunday), especially if the weather is nice. It’s a little over an hour from me, so I don’t get to go near as often as I’d like, but I do try to get up there as often as I can. There’s a lot to see, so plan a day with the family. Definitely make time to walk around and check it all out and don’t miss having a meal at the Cafe… again… it can get busy…. My tip is to go check into the Cafe first and get your name on the list, then walk around and they’ll let you know when your table is ready. Or… order it to go if it’s a nice day and eat outside at one of the picnic tables.

I love going up there to weave for workshops and during their Weaving Extravaganza. If you ever wanted to try your hand at weaving, this is your chance. A couple of times a year they have several looms set up with various projects. I promise, there is always at least a couple that a beginner who’s never touched a shuttle can accomplish. There’s a set price for 1/2 day or full day, depending on your project and then you pay for the materials.

Come with me back to February 2015 when I attended my second workshop with Joanne Hall there. So much fun to weave projects that I might not have tried otherwise and trying fibers I might not have done on my own (like tow linen which is the shorter flax fibers).

1. Boundweave – Thought I’d get a whole wall hanging done. Bahaha. Very time consuming. I’ll sew this little band onto a denim tote… someday….
2. Small wool runner with linen warp in rosepath threading.
3. Daldrall (Swedish Overshot) table square – probably my favorite.
4. Swiss Dot napkins in fine 16/2 cotton. Fun, quick and easy
5. Twill towel in 16/2 cotton. Another quick and easy one.
6. Tow linen tote. First time weaving with this type of linen. It made a great tote bag.
7. Rag rug in Swedish Rosepath. This was an all-dayer, but loved doing it. It’s a pretty good size rug. About 2 ft x 3 ft. Totally not my colors, but I waited til the end to choose my fabrics and the pickens were slim.
8. Linen guest towel (pictured below).

My first workshop with Joanne was in October 2013. It was the Swedish Art Weaves Class. The looms were threaded 1234. Treadles 3 and 4 were tied up for plain weave while 1 and 2 were tied up for dukagang (my favorite of the weaves we tried). On the back are (from the top) Halvkrabba, Tapestry (this was the hardest for me), Dukagang, Monk’s Belt, and Krabba. The little strip of “rick rack” is Krabba. I have yet to sew this into the bag that I planned. The stripes will be the back of the bag. I was trying to use up my wool. I’m going to inkle weave the sides and strap to put it together. The wool is Faro from Sweden and beautiful stuff to work with.

Here are a few other things I’ve woven up at Homestead: