Geometric Weaving
Learn to weave geometric shapes and patterns in tapestry
Enrolment for this course is now closed.
This course will run again later this year. Sign up to the waiting list below to be notified when enrolment re-opens
watch the teaser trailer here 👇🏻
Geometric Weaving
This course is an in-depth guide to geometric weaving in tapestry. Over the course of 5 modules we’ll work through the full process from setting up your loom to finishing your tapestries for display.
Along the way we’ll cover fundamental principles and advanced techniques, with the ultimate goal of enabling you to weave beautiful, symmetrical and finely woven tapestries.
Our founder, Christabel Balfour, will be sharing what she’s learnt in over 8 years of weaving tapestry professionally, and answering your questions over email and in a dedicated community group.
Included In The Course
The course consists of 5 modules, with 4-5 videos in each, along with downloadable PDF video notes and templates.
Each video is closed captioned and pre-recorded so you can re-watch at your own pace. Plus you have lifetime access to all course content!
You’ll also be part of an exclusive community group where you can ask questions and share your progress!
How The Course Works
When the course begins, you’ll receive an email from us on that date inviting you to create an account on our online course platform.
Once you have an account you’ll get instant access to Module 1, and the Community Group. Subsequent modules are uploaded each week, with a break halfway so you can catch up!
You’ll be notified by email when the next module is available, and remember - you have lifetime access to all course content! So you can keep coming back to the course as many times as you need.
A full breakdown of what is included in each module can be found below.
About Your Teacher
This online course has been created by our founder, artist and tapestry weaver Christabel Balfour. Christabel has been weaving tapestries professionally for over eight years, working with private clients and interior designers to produce bespoke handmade wall-hangings and rugs. Her work has been featured in the Guardian, the New York Times, and profiled by The Modern House. She has taught weaving classes at the Barbican and the V&A.
In this online course, she shares the weaving techniques she uses every day in her own work, and gives you an insight into the practice of a professional weaver.
You can find out more about her work on her website here.
Course Content
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5 videos & 1 downloadable PDF
1.1 Looms, Tools & Materials - what you’ll need for this course
1.2 Design & Inspiration - planning your designs and gathering inspiration
1.3 Planning and Preparation - planning your warp & preparing your weft
1.4 Warping Your Frame Loom- warping your frame loom at a sett of 6epi
1.5 Starting To Weave- beginning your first tapestry and honing your technique
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5 videos & 1 downloadable PDF
2.1 Lines and Blocks - weaving lines across the loom and blocks of separate weft
2.2 Triangles - weaving triangles and diamonds
2.3 Gradients - constructing diagonal slopes of different gradients
2.4 Circles & Curves - how to weave symmetrical circles and curves
2.5 Finishing Your Tapestry - taking your tapestry off the loom and finishing the loose ends
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4 videos & 1 downloadable PDF
3.1 Troubleshooting Your Weaving -fixing problems as they arise on the loom
3.2 Stripes & Hatching - weaving shapes with stripes and hatching
3.3 Striped Triangle - creating striped and half-striped triangles
3.4 Striped Circle - weaving circles half-striped and half-solid
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A chance for students to catch up on anything they’ve missed
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4 videos & 1 downloadable PDF
4.1 Overlapping Shapes - using stripes to create overlapping effects
4.2 Outlining Triangles - weaving more detailed designs with triangles
4.3 Archways - how to weave repeated archway shapes
4.4 Winding Lines - weaving a winding line with cardboard cut outs
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4 videos & 1 downloadable PDF
5.1 Finishing Methods - different ways to finish your tapestries when they come off the loom
5.2 Simple Display Methods - quick and easy ways to display your tapestries
5.3 Hanging Your Tapestry - hanging your tapestries from a dowel or velcro hanging rail
5.4 Framing Your Tapestry - framing your tapestries behind glass or with a fabric backing board
What You’ll Need For The Course
A Tapestry Frame Loom - I am using a 16” x 20” tapestry frame. Students can use a smaller or larger frame, or a notched loom.
Warp Yarn - All the tapestry samples are woven on a 1mm thick cotton cord, which is 24 WPI. You will need approximately 500g for the course.
Weft Yarn - I am using DK and Aran weight rug yarn. You will need approximately 500g of weft yarn for the course.
Weaving Tools - a shed stick, shuttles, a bobbin, a comb, a tapestry needle and sharp scissors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I get access to all the modules?
Yes you will - eventually! To help our students work through the course gradually, and not get overwhelmed, modules are released one at a time for the first 6 weeks of the course. After that, you’ll have lifetime access to all course content.
How is this course different to your Rug Weaving courses?
Our rug weaving courses focus on weaving functional textiles to withstand daily use. We work on a larger scale and with less precision. This course focuses on geometric images and how to capture them exactly in tapestry. The image is the focus, rather than the function.
Can I use a different loom for this course?
I am using a 16” x 20” tapestry frame throughout this course but the techniques I demonstrate can be recreated on any loom. However you will need a loom that can maintain a good tension and weave at a sett of 6epi and 8epi.
Can I download the modules?
Each module comes with a downloadable PDF workbook, so you can have step-by-step instructions and notes to hand while weaving. However, the videos themselves cannot be downloaded. Our videos are hosted on a platform similar to Youtube - if your internet connection is not strong enough to watch Youtube, it will not be strong enough for this course. Please check this before you sign up!
Why is there a separate enrolment pages for EU customers?
We are fortunate to have students sign up to our online courses from all over the world! However, the EU has specific rules around VAT which makes selling online courses there quite challenging. Our solution is to use a platform called Gumroad which processes EU VAT on our behalf, at no extra cost to our customers. This allows us to keep the retail price the same, wherever you are in the world!