2011 Beginning Rigid Heddle Weaving Class

Praise for the Rigid Heddle Weaving Class — and Pictures!
By Mary Werner
I’ve resisted learning to weave for a long time. There wasn’t enough time for spinning, knitting, quilting, beading, etc., much less taking up another time and equipment­intensive activity. However, I received a rigid heddle loom from a friend who was downsizing at about the time Dolores Roguszka announced that she would be teaching a rigid heddle weaving class. It was a great class and opened my eyes to a new appreciation for cloth. I have already wound warps for five different projects! Surprisingly, a rigid heddle loom is affordable, portable, and doesn’t take up nearly as much space as the floor looms I’ve admired in friends’ weaving studios. There’s room in the second session of the weaving class in March, so please take this opportunity to learn a new skill with new friends.

Photos taken at the February 5 & 6, 2011 Beginning Rigid Heddle Weaving Class at the home of Instructor Dolores Roguszka in Anchorage. Photos taken by Mary Werner.

Click to enlarge picture.
Christine Dittrich has warped her loom, spread the fibers and is now ready to sample possibilities for weft threads.	Instructor Dolores Roguszka and Kristine Adams winding warp, using a warping paddle.	Warping paddle being used.  Vessels on floor hold balls & cones of fibers for mixed warps.
Instructor Dolores Roguszka & Kristine Adams at the warping board.	Christine Dittrich begins to thread the heddle with warp for a mixed warp scarf.	Lynn Dewitt with warp threaded through the reed.
Christine Dittrich begins to thread the reed with her mixed warp for a scarf project.	Connie Fordham threading warp for a wall hanging project.	Choices for a mixed warp for Christine Dittrich to consider.
Lynn Dewitt finishes threading warp for a necklace project.	Instructor Dolores Roguszka & Kristine Adams winding warp.	The beginning of a hand woven piece destined to become a necklace.  Lynn Dewitt, new weaver.
Connie Fordham weaves her wall hanging.	Kristine Adams uses a pick-up stick while weaving her mixed warp scarf.	Nancy Boardman weaves her scarf on a Beka RH 10 rigid heddle loom.
Closer version of Nancy Boardman weaving her mixed warp scarf.	Christine Dittrich weaves a mixed warp scarf on her rigid heddle loom.	Kristine Adams weaves her mixed warp scarf.
A variety of fibers were chosen for a wall hanging by Connie Fordham.	Basis for a hand woven necklace well under way by Lynn Dewitt.	Connie Fordham weaves her wall hanging during Feb. 5 & 6, 2011 class.  Photo by Dolores Roguszka, instructor
Christine Dittrich & Lynn Dewitt, students in Feb. 5 & 6, 2011 class.  Photo by Dolores Roguszka, Instructor.	Mary Werner weaves a mixed warp scarf on her Beka rigid heddle loom in class taught by Dolores Roguszka on Feb. 5 & 6, 2011.  Schacht 25" rigid heddle loom in background.  Photo by Dolores Roguszka.	Mary Warner weaves a mixed warp scarf on her 20" Beka rigid heddle loom during a class held on Feb. 5 & 6, 2011. Photo by Dolores Roguszka, Instructor.