Tales From HGA Convergence 2016

I’m back  from attending HGA Convergence 2016 in Milwaukee, Wi. If you have never attended, it is an experience I highly recommend. From the exhibits, speakers and classes to the vendor hall, so much inspiration. Being able to talk with weavers from all over the nation and world in one place is invaluable. HGA Convergence includes other fiber arts beyond hand weaving: felting, dyeing, spinning and others.

The vendor hall had all kinds of equipment, yarn, fiber, books and clothing. This was some of the yarn I purchased from Giovannia Imperia, Interlacements, Lone Star Loom Room, Redfish, Webs and Yarnbarn of Kansas. There were tools big and small. I tried weaving on 6 different looms including three different compu-dobby looms. This is invaluable if possibly buying a new loom in the future.

The shuttle is a Flying Dutchman made by Louet.  It has 2 unique features. A bar that will lift any warp yarns that are lower in the shed, and a guide for the yarn coming off the shuttle. I had never seen one before and actually tried weaving with one in the vendor hall and knew I had to have one. Next, there are two weaving swords the top darker one made by Kessnich Looms and the other by Schacht. The small shuttle I’ll use with my Inckle loom and tablet weaving. It has one edge that is sharp to help beat in the yarn. It also was made by Kessnich looms.

I took 4 classes learning new techniques in all.

Go Big with Color and Weave   Karen Donde

When a Single Harness is not Enough – Double Harness                                         Techniques.   Sara Von Tresckow

An Introduction to Natural Dying and Woven Shibori.   Catharine Ellis

Rep Weave – Books,Bags, Boxes, and Beyond.  Lucienne Coifman

The trick now is to apply some of what I learned.