SOLD OUT – Workshop – Weaving with Words, Oct 31-Nov 2, 2026

This workshop will introduce the use of the inlay technique to decorate cloth with words and phrases. A detailed demonstration of the inlay technique used to weave words into cloth will be provided, including numerous woven examples for participants to examine. The workshop will also include a full discussion of how to design and draft inlay patterns; how to read drafts while weaving; and how to troubleshoot any problems that may arise. Handouts that provide a step-by-step summary of the process will also be provided.

The primary focus of the workshop will be direct, hands-on weaving by the participants, working individually at their looms, to develop the skills needed to inlay words and phrases into cloth. In this phase of the workshop, I will work one-to-one with every participant as they develop the ability to create woven cloth decorated with inlaid patterns. Each participant will leave the workshop with at least one finished woven item that is decorated with a word or words of their choosing, and adequate skills to design and weave inlaid patterns independently in the future.

Inlay is a traditional technique that has existed for centuries in many cultures. Most weavers are familiar with the basic premise for using inlay to create patterns in cloth. The approach demonstrated here expands upon this tradition by using words, phrases, and texts as the basis for the patterns that are laid-in to the cloth. As a result, the boundaries of the craft are expanded by providing a way for weavers to incorporate elements from disciplines such as calligraphy, book arts, poetry, printing, folklore, and storytelling.

The workshop is intended for weavers of all ages and skill levels. While introductory in nature, the workshop will also provide a solid foundation to inlay for more advanced weavers who have not explored this technique previously.

Requirements: Participants are asked to provide pre-warped looms for use during the workshop (2-harness table looms are sufficient; 4-harness floor looms are preferred), dressed according to instructions provided at least two months prior to the workshop. Participants should also bring any weaving equipment they normally use while weaving (shuttles, bobbins, scissors, etc.)

Participants should bring any weaving equipment they normally use while weaving (shuttles, bobbins, scissors, etc.) Participants will also provide sufficient weft yarn for their own use during the workshop. Information on the yarn to be used will be provided at least 2 months prior.

Materials Fee: none

Maximum: 15

About the Artist:Although originally trained as a composer, with graduate degrees from Columbia and Brandeis Universities, Scott Norris has spent more than thirty years dyeing and weaving linen in his studio in Florence, Massachusetts. He has received Best In Show honors from the New England Weavers Seminar, and has published profiles, essays, and reviews in publications that include Handwoven (“Good Enough to Eat: Color Blending with Huck Lace,” March/April 2000; “Color and Pattern in Overshot,” March/April 2011; A Winter Scarf in Dornik Twill,” Handwoven Design Collection #19), American Craft, Ceramics Art and Perception, and Ceramics Monthly. He is an experienced teacher of beginner, intermediate, and advanced weavers, and a frequent guest lecturer and workshop leader for weaving guilds throughout New England and upstate New York. He has taught at the John C. Campbell Folk School, the Adirondack Folk School, Snow Farm - The New England Craft Program, the Hartford Artisans Weaving Center, and other educational centers. In recent years, his output has evolved from the production of functional household items such as tablecloths, dishtowels, and bath towels to the development of panels and smaller pieces decorated with laid-in words and images that tell a story of a fictional 19th century weaver, his family, and his community, as featured in “Really weaving a story,” ​​the Daily Hampshire Gazette, Northampton MA, December 7, 2023.

Artist’s website: elamswidow.com/