Väv Immersion Weaving Intensive 2024

Väv Immersion 2024 is an 8-week weaving intensive co-sponsored by Fabric of Life and Vävstuga Weaving School.

This comprehensive weaving course includes challenging projects, extensive theory classes, and an immersive artisanal community. We welcome all individuals from 18 years old onward and are committed to supporting diversity within our program. We are welcoming and affirming to people of all genders and orientations, as well as diverse backgrounds. Some who attend our program have never woven before, others have woven for years. Regardless of where you are in your skills, who you are, or where you will be traveling from, we welcome you to apply to be considered for our 7th Väv Immersion cohort.

Väv Immersion is an experience to be remembered for a lifetime!

Program Description

This in-depth program reinforces the historic lineage of Scandinavian hand weaving through a range of educational opportunities including: personalized instruction with master weavers, hands-on production of numerous textile projects, attendance at intimately-sized classes that focus on an extensive array of skills, and connection to Immersion alumni from past years to build out your network and for learning how to move into this field as a professional.

Students will gain a deep cultural appreciation of the aesthetic and functional way of life within this tradition, and a commitment to enhancing their lives and the lives of others with these skills. The knowledge gained from this experience creates a foundation for further professional opportunities such as museum work, production weaving, textile retail, and teaching. Ultimately, the preservation of the tradition, culture, and function of hand weaving for future generations is carried forward through this intensive program.

Instructors:

Becky Ashenden
(she/her/hers)
Master Weaver

Becky Ashenden’s 1981 introduction to the wealth of the Swedish textile world at Sätergläntan Hemslöjdens Gård, a school renowned for weaving and other traditional crafts since 1922, gave her the motivation to pursue weaving as a life passion as well as a career. The following 13 years of production and sales added experience to her initial high-level training to build a unique set of complementary skills in both the theory and practice of weaving. Her use of equipment and techniques that have withstood the test of time adds to the value of what she has been offering her students at Vävstuga since 1991. Becky has also worked on a series of publishing projects for her own Vävstuga Press, which includes translating weaving books from Swedish to English and republishing Swedish weaving books that have gone out of print. She has also been the technical editor for several Swedish weaving books that have been published in English.

Eva Gaultney
(she/her/hers)
Scandinavian Weaving Teacher

Eva Gaultney attended the Väv Immersion program in 2019, where she expanded her knowledge of Swedish weaving and techniques. She began her weaving journey at Berea College as a production weaver, where she wove placemats, rag rugs, and rep weave; she also enjoyed exposure to different looms, tools, and weaving techniques. With her interest piqued, she spent much of her free time digging deeper into all aspects of weaving. After graduating from Berea, she accepted a position as an Environmental Educator at Pine Mountain Settlement School. There she discovered the loom room, packed with an assortment of looms of various makes and styles. She learned a lot about loom mechanics from working on and maintaining those looms. In 2020, Eva returned to Fabric of Life as Becky’s teaching assistant, and is now an integral part of our teaching staff.

Eli Akerfeldt-Howard
(he/him/his)
History of Swedish Weaving

Eli was part of our Väv Immersion program in 2022 is a dual US/Swedish citizen. He studied anthropology, Chinese, and fashion history during college before completing a fiber arts internship on the island of Gotland, off the coast of Sweden. Eli will be returning to Väv Immersion as a guest instructor this year to share his knowledge of the history of Swedish textiles. Eli’s weaving business is Hemma Textiles

Important Dates & Details:

2024 Program Dates: August 26 – October 18, 2024

Class Size: 6 participants

Location: 80 Bassett Road, Shelburne MA 01370

Tuition: $6,500, plus the cost of materials, which can average up to $60/week.

Scholarships:

Thanks to the generosity of the Ddora Foundation, we are again able to offer four scholarships to increase the accessibility of this program to motivated young adults. Two full scholarships of $6,500 are available to individuals between the ages of 18 and 35, with preference given to applicants from historically marginalized communities. Two partial scholarships of $3,500 are available to any individual between the ages of 18 and 35, based on financial need and merit. For more information on how to apply for scholarships, please refer to the Väv Immersion application.

Room & Board:

On-site lodging is available at the Bassett Road Homestead property in one of our quaint cabins, cozy glamping tents, and whimsically decorated rooms on the second floor of the Farmhouse. Room and board is $1,200 for the duration of Väv Immersion and includes a full meal package. For individuals choosing alternate accommodations, a basic meal package is included in the cost of the program and includes lunch Monday through Friday and Thursday dinners. For more information about lodging and meals, please refer to the Väv Immersion brochure.

Early Application Deadline: June 28, 2024

Final Application Deadline: July 26, 2024