LESSONS in the traditional art of weaving are being held at a historic Yorkshire textile mill on 100-year-old looms.
A new series of weaving classes for beginners has been launched at Sunny Bank Mills in Farsley. The first class starts on Friday, September 16 and will be held in the Weaving Shed at the mill.
The six-week course, which finishes on Friday October 21 will be taught by educator and weaver Agnis Smallwood from Leeds.
Sunny Bank Mills is one of the only, if not the only, centre in the north of England delivering weaving classes on 100-year-old dobby looms in an old mill.
The mill complex been in the Gaunt family for almost two centuries and current co-owner William Gaunt, a passionate weaver, is delighted that they are able to promote a traditional craft which is such an integral part of the heritage of Sunny Bank Mills.
William, who studied textiles at Leeds University in the 1980s, explained: “We are so lucky to have someone as knowledgeable and passionate about the art of weaving as Agnis. She has been running weaving classes here for the past two years and they have proved very popular, with people coming from across Yorkshire and beyond.
“We are really excited and can’t wait to get our autumn classes started. Weaving is our heritage. We have always wanted to share that history in a practical way and are delighted that we are now doing this with creative courses that are based on textile processes.”
Agnis, who studied at the Cumbria Institute of the Arts and Goldsmiths College in London, said: “It is an incredible privilege to be teaching weaving in the setting of a traditional Yorkshire textile mill. And it is an honour to be working alongside William Gaunt, who is so passionate about weaving and the wonderful heritage of Sunny Bank Mills.”
She added that the six-week course, which takes place on Fridays from 10am to 1pm, is for those who would like to begin exploring learning to weave.
She said: “The six looms will be set up and ready to work on with a neutral grey warp giving more time to concentrate on weaving. For the first four weeks you will rotate around the looms, exploring different weave structures whilst learning about your loom. The final weeks will be dedicated to weaving your own final project, this could be a table runner, a wall hanging or a cushion cover for example.”
For more details about the specific courses, visit sunnybankmills.co.uk.
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