by Peggy Myers and Laura Volk
photos by workshop participants
photos by workshop participants
Wynne Matilla’s workshop, originally scheduled for March 2020, finally became reality for three days in late October 2021. We had experienced several delays, but it was all worth the wait. The workshop took place in the TFAC auditorium, and we were all overjoyed to be able to get together in person after a long separation due to the pandemic.
I was especially excited to participate in this workshop since I had attended a gallery showing in Alamance County some years ago that included Wynne’s, along with Lynn Pownell’s, hangings. I was mesmerized by the beautiful blending of fabrics that Wynne is able to achieve, and I wanted to learn her method.
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The first day of the workshop Wynne presented her work including the process by which she plans her color blending—a process which has been perfected over many years. She also presented her rag rug weaving and finishing techniques, and we got to see many examples of her work during a slide presentation.
Then we spent time together as a group looking at the fabrics each of us brought and discussing our plans for blending them on the loom. This group process allowed each of us to see how other color combinations could be blended as well as to learn how better to blend our own colors.
Wynne showed us how to cut strips from stitched fabric so that we would have a continuous weft to wind on the stick shuttles. The weaving process involves using 3 shuttles alternately in a process similar to Krokbragd. Our looms were warped prior to the workshop with seine twine threaded for a 15” X 40” table runner, so late on day 1 we started cutting strips and began weaving. The best part of the workshop was how Wynne came around the room looking at each person’s progress, making positive comments (even if only an inch had been woven) as well as pointing out ways to improve the overall appearance. She rotated through the group continuously during the entire last 2 days. She also emphasized the importance of meticulous craftsmanship. She spoke about one of her early experiences as a rug weaver with someone who did “fine” weaving and who, by comparison, thought rug making was a rather crude process. Wynne countered that by demonstrating so clearly the careful detailed work in every aspect of rag rug construction– from the careful selection of materials and colors to the preparation of the fabric strips, to the various techniques for carefully starting, ending, joining and turning the edge—all that is required to make a rug of exceptional quality. |
 
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From fabrics to loom to the final product gracing the dining room table for holidays.
I left feeling this was the best weaving workshop I had ever attended. My excitement continued when we began receiving pictures of completed pieces and the beautiful blending each person achieved.
 Lynn Pownell’s Finished Runner
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 Janet Borel’s Finished Runner
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