Textile Basketry – Soft Sculpture with Wrapping

Tutor: Mary Crabb
Level: Beginners
Date: A one-day course: Friday 28 June 2024, 11am-5pm
Price: £130

Course details
A one-day workshop with a focus on wrapping with connections to coiling. Wrapping and coiling of a core material is worked in the hands with the use of a few simple tools. Working around a core, the wrapping adds structure, colour and possibly texture. The course will offer a gentle nod to Tadek Beutlich. Mary will bring a few examples of samples of his work for handling and inspiration.

You will be introduced to the technique, and encouraged to explore soft sculpture and line. Techniques will be taught to start, join in new threads, connect cores whilst wrapping and finishing off. A range of materials will be available to trial as a core, including rope, string, raffia, fabric and paper. Wrapping threads on offer will be colourful, natural or textured, wools, fabric, strings and twine.

Mary will demonstrate techniques, provide visual notes and offer individual support to enable students to create their own unique samples and pieces. A course suitable for all with no experience of wrapping and coiling necessary, with opportunities to explore and experiment.

Please note, work is all made in the hands and can be tiring on the hands, neck and shoulders, so please consider this before booking.

This course is one of five individual courses with Mary Crabb during May and June, each exploring different textile and sculptural basketry techniques which may also be of interest.

Materials to bring

• A notebook/sketchbook and pencil as you may wish to note additional information
• Reading glasses if you need them for close work
• A camera (optional)
• An apron and covered footwear
• Small scissors
• If you would like to bring any threads to work into your wrapping, please do. These should be no finer than sewing cotton and no thicker than double knitting yarn.

Asthma and hay fever suffers are recommended to bring their medication as occasionally the fibres from some threads and strings may bring on symptoms.

Materials included
Various threads, tapestry/knitting yarn, raffia, fabric strips, rope/string core, needles and instruction sheets.

Equipment provided
All necessary equipment will be provided for use on the course.

About the tutor
Mary Crabb is an award-winning contemporary basketmaker. Having originally worked in willow, Mary now works with fine flexible materials, both natural and man-made, to create small, detailed and decorative woven forms exploring the connection between basketry and textiles.

General information
Short courses are open to anyone aged 18 and over.
The course fee covers tuition and materials where stated. You will need to bring all other items listed under the ‘Materials to bring’ section.

Refreshments
Coffee and tea are included in the course fee, but you will need to bring lunch with you to eat in the refreshments room. There are plenty of local venues to purchase food locally, if needed, though we recommend that you bring a packed lunch.

Refunds and cancellations
Cancellations are permitted up to 6 weeks before the start of a course and subject to a £35 cancellation fee. Refunds will not be given for cancellations less than 6 weeks before the start of a course.

Students who do not attend due to illness, personal or professional commitments do not have the right to a refund. For this reason, we recommend that students take out personal insurance against any unforeseeable circumstances before the start of their course. It is not possible to transfer to future courses.

We reserve the right to cancel a class in unusual circumstances. We try to avoid this where possible, but sometimes it is unavoidable. In this situation, a full refund will be given. We’re sorry that we cannot be financially responsible for extreme weather conditions, travel disruption or any other situations that are outside our control.

Access
If you have any specific access needs, we will need to know about your access requirements in advance. Please tell us about your needs in confidence by emailing: bookingsoffice@westdean.ac.uk

This venue has steps to the front reception, with limited access via a side gate to the ground floor. There is a small lift to higher floors or stairs.

Safety
Short course students are required to sign a safety compliance form as part of West Dean Health and Safety regulations.

Disclaimer
The information given is accurate at the time of publication. However, West Dean College reserves the right to cancel or amend courses if circumstances require.