“Transparent Tapestry”
(three day in-person workshop)
TO REGISTER:
This workshop will open to Guild Members at noon December 13, 2025 via the link below (or visit the Workshop Registration page in the Member Area):
https://www.seattleweaversguild.com/workshop-registration
The registration page requires your Member Area password - please confirm access before attempting to register;
email website@seattleweaversguild.com if you need assitance.
Dates:
Day 1: March 27, 9am - 4:30pm (Friday)
Day 2: March 28, 9am - 4:30pm (Saturday)
Day 3: March 29, 9am - 4:30pm (Sunday)
Class Description:
Frida Hansen (1855-1931) was an internationally famous Norwegian artist. She began her career as a tapestry weaver during the National Romantic Era, working to revive traditional weaving techniques and using historical motifs and symbols. Her personal style evolved with international Art Nouveau, Arts and
Crafts, and Japanese influences. In addition to her monumental art tapestries, she developed a technique of open-warp wool transparencies, used primarily as portieres or door hangings. These combined open warps with meticulous woven areas to create textiles that have fluid drape and dramatic contrasts of color and shadow. Join artist and teacher Robbie LaFleur for a look at Frida Hansen’s artistry, technique, and inspiring floral imagery.
In this 3-day workshop, you will learn about Frida Hansen’s unique open warp tapestry technique through lectures and hands-on practice.
Inspired by Hansen’s work and that of her followers, you will learn how to design optimum cartoons using her technique. By looking at many samples and Robbie’s larger pieces, you will see how various choices affect the look of the surface, including borders and finishing techniques. Each student will weave a sample or small piece, approximately 9″ to 11″ wide, with a cartoon provided by Robbie LaFleur or your own design.
This is not a round robin.
Skill Level:
Intermediate: Students should have tapestry weaving experience.
Materials required:
Students will bring a pre-warped tapestry loom and favorite tools to the workshop. The teacher will advise each student about an appropriate loom to bring (all looms should have a tensioning device). Well before the workshop, she will also share information on how to warp the loom and on suitable weft materials. Some weft will be available for sale at the workshop. Students are also encouraged to bring design materials of their choice.
Registration:
SWG Members: Noon on December 13th, 2025
Non-members: Noon on January 3rd, 2026
Class size:
Max 12
Cost:
$100 Deposit
Estimated final cost $385, based on 10 students enrolled, $320 based on maximum enrollment. In addition, there is a material fee of $15. The final cost will depend on the number of students enrolled. $100 deposit due at time of registration. Final payment is due during the workshop.
Location:
Piano Nobile Studio, Phinney Center Lower Building (GOOGLE MAP)
About Robbie:
Robbie LaFleur, from Minneapolis, Minnesota, has been following a thread of Scandinavian textiles since she studied weaving at Valdres Husflidsskole in Fagernes, Norway in 1977. She has continued her study with Scandinavian instructors at workshops in Norway and the U.S. Recent projects include interpreting Edvard Munch’s “Scream” painting into a variety of textile techniques and weaving tapestry portraits of her relatives. She was awarded the Gold Medal in Weaving from the Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum in 2006. Robbie coordinates the Weavers Guild of Minnesota Scandinavian Weavers Study Group and is the editor and publisher of the digital Norwegian Textile Letter.
In 2019 LaFleur was a fellow with the American Scandinavian Foundation and traveled to Stavanger, Norway, to study the wool open-warp transparent tapestry technique of Frida Hansen (1855-1931).