A person working on a small loom, weaving a colorful pattern with blues, reds, and yellows. The workspace includes yarn, knitting tools, and artwork in the background.

Upcoming

Workshops

Time:
10 am - 4pm EDT

Cost:
$250*

Level: Beginner

Dates:

  • April 11/12…filled

  • June 6/7…filled

  • August 1/2… filled

(*includes all supplies including a loom to take home)

To reserve a spot, contact me via email at joangriffintapestry@gmail.com.

Workshops

  • Beginning Tapestry Workshop

    The Beginning Tapestry Workshop is an immersive, two-day introduction to tapestry weaving, held in my Charlottesville, VA tapestry studio over two consecutive days. After many years of weaving and teaching, I’ve found that a strong foundation in the basics is essential. With solid technical grounding, students gain the confidence to move toward their own visual language and personal expression.

    Classes are intentionally small and held in a relaxed, focused studio environment, giving students the opportunity to observe a working tapestry practice. Participants have access to a wide library of tapestry books, a variety of yarns, and several types of looms — helpful for developing ideas and understanding what might suit their own future work.

    What’s Covered:

    Over 12 hours of instruction, the workshop focuses on core tapestry techniques using a portable frame loom, including:

    • Warping the loom

    • Basic tapestry structures

    • Design and shape-building techniques

    • Finishing methods

    Each student will complete a tapestry sampler during the weekend, which they’ll take home as a long-term reference. The sampler provides a practical record of techniques that can be built on in future work.

    Details

    • Schedule: Saturday & Sunday, 10AM-4PM

    • Fee: $250 (includes all supplies)

    • Included: A tapestry frame loom to keep

    • Experience Level: No previous tapestry experience required

    • Class Size: Maximum of 4 students

    • Deposit: $100 required to reserve your space

    For students traveling from out of town, there is nearby lodging available.

    Please register in advance, as space is very limited.
    To reserve a spot, contact me via email at joangriffintapestry@gmail.com.

An elderly woman with gray hair and glasses sitting at a loom, weaving colorful fabric with autumn leaf patterns. The room is well-lit by sunlight through a window.
A craft or art studio with shelves of colorful thread, yarns, and various supplies; artwork on the walls; and tables with yarn and materials, featuring a woven basket and decorative vase.

Sample Workshop

Schedule

  • In the morning we will discuss basic tapestry terminology such as warp, weft, types of looms, sett, types of wefts. Also the differences when you warp a loom using different types of warp and how close or apart the warp ends are and how that affects the weave.

    We will warp our looms in the morning and have them ready to work on after lunch.

  • During our short lunch break we will review the terminology from the morning and other basic questions that need clarification.

  • After lunch we will begin our sampler covering  basic  tapestry weaving techniques.

    Plain weave, inserting a shape within a shape, hatching, diagonals, blending colors, stair shapes and hills.. Everyone weaves at a different pace so there is no pressure to finish quickly.

  • We will continue the techniques that we started yesterday which will take most of the second day as well. We will also discuss finishing techniques for when a tapestry is completed.

  • During our lunch break we will review the terminology from the morning and other other basic questions that need clarification. We will also discuss the process of weaving a design and why an idea may or may not be a good choice to weave.

  • We will also design a small  tapestry that is a landscape with the student deciding several color and design ideas. The student may or may not finish this small tapestry but everyone can take their loom  and some yarn home to keep . Students need only to bring lunch each day. All other supplies are provided. I will also give everyone sources and supply lists of tapestry information for handy referenc

Frequently Asked Questions

Still have questions? Take a look at the FAQ or reach out anytime. If you’re feeling ready, go ahead and register.

Register

  • Not for beginner classes! Since I keep my class size small (4 students max) it is possible to work at whatever level you find yourself.

  • It is recommended to bring whatever food & drink you’d like to have for lunch .We discuss tapestry issues during our lunch break.

  • Registering is simple. Reach out via email to reserve your spot. A $100 deposit is required.

What Students Are Saying

“Thank you for an amazing tapestry fundamentals workshop. I left feeling confident enough to move forward and make lots of mistakes and grow!”

— Jeff T.

“First, thank you for a wonderful class . I had an amazing weekend! I finished the work I started in your class and I will ship your loom back to you this week.Thank you again, you are a wonderful teacher and inspiration. “ - Wendy R.

“Thank you for a great weaving workshop. I most enjoyed learning how you transform a vision of what to weave from an idea.” - Eva C.

“Thank you for a great class! I learned so much and am inspired to find more time to weave.” - Amy B.

“Thanks for a wonderful class. I feel like I learned so much. Thanks again for your patience and insight.” - Liz A.

“Thank you so much for providing  a wonderful class” - Kay S.

“The workshop was amazing! And I do plan to continue on this weaving journey. Thank you for letting me learn in your studio. I am humbled by your knowledge and the way you opened your studio to us.” - Lynn B.

“Just a brief note to say thank you so much for leading such an informative tapestry workshop. I discovered much about design and technique which will prove very helpful.” - Cathie S.

“Just wanted to say how much I enjoyed my class. It was very kind of you to explain everything so patiently” - Deborah B.

“Thank you for your class. We all enjoyed it and learned a lot. You are a very sharing person.” - Carol B.

“Had  a wonderful time and learned so much” - Molly R.