Rag Rug Workshop with Rachael Matthews

Day & time

Saturday 5th October 10.30am - 4.00pm

Cost

£95 per person

Venue

Visitor Centre of David Parr House

In this workshop, you are invited to weave a small rag rug using the ancient tool of hand-held weaving sticks. This fast and portable technique can be addictive,  and you will be able to take the sticks home to finish your work if your work needs to grow bigger.  Rachael will show you how to weave stripes, and then stitch them together with a hand-crafted wooden needle. Your woven stripes could also be re-woven.  Be amazed at how much textile waste you can get through and how fabrics change their character as they are deconstructed and reconstructed.

There will be rag yarns ready to use, but participants are invited to bring in textiles from home which are no longer in service; odd socks, former uniforms, torn sheets or damaged party dresses. We would love to hear stories of your retired textiles. If you have a specific colour palette in mind, your local charity shops may provide it.  Any excessively dusty rags can be worked in our outside space and the swapping of rags is encouraged. One person’s trash is another person’s treasure.

Rachael Matthews is the founder of Rag School, a diverse community research project looking into indigenous Rag weaving techniques. Her book ‘Rag Manifesto’ is to be published by Quickthorn Press in November. A short introductory slide show will open a world of creative processes for using textile waste. Rachael’s other publication ‘Mindfulness in Knitting’ by Leaping Hare Press discusses what we become through the process of making things.

Please purchase your tickets below, one ticket per person.

Numbers for the workshop are limited to 10, so book early to avoid disappointment.

Please note – this workshop includes an optional walkthrough of David Parr House and the House Guests exhibition.

All money raised from our workshops goes towards maintaining David Parr House – thank you for supporting us.