$175 (includes $30 lab fee) class limit 16

September 17 (Mon) 10am–4pm
Maiwa Loft, Granville Island, Vancouver, Canada


This workshop is a comprehensive introduction to UK textile artist Janet Bolton’s direct way of working. The freedom that characterizes this technique permits students to explore their own likes and dislikes and find their own voices.

Although there will not be time to completely finish a piece, all necessary aspects, including presenting and framing the work, will be covered.

The workshop will start with a short slide show of Janet Bolton’s work. From there the class will discuss inspiration from the choice of suitable subject matter to the idea of allowing the work to change throughout its construction. The result is a way of working that is exciting to the last stitch.

Practical demonstrations of constructional methods, simple cutting of shapes, placing, and “needle turning” techniques augment the workshop.

All work is sewn by hand. Students will receive personal help throughout the workshop; this individual help is most important as there are no rules, no “correct” way of working. There is no right or wrong.

The class will finish with a group discussion of the pieces. Students will leave the class with an exciting work in progress, confident that they can complete the piece.

Janet will also give 2 two-day workshops and a lecture.

$250 (includes $45 lab fee) class limit 16

FIRST TIME
September 13, 14 (Thu, Fri) 10am–4pm
Maiwa Loft, Granville Island, Vancouver, Canada





Cloth and stitch combine with a deceptive simplicity in this workshop taught by UK textile artist Janet Bolton.

Famous for her evocative textile pictures that convey the feeling of storybook illustrations, Janet aims to give each student the confidence to work directly with the fabrics at hand. That is, with an idea in mind, the student will select textures and colour combinations from available fabrics rather than working out a composition in another medium (painting or drawing) and then attempting to transpose that concept into fabric.

The class will discuss compositional ideas, subject matter, and the choice of suitable materials both old and new. Students will explore the idea of allowing the composition to develop and change as the work progresses, emphasizing the wonderful freedom and directness this way of working allows for—right to the very last stitch. Janet will demonstrate “needle turning” techniques used to finalize the shape of the different components, the placing of those components, and the use of thread as a drawn line.

Janet will bring originals of her own work and a selection of pieces at different stages of development. She will also have various pieces that in her opinion have not been successful; these have led to many an interesting discussion!

The actual techniques are very simple: hand sewing at all stages. Each student will be given as much individual help as they need, particularly at the early compositional stage. After the general introduction, the whole emphasis will be on individual tuition.

The workshop will include advice on presentation of work, including framing, and will end with a group discussion on the works produced.

Janet will also give a one-day workshop and a lecture.

$225 (includes $75 lab fee) class limit 16

September 12-13 (Wed-Thu) 10am–4pm
Maiwa East, 1310 Odlum Dr., Vancouver, Canada


The quilts of rural Bengal and Bangladesh are known as khetas. Made for one’s own use, they are both simple and robust. They are used daily, cycled and recycled, become frail with age, are mended and repaired, get thinner and thicker with time, and gradually take on the history of the users and their families. They not only have a life—they are life.

 In this workshop students will explore some of the design, dye, and stitch techniques that are traditionally used to make khetas. Students will learn the jod and bejod kheta stitch techniques that, when applied to layers of hand-spun, handwoven cotton create the dheu or “wave.” The stitch makes the surface of the textile undulate like flowing water.

 Students will prepare pieces for dyeing with nui shibori and folding. A vat will be prepared using natural indigo harvested and extracted by the Living Blue project. Recipes for the Living Blue natural vat will be given and explained.

 This workshop is a very limited opportunity to work with Anowarul Haq and Apurba Deb Roy who join us from Bangladesh. They will explain how simple techniques, when worked on cloth with personality and combined with indigo blue, can create exceptional works.

2012 Maiwa Textile Symposium Workshop. Registration opens June 25th at 10am

2012 Maiwa Textile Symposium Workshop. Registration opens June 25th at 10am