Woven Wraps
- Marilyn Murphy

August 13 - 17 (Mon. - Fri.)

Contemporary clothing design is currently influenced by ethnic and tribal wear—a global melting pot of traditional folkloric costume and ethnic fabric mixes. All these elements easily translate to woven wraps that allow the cloth to take center stage: mobius scarves and oversized shawls; ponchos and ruanas, blanket coats and woven tabards with fringed edgings; and woven belts that wrap and shape the various layers.

During this workshop, students will learn: how to make a garment sample that is sized right for their body shape, choose appropriate yarns that yield to the drape of their wrap, and how to conceive the project from beginning so the finishing is designed into the piece, not as an afterthought. All wraps are designed as no sew or simple cuts in order to maximize the woven cloth. Emphasis is on creating a contemporary, original wrap with pizzazz.

This workshop is not a rank beginner’s class--it assumes basic weaving knowledge on the student’s part. Most weaving is plain weave with the emphasis on design, color, shaping, fit and finishing.

Marilyn Murphy started weaving and spinning in college where, soon after graduation, she bought the Weaving Workshop in Chicago and, in 1986, founded the Textile Arts Centre. After 19 years of retail, teaching, and custom clothing weaving she moved to Colorado. Here she pursued the crafts through the publishing media at Interweave where she held various positions, the last one as its President until retirement in 2010. Now she’s able to pursue her life’s passion of weaving and textile research by traveling to countries rich with these traditions. In 2011, along with four friends, she launched ClothRoads, a global textile marketplace. Her new book, Woven Wraps, will be published in Spring 2013.