Award-winning Loughborough graduate Emily Whitesmith – founder of Weaversmith – is bringing her popular hand-weaving workshops to the University campus.

On Wednesday 29 October, Emily will begin to teach a six-week course of workshops suitable for absolute beginners as well as more seasoned weavers.

The classes will explore traditional weaving techniques which form part of our cultural and textile heritage, and give participants the opportunity to work with an eight-shaft Ashford table loom to design and create fabulous fabrics using a sumptuous range of yarns from lambswool to silk.

Emily graduated in 2010 with a First in Woven Textiles and secured an internship with renowned woven textile designer Margo Selby. During her internship, Emily had her first taste of teaching – and was hooked.

In 2013, she joined the University’s graduate business incubator – the Studio – and launched her business.

Under the Weaversmith brand, she now combines her love of creating bespoke hand-woven fabrics using traditional techniques with running hand-weaving workshops at a handful of venues including the WHM Working Connections centre.

Emily is looking forward starting the new six-week course: “I am very excited to be bringing my workshops to the University. As well as learning traditional skills and creating unique fabrics, the course will give participants the chance to meet other people keen to develop their creativity. They will also benefit from the therapeutic nature of the craft in the often fraught run-up to Christmas!”

The workshops are open to everyone – University staff, students and the general public.

Course details in a nutshell

• Six weeks: Wednesday 29 October – Wednesday 3 December 2014
• Two hour sessions: 17:30 – 19:30
• Location: Design School – Room 1.39
• Course fee: £125 – includes equipment and materials

To find out more, visit the Weaversmith website or contact Emily.