HWBC Upcoming Workshops
in person - PhiladeLphia Guild of Handweavers guild House
Friday, September 12, 2025 & Saturday, September 13, 2025
Natural Dye with Alum and Iron Mordant Paste: Stamping, Brushing, and Shibori
with Ana Lisa Hedstrom
workshop is full - waiting list only
WORKSHOP fee: $250, plus $50 supply fee (paid to the instructor)
MAXIMUM NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS: 14, with 7 spaces allotted each to HWBC members and 7 to Philadelphia Handweavers guild members
location: Philadephia Guild of Hand Weavers’ Guild House
Dates/Time: 10AM — 5PM, September 12 & September 13
waiting list: contact Laura Here
Cancellation policy for this workshop: full refund up to 60 days before and a half refund 61-30 days before. Any closer to the date would be a full forfeiture.
We have partnered with the Philadelphia Guild of Handweavers to co-host a workshop featuring internationally renowned fiber artist Ana Lisa Hedstrom.
Direct application of natural dye extracts is a fun and effective application of natural dyes. Working with weld, madder, and cochineal we will mix a mordant paste using alum, soda ash, vinegar and guar gum. A second paste with iron will add dramatic color changes. This paste works with direct application by brushing and stamping, and painting on shibori textures. When the mordant paste is dry the fabric is dyed in an immersion bath. There will be instruction for arashi pole wrapping, Itajime folding and clamping, and mokume stitch resist. We will also make samples with Kakishibu persimmon tannin in direct application. Kakishibu requires no chemicals nor heat to set.
All supplies and several scarves will be provided in the material fee. Students may bring sample size pieces of natural fabrics and printing blocks they may have.
About Ana Lisa Hedstrom
Ana Lisa Hedstrom’s signature Shibori textiles are in the collections of the Cooper Hewitt, the Museum of Craft and Design, the De Young Museum, and the Racine Art Museum. Exhibitions include Shibori: Fusion and Diffusion at Tama University, Tokyo, and The Box Project at the Textile Museum in DC.
She has completed public art installations in Emeryville, California, and the American Embassy in Brunei. She has received two NEA grants and is a fellow of the American Craft Council.
Instruction experience includes S.F. State University and California College of Art, and she is a frequent instructor at summer programs including Penland, Haystack, Pacific Northwest Art Center, and at Textile Conferences.
Ana Lisa Hedstrom
april 8, 9 & 10, 2026
variations on harriet’s shawl
with denise kovnat
WORKSHOP fee: $200
MAXIMUM NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS: 20
location: trinity buckingham church and zoom prep
registration: TBA
Inspired by the pieces Denise wove for Complexity 2024, "Harriet Tubman Dreams of the North Star" and "Harriet's Shawl," we will design, dye, and weave variations using Echo, Jin, Double Weave and/or energized weft collapse. Denise will "weave" a little history into the workshop about Harriet Tubman's history, her "visions" (the results of a severe head injury inflicted by a slave owner) that helped guide her choices, and why she's such an inspiring figure for our times. We will wind warps with one black and one natural thread and dye them at home following instructions we will get in a zoom session at least one month before the workshop. Using minimum 4-shaft looms, we will then warp our looms for weaving at the workshop based on a selection of drafts provided by the instructor. Since her originals were woven on 28-shafts, our results will be different and unique, but combine a blend of multiple techniques. Photo’s above taken by Tim Fuss of Pixelwave photography.
About Denise Kovnat
I'm a weaver, dyer, and "free-range" seamstress who loves painting warps, dimensional weaving, and extended-parallel threadings -- all to create colorful, textured cloth for teaching, shows, and sales. My pieces have won many awards and have been juried into the Handweavers Guild of America Convergence fashion shows since 2008. I teach on Zoom and at conferences and guilds throughout the United States and Canada and as far away as Australia.
Working out of my home, I weave on a 32-shaft Louet Megado, 16-shaft Toika Eeva, a 16-shaft Germaine table loom, and a 12-shaft LeClerc table loom. Plus a lovely little 8-shaft Structo.
may 13, 2026
maker anatomy workshop
with andrea lui, pt, dpt, ocs
WORKSHOP fee: $30
MAXIMUM NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS: 20
location: trinity buckingham church
registration: tba
Have you ever wondered why certain parts of your body ache with making? Or what to even do about it? Come join Andrea Lui, PT, DPT, OCS for a class on maker anatomy. We will cover a basic overview of posture and ergonomics, specifically related to making posture (knitting, crochet, weaving, spinning). Then a novice-friendly anatomy lesson on what muscles control which motions, and how to exercise and strengthen them to improve your posture and strength. You will leave this class with a deeper understanding of your body, and improved awareness of how to decrease any aches or pains. This class is also great if you are seeking to avoid any repetitive stress injuries. Andrea will demonstrate an exercise program to help strengthen and stretch your entire body, and a YouTube link to all exercises demonstrated will be available for class participants after.
About Andrea Lui, PT, DPT, OCS
Andrea’s expertise comes from her background as a physical therapist. She completed her undergraduate degree at Wellesley College, and obtained her Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree from MGH Institute of Health Professions. She is a board certified clinical specialist in orthopedic physical therapy (OCS), and is skilled in treating a variety of patients with acute and chronic pain. She is also a NASM-certified personal trainer. Andrea is passionate about patient education and empowering her patients to help themselves.
She began noticing that there were very little resources available to knitters, crocheters, and crafters alike on how to take care of their bodies. She was inspired to put out short videos with information on stretches, strengthening exercises, and information on how to care for your body.
When she is not knitting or practicing as a physical therapist, Andrea enjoys cooking and spending time with her husband and 2 kids.
