janet dawson weaving overshot in stock

Overshot is known as a coverlet structure, but it’s also ideal for placemats, runners, blankets, fashion accessories, table linens, rugs, and much more. Just about anything you want to weave can be done in overshot.

Our class project is a series of coordinated placemats and table runners, woven in inexpensive, easy to get materials you may already have in your stash. You’ll choose from three different threadings composed of classic overshot motifs, then treadle them in star fashion, rose fashion, and many other ways.

Don’t feel like weaving placemats, runners, OR samples, or don’t have a loom available? No problem! You can still participate in the class without weaving at all. The lessons, videos, Q&As, and pen and paper exercises will help cement your understanding of overshot even if you don’t take it to the loom right away.

Don’t have that kind of loom? No worries! You can still read, watch, listen, and do all the pen and paper exercises. Your deeper understanding of overshot will be beneficial when you do have a loom to use it on or decide to explore how to weave it on the loom you already have on your own.

Our departure gate is a traditional overshot threading and our first stops in Week One are the most common variations on the overshot theme: closely related to standard overshot with just a little change here or a little change there.

In Weeks Two through Four we"ll venture farther and farther; by the end of our four week journey, your fabric won’t resemble overshot in the slightest. All without rethreading, resleying or even cutting off -- unless you’re too anxious to see your samples to wait!

In January I decided to sign up for an online class covering the structure of overshot. It was offered by Janet Dawson whom I’d previously met via her joint color class with Tien Chiu. The class was entitled “Unraveling Overshot” and turned out to be well worth the money! I ended up weaving five placemats using different colors and patterns. Along the way I learned so much that I’m going to have to go back and re-read the course material to take full advantage of all of the details it provided about the structure.

Check out Janet’s site, Weaving with Janet Dawson, for helpful weaving hints as well as current information on her upcoming classes.  She also has a yarn shop (The Bobbin Tree) which is a great resource for yarns and other weaving accessories.

You and Janet are amazing! What an incredible gift you are giving us with this structured class on color. I could have never figured it out on my own, with just trial and error.

I"ve won countless awards for my work - my handwoven wedding dress is in the permanent collection of The Henry Ford Museum, my Kodachrome Jacket was featured as the Garment Challenge winner on the cover of Handwoven, and I"ve written over thirty articles for some of the most respected weaving magazines today. I"ve taught online courses for thousands of weavers.

Truthfully, I love to help mold happy, confident weavers - sometimes even more than I love weaving myself…and I’m pretty obsessed with weaving! But helping others like you understand and enjoy all parts of weaving – project planning, loom prep, as well throwing the shuttle – is my favorite part of the whole business. I can’t wait to meet you!

Weaving is the perfect solo hobby… But after hours (days! months!) alone at the loom, it can sometimes feel stagnant and lonely. And with social distancing in effect, it can feel even lonelier.

We had almost 6,000 participants in the live Weave-Along - so come on in - the water’s warm! Between our super-active Facebook community and course materials, it’s sure to jazz up your weaving routine!

Thank you so much, Tien and Janet. This weave-along has been a blast and oh, the things I have learned. And sharing the journey with others has been inspirational and encouraging. What a treasure trove of creative juices flowing!

(The one exception is the Color Editor lessons - the Color Editor is the property of Handweaving.net, so if we have to shut down the platform, the Color Editor will not be included in the downloads.)

this is the first warp I have done with cotton and I really worked on my technique with out improving this concern. My selvages are better and my weaving is smoother but every so often I skip warp threads.. irregular threads and irregular times, but mostly in the middle third of my warp.

It happens in the weaving sweet spot, just after I advance or later, on either shed…. and didn’t happen in the past when I used an acrylic/ cotton warp with more stretch……..Arrrrrgh.*#!,

BTW… weaving on an old Fanny counterbalance and have reviewed my loom set up. Planning to get some new treadle cords. It otherwise looks well balanced and level after reviewing Jane’s video on her Fanny.

8/2 unmercerized cotton warp sett at 16 EPI and ground weft in pale green grey and 5/2 mercerized cotton pattern weft. I’m making it as part of Janet Dawson’s online overshot class.

In February I took a trip to Vashon Island. It is off the coast of Washington State. I went there for a week long weaving class and then I taught spinning for two days. I have been meaning to talk about it here ever since I got back.

The thing that has stuck with me and has been niggling at me is the weaving I did in 5 days. The class was taught by Sue Willingham who has a studio on the island and offers classes on a regular basis as well as Janet Dawson, Sue’s Daughter who lives in Nova Scotia and has her own fiber business called theBobbin Tree.

We spent time learning how to use a weaving software called Fiberworks which is very powerful and beyond what I need but so fun to play with. We also learned an easy way to warp from back to front which made me not afraid of it anymore.

There were 8 students and 9 looms. We each warped a loom 2 times and then the weaving round robin started. I came home with 9 good size samples and a great notebook so i can remember what we did.