COURSE REPORTS

This is part of an article written by Judy Teale who came on the Castle Head course and wrote this article for publication in the newsletter of the Devon Guild of Weaver's Spinners and Dyers.

" Just under a year ago I had my first introduction to weaving under the teaching of Janet Phillips at a course for beginners, run by the Devon Guild or Weavers, Spinners and Dyers. After three days we all returned home the proud owners of a cushion cover made up of a few twill patterns.

Now some twelve months later, and a couple of other courses under the belt, myself and two other keen learners decided it was time for a week long session with Janet Phillips on a course she takes at the Castle Head Field Study Centre, Grange-over-Sands, Cumbria. After our September `Guild meeting, the three of us set off on our 400 mile trip to the southern Lake District.

Castle Head is an old Georgian mansion house set in acres of land overlooking Morecombe Bay. We were housed in the luxury and splendour of this house, and fed like Lords of the Manor (certainly not ladies) – our waistbands strained daily.

There were nine of us in our group and at the end of the week we were one very happy family. Meeting fellow weavers from other areas is very enlightening. Many book titles and names of suppliers were exchanged.

We three had chosen our subject in advance, so Janet was able to give us our respective instructions, which enabled us to make and early start on our samples. We had chosen three different subjects with the idea of exchanging information when we returned home, which we have subsequently done.

We worked from 9am, and on some days went back to our weaving, or had theory sessions in the evening. We took an afternoon off to visit a local refurbished mill and Janet's husband guided us on pre breakfast walks around the estate.

The atmosphere was very relaxed and so informative. Janet's love of her subject is infectious and we were all quite sad as our final day crept up on us.

We returned home dreaming of warps and different treadles, but feeling much more confident and certainly very well motivated."

Susan Head was motivated to write verse after her week at Denman College.

The Denman Weavers

We are the weavers of Denman
We are the best on the planet
And for this is hardly surprising
For WE have been taught by Janet.

We know all about warp and weft
And how to get weaving real quick
We also know how to roll on
But mustn't forget that warp stick.

We know all about ends per inch
We can even achieve pick and pick
We have worked in silk and chenille
Our shafts have changed with a click.

We've worked very hard at Denman
Weaving yarns from ball and cone
But our completely un-flappable Janet
Said we're in a stress free zone.

But our warps have been under tension
And our wefts have meandered along
But our cloth is the stuff of success
And therefore this is our song –

We are the weavers of Denman
We are the best on the planet
And this is hardly surprising
For WE have been taught by JANET!

The 2002 Castle Head students also felt the poetic urge take over, them while in the Lake District

FOUR SHAFT TWILLS
By Twillian Warpsworth

I wandered lonely as a weft
That floats over and under and on …. until
All at once I spied to my left
A host of different four shaft twills
Amidst the cloth
Beneath the loom
Dancing diagonally across the room.

This is part of a letter received from Margaret Cudby – Middle Essex Guild after a one-day workshop. - September 2003.

Dear Janet

Not just a bread and butter letter, but a real big thank you for such a wonderful workshop on Saturday. We all felt we had learnt so much in different ways from total beginner to experienced weaver. ………………. Not only did the day produce a buzz amongst those taking part – it also really inspired several confirmed spinners to have a go.