Beginner Rigid Heddle
With Ray Taylor
Two-Day Workshop
If you have zero weaving experience, this is the workshop for you! Walk away with a woven scarf and the skills to make towels, other scarves, coasters, and more. Ray will instruct on how to directly warp/dress the loom, weave, secure the edges, finish the scarf and care for your finished scarf.
In this workshop, you will…
- learn essential weaving terminology (finally figure out the difference between warp and weft!)
- warp your loom from start to finish.
- choose the right yarn for your project.
- weave a beautiful and unique scarf with all of the finishing touches.
Buy, Bring, or Rent A Loom for This Workshop
We offer a good selection of top-quality looms for purchase. Begin your weaving journey with a loom of your own! Contact us for more information
If you already have the appropriate loom, please bring that to the workshop.
We also offer a limited number of looms you can rent on-site during this workshop.
Click here to see the looms you can rent for this workshop
Please select the loom you’d like to rent and add it to your cart before clicking the “Register” button.
16″ Ashford Rigid Heddle Loom
8 dent reed, 2 table clamps, 2 stick shuttles, 1 warping peg
$30.00Add to cart
- Skill level Beginner
- Age appropriate 12+ (minors must have a parent on site)
- Materials fee $20 (Yarn, darning needle, illustrated in-class guidebook (helpful as a reference for your next project)
- Students should bring
rigid heddle loom, 8 or 10 dent reed, heddle hook, stick shuttle, pen or pencil, water bottle, snack and brown bag lunch.
Instructor
Ray TaylorRay was born in the rural Catskill region of upstate New York. Early exposure to fiber arts came through his mother’s quilting and sewing, as well as participation in 4-H, where foundational handcraft skills were first cultivated. These interests were rekindled in 2021 after encountering New Mexico’s deeply rooted textile traditions.
Upon joining the Las Arañas Spinners and Weavers Guild, Ray met Myra Chang Thompson, who provided sustained mentorship, private instruction, and encouragement. For his first several years of focused study, Ray worked exclusively on the rigid heddle loom, exploring its structural and expressive range. He studied in workshops with Sedona Rigsby and Liz Gipson, while continuing mentorship with Chang Thompson. His technical and conceptual development has also been informed by the writings of Betty Davenport, Jane Patrick, and Petra Marciniak.
More recently, Ray has expanded his practice to include inkle weaving under Annie MacHale and tapestry study with Sara Goldenberg White. He facilitates a monthly rigid heddle study group, continually pushing the structural possibilities of what is often considered a modest loom. His projects have included wall hangings, rugs, and sabanilla cloth intended for colcha embroidery.
Prior to retirement, Ray’s professional life centered on recruiting, developing, and mentoring talent. Guiding others as they discover weaving—and the satisfaction inherent in disciplined craft—has proven a natural continuation of that work.
