Learn to Weave! Saori Curiousweaver Studio offers handloom weaving in the Saori freestyle with regular weaving workshops. Compact Japanese Saori floor looms are fully set up ready for you to weave cloth. Weaving cloth gives you an amazing sense of creation and confidence. No experience is required at all and you will leave with a uniquely ‘made by you’ woven cloth.
Any cloth can be woven for fashion and art works. This includes clothing, neck cowls, scarves, wall drapes and hangings, interior textiles (cushions, table runner), bags, sculptural pieces, woven jewellery or a wild organic piece, etc. For inquiries contact Kaz.
The studio is situated at Old Bar Beach, NSW Australia and owned by handweaver – Kaz Madigan. Kaz is an experienced weaver, writer, author and a registered Saori weaving tutor.
Old Bar is about 3.5 hours drive north of Sydney and the nearest town, Taree is serviced by bus, train or plane. Old Bar is a 10 minute drive off the Taree exit on the Pacific Highway M1. See more information on the Manning Valley.
The studio is 250 metres from Old Bar beach and a short drive to Saltwater, Wallabi Point, Oxley Island and Manning Point. Old Bar has several great cafes offering live music, accommodation and a beautiful surfing beach with many walks and forest bike riding in a quiet coastal setting. For further information about Weaving Workshops or Saori Studio sessions please contact Kaz Madigan.
The studio is open by appointment only.
Open Studio Sessions
Open Studio sessions will be offered throughout the year. Numbers are very limited. Dates will be promoted here.
A two hour session weaving on the Saori loom. This is enough time to make a small hanging or similar unique cloth on the loom. You will be shown how to weave and enjoy the technique. Absolutely no experience is needed. $50.00 plus materials at .20c per gram on woven weight. Bookings essential. Contact Kaz Madigan.
Online Studio Sessions
More zoom lessons online to be planned for 2021. You must be residing in Australia to participate in these sessions.
Free Weaving Techniques in the Saori way – Introduction
A one hour session online to introduce and refresh weavers on a range of free weaving techniques. Cost $35.00.
Free Weaving Techniques in the Saori way – Technique Toolbox
A one hour session online for weavers to extend their practice with more texture and colour techniques.. Cost $35.00.
Watch for more dates in 2021
What is Saori weaving and what happens in the studio?
Saori is a form of free style, expressive and improvisational handweaving. Weaving is created on equipment called a loom which is provided and fully set up in the studio. You will be invited to choose yarn colours and textures and use the loom to weave a fabric immediately. There are no mistakes to make – only new ways of expressing cloth and colour in your own way with guidance from Kaz. You’ll learn how to weave on a Japanese Saori floor loom and many simple techniques for creating beautiful and unique cloth. In one session you can create a small wall tapestry or table mat. Weaving a scarf length may take a day. Curiousweaver Studio offers a personal, relaxing and intimate coastal environment with very limited numbers for tuition.
What can I make with Saori cloth?
Any cloth can be woven for fashion and art works. This includes clothing, neck cowls, scarves, wall drapes and hangings, interior textiles (cushions, table runner), bags, sculptural pieces, woven jewellery or a wild organic piece, etc.
Saori weaving is also an arts and meditative practice in itself for those who would like to draw on this aspect as a creative impetus for enjoyment and focus. For inquiries contact Kaz.
About Saori Workshops
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Saori is hand weaving that emphasizes creativity and free expression. No rules, no fear – just pure absorption and immersion into weaving and working with luscious yarn and threads. During the workshop you will have your own loom to weave on which is fully set up ready to go. You will learn a range of expressive weave techniques which can be incorporated easily and immediately into your own unique textile design.
The workshops are held at Curiousweaver Saori Studio in Old Bar NSW. The atmosphere is casual and relaxed to allow more freedom in woven expression. The workshops are limited to 4 or 5 participants and absolutely no experience is needed to weave. Project work is also possible for established weavers.
Old Bar beach has many lovely accommodation options within walking distance of the studio. Come and stay for a relaxing and creative weekend. Wander along the beach and have a swim before and after weaving! Bookings are essential. See accommodation information .
Individual and Small Group Saori Day Sessions 2020
I welcome small groups, family groups or individuals to the studio to enjoy weaving together or building skills in weaving. Costs includes the daily use of a Saori floor loom and equipment in the studio. Custom programs can be designed for your group to a date to suit. Below are general costs using the studio looms. Please inquire about a quote for individual or private group sessions. Phone 0401236742 or contact to inquire. Studio directions will be provided on booking.
General Costs:
One on one individual tuition available. Cost is $230.00 per day with option of additional studio time which is self directed. Materials are .20c per gram.
Groups of 2-3 people (maximum number in Covid period) are $200.00 pp per day plus materials at .20c per gram.
What can I learn?
Daily program
Each day is six hours of weaving and tuition. On one day you can expect to create a scarf/runner length of fabric. In two days you will learn more techniques and become more comfortable with the loom and its possibilities. Enough to have you brimming with new ideas. All looms are set up ready for you to weave on.
Types of Learning
There are four types of weaving tuition at Curiousweaver Studio. Each area of learning is linked and students can mix them or talk to Kaz about a specialised learning program. The Saori philosophy is a key component of all weaving tuition.
- Technique based
- Loom and equipment based
- Clothing design and making
- Philosophy of Saori Weaving with project work
Technique based
Saori free weaving consists of a style and attitude to handweaving which encourages creative decisions in weaving cloth. Kaz will introduce you to range of texture, rhythm and weaving techniques allowing you to immerse yourself in a ‘painterly’ way on the loom. You will learn the clasped weft, ways to distort tension, inlay, lace, wave weaving, some tapestry techniques and much more. The loom will be set up fully for you to start weaving immediately. This type of learning is the focus of general workshops.
Loom and equipment based
If you already have a Saori loom you can learn more about how the loom can assist your comfort and creativity in weaving. We cover threading with a pre-wound and your own warp. Learn to design and wind your own warp using a cross box and threading holder or with Kenzo’s new method with a beaming station off loom, and also completely on loom. I think it is important to be skilled in working with your loom and equipment so you can use them well as your creative partner.
Other important things to know are:
Using a clipping rod, comb reed, extending the warp, warping, threading and beaming, designing directly in the reed, managing the inside set for swapping over warps and storing, roping up a loom for travel, replacing broken threads, playing with loom hacks, using the Sakiori fabric cutter for weaving with cloth strips, using the art yarn maker.
Clothing design and making
Designing and sewing clothing from our unique cloth is a central part of the Saori experience. With this aspect of your learning we cover how to cut and sew with your own cloth. There are easy ways of designing clothing and with our support in the studio you can confidently break out on your own adventure.
Philosophy of Saori Weaving and Project work
The philosophy of Saori weaving is a departure from conventional weaving in its meaning and purpose and how this is fulfilled with the process itself. Its development in Japan by Misao Jo, has lead to a worldwide appreciation of what she was exploring. An investigation of this aspect of Saori weaving combined with project work can also be done in the studio with Kaz’s guidance and support.
How to get to Old Bar, NSW
Old Bar is a coastal village 3.5 hours drive north of Sydney. Taree is the nearest town to Old Bar. It is 17 kms away. Arrangements can be made for pick up from Taree. Studio address will be provided on booking.
Flights
From Sydney Direct daily flights from Sydney to Taree with Pelican airlines.
Direct daily flights from Sydney to Port Macquarie with Virgin. Port Macquarie is 1 hour drive to Old Bar (90kms).
Trains and buses
Sydney to Taree by Trainlink Regional. Sydney transport trains from Sydney to Newcastle (Broadmeadow), met by Busways to continue to Taree.
From other Aussie cities Direct daily flights from Melbourne or Brisbane to Port Macquarie ( can hire a car for 1 hour easy highway drive to Taree or bus). Direct daily flights from Melbourne, Brisbane. to Newcastle with Virgin and JetStar. From Newcastle you can hire a car for an easy 2 hour highway drive. All other cities need to come via Brisbane or Melbourne to Newcastle.
About the Manning Valley
If you are interested in migratory shore birds, Old Bar hosts the Alaskan Aleutian birds each year. There is also a birding route in Old Bar. Additionally, the Manning River is the home of the very rare Manning River Helmeted turtle. Mud Bishops at Old Bar is a great place for stand up paddle boards and learning to kite surf. If you are into flora see more information about out mix of flora in the Old Bar area.
If you come with a non-art friend they may also like hiking or bike riding tours at Alex Cudlin Australia Tours in the area.
The Manning Valley has a significant history and here is a good reference to how it has changed since 1788.
Accommodation
Old Bar has accommodation options to suit many budgets.
Check out the newly renovated Boogie Woogie Beach House which is part of Flow Bar a great cafe and bar which features Australian and international musicians every weekend.
Other Air bnb options are also available including the self contained Old Bar Beach Studio. The Meridian resort offers self contained units for longer stays. All of these options are in very easy walking distance of beach and Curiousweaver Studio.
Other friendly accommodation is the Wallabi Point Bnb, 5 minutes drive from Old Bar.
Lots of other options can be found at MidCoast Holiday Rentals. Also see the Barrington Coast website (new name for the area)