This vibrant group of Taos County weavers will be gaining experience on the loom as we connect them with community-based resources for new and emerging weavers. Members will also be supported in exploring their own missions — such as learning to weave sabanilla cloth for colcha embroidery or reviving ancestral Pueblo weaving traditions with cotton fibers.
Cerro, NM
Ranchos de Taos, NM
El Prado, NM
Taos, NM
Taos, NM
Arroyo Hondo, NM
Taos, NM
Taos, NM
Weaver, Spinner, Dyer, & Educator
Design Researcher
8th Generation Chimayó Weaver & Educator
The cohort will launch in August 2024
This community is for folks who are new, newish, or returning to weaving
For example, for those who may have a family or ancestral weaving heritage but who have had minimal learning experiences
This community will provide emerging weavers with a network of peers & teachers to develop their loom setup as well as their familiarity and skills on the loom
Members will provide peer mentorship with each other and build community with Taos County weavers
Peer mentorship
Group demonstrations in the Martinez Hacienda weaving studio
Hourly lessons with a local weaving teacher ($25–$35/hour)
Recommendations on resources such as weaving workshops at Taos Wools, New Mexico Fiber Arts Center, Centinela Traditional Arts, Tierra Wools, and Northern New Mexico College
Loom Setup Opportunities
For members who need a loom or studio space:
Peer network for sourcing & scoping out rental / for sale looms
Waiting list for donated & loaner looms
Waiting list for studio space
For members who have a loom but need help getting it set up:
Peer mentorship with a network of local weavers
Hourly lessons with a teacher ($25–$35/hour)
Martinez Hacienda Weaving Room
In the weaving room at the historic Hacienda de los Martinez museum, we will be hosting in-person demonstrations, tutorials, and fiber arts gatherings
As space allows, there may also be opportunities for members to "drop in and weave" from this studio space — especially for those with their own portable tapestry & tabletop looms
Over time, there may also be opportunities for members to use (or bring) a dedicated loom in the space
Note: Cohort members have unique backgrounds and will move through their journey in differing ways and on differing timelines — based on their own needs, skills, interests, availability, and dedication.
Phase 1: Loom Sourcing
Members may begin by using community-based resources to find a loom to meet their weaving goals — a donated, loaner, rental, inherited, or for sale loom
This might include a portable handheld tapestry loom, a tabletop loom, or a large floor loom
Phase 2: Loom Setup
Next, members may access community-based resources to request support setting up and warping their loom
This might include attending group demonstrations, asking for a consult from a peer mentor, or hiring a teacher for hourly warping lessons
Phase 3: Weaving Skills
Once members have a loom and it is warped and ready to weave on, they may access community-based resources to build their skills on the loom
This might include group demonstrations, peer mentoring, or hourly lessons
Phase 4: Weaving Projects
Once members develop their loom setup and baseline skills, they may embark on their own weaving missions — from learning to weave sabanilla cloth to reviving ancestral Pueblo weaving traditions
Here, members may also request access to "beta test" Rio Grande weaving curriculum
Once members develop their tapestry loom setup and skills, they may then request to serve as "beta testers" for Rio Grande weaving patterns & curriculum
The weaving patterns will explore Rio Grande weaving traditions — from Rio Grande and Saltillo to Vallero and Chimayó
The weaving curriculum will consist largely of digital & printed curriculum— including written instructions, illustrative sketches, and video tutorials
Funding and support for our program is generously provided by a Community Arts Fellowship from Taos Center for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts
Studio space for our weavers is generously provided by La Hacienda de los Martinez Museum
