UPDATE: New teaching content will stop after the end of September 2025. You may want to purchase the entire course instead when it becomes available in October. See more under Q&A below.
We've laid the foundation (you have either taken my online beginner's class or an in-person workshop) and now it's time to get colour blending and creating beautiful works of art.
Hopefully you're here because you like the mini framed tapestry art I create. I want to share my journey with you and show you the exciting world of colour blending with multiple fine threads.
Why choose my course?
I don't use complicated terminology or bombard you with too much technical information, which is common in books and online (and my beginner's course has taught you all the basics).
This is set up as a flexible monthly membership giving you the bonus of a lot of content for a smaller monthly fee. You can sample the membership and see if you like the content before committing to a whole course. However, you can only access the content whilst a member. I launched these blending classes as a membership to let me to build up content whilst allowing early access to my students.
Note: as of Aug 2025 there is now over 30 hours of video tutorials! I have just added an exciting new class on 'fringeless' weaving where I have devised a new method of warping using a classic Mirrix loom. You would normally require the use of a 'jig' to weave fringeless. For those without a Mirrix loom, I am going to study this method more. This is not to be confused with four selvedge weaving on a Chloe pocket loom.
Artful Threads will be released as a one off course with bonus content. You will have links to the videos which can be kept forever. If you are happy to wait you might prefer this option. Being a member is a more cost effective option.
about Liz
I am a professional artist turned tapestry weaver. I started on this journey as I was no longer feeling passionate about painting. I have always loved sewing and design. When I tried tapestry it was a real 'wow' moment. I could now combine my skills. I really enjoy creating more realistic imagery with my yarns - using my drawing skills and colour blending with multiple strands of fine yarn.
I am based in Bbox Studios in the creative heart of Newcastle Upon Tyne.
My tapestry collection is currently being exhibited at the Biscuit Factory art gallery in Newcastle.
I also run 'in person' workshops from my studio.
What you will learn
(update Aug 2025 - there is now over 30 hours of video learning plus written info/PDFs. That's a huge amount of content)
We will jump straight into seascapes in our first 'starter' module. Note: this module is purposefully set up with a limited number of colours. This is to allow non-UK people to purchase yarn in a cost effective way. You can see if you like the colour blending journey before then investing in more colours.
We will start gently with graduated colour blending, before adding more advanced designs and objects of interest - like boats.
Course content took a little while to build up but there are now plenty of exercises to choose from. There is the Starter Seascape module, some warp/weft manipulation exercises, landscapes, abstract and so on (see the Welcome section below to view my works).
We will also discover the world of four selvedge weaving if you have a Mirrix style loom. I am going to be researching the fringeless weaving technique (using a jig) this year and will bring this to you too. In the meantime, I have devised a way using a classic Mirrix loom (Aug 2025) which is exciting as you can now weave on a tiny scale without a warp fringe.
I will be at your side as we take it step by step. I will create all the designs for you and you can download them as PDFs. I will show you how you can print these templates to scale.
Materials - as per the beginner's course but everything is itemised again for you. So it will be a loom, 6" and small tapestry needle, tapestry beater (kitchen fork), scissors, masking tape.
Looms - either a Mirrix Saffron, Chloe (either size) or a frame loom (like I've helped you make in my beginner's course. You would only need a Mirrix style loom for four selvedge weaving).
I want you to work at 8 ends per inch for the most success as I use 4 strands of fine yarn on my needle.
UK - you can purchase a Mirrix loom here
US - you can purchase my chosen Mirrix loom with materials here
(elsewhere you can click through to your country's supplier via the US website)
Weft/Warp - see full details below to get you started.
MEMBERSHIP QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS BELOW
Curriculum
- Yarn colours needed to start your seascape journey
- How to use the sections below/ability levels
- 1. Bookmark - let's learn to colour blend (beginner) (89:10)
- 2. Blended seascape (beginner) (124:29)
- 3. Seascape with curved ocean, hills and sun/clouds (beginner/intermediate) (233:10)
- 4. Seascape with boat (beginner/intermediate) (253:06)
- 5. A night scene with moon (an exercise inserting lines and simple meet & separate) - beginner (61:29)
Warp and Weft
UPDATE (as of July 2025): following the Starter Module I let you choose your own colours to work from. Anyone In the world can do these classes as long as they can purchase fine 18/2 tapestry yarns in gradient colours. We want to aim to use 4 fine yarns on our tapestry needle. I recommend Weavers Bazaar yarns due to their amazing colour choice. They ship world-wide, including the US. However be mindful of the new tariffs coming in. Gist Yarn in the US is perfect for this course too.
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I have listed the colours needed to start my membership here. That way you can order your colours before starting your payments.
The initial topic is seascapes and these colours are required for the first section, which contains 5 projects. I am going to limit the colours initially so that you can trial this membership before investing in more colours.
Starter seascape gradient packs:
My teaching yarns are from UK based Weavers Bazaar. They are the £3.50 18/2 fine yarn 25g tubes. You can save some money by buying gradient packs in certain colour ranges.
If you are US based then you can either have Weavers Bazaar colours shipped to you or you can buy from Gist - their Array yarns come in the gradient colours also.
(Gist Array suggested colours are in brackets and it will be all the gradient colours required in the smallest tube sizes. These colours will not match my projects exactly and you will have to adapt your work slightly.)
Sunburst gradient pack (Gist - Marigold)
Turquoise gradient pack (Gist - Ocean)
Aqua 1, 4, 7 (Gist - Ocean)
Seasky gradient pack (Gist. - Sapphire)
White (White)
Stone (Gist - Black no 6 lightest)
(see more info in Q&A)
If you are in Australia you have these yarns to choose from in a huge 368 colours!! They are a perfect 18/2 fine yarn.
Warp: UK : I recommend the Liina Undyed Cotton Warp 18's from Weavers Bazaar. A/v in 250 or 500 g cones. Or George Weil 12/9 medium 8 epi warp.
For the US: I have a pack for everything you need from Mirrix (click here) as an option or please source a warp that wraps 8 times around one centimetre.
for Artful Threads
for Artful Threads
for my Beginner's Course
MEMBERSHIP QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
UPDATE ON THIS MEMBERSHIP (Sept 25):
I have built up a lot of content and seen people go from complete beginner to creating their own beautiful blended artworks. I have decided to stop this course after my final large artwork filming in September 2025. The class will become just too big to release as a one off course (which will be happening as soon as editing/subtitled videos are complete in October).
Moving forward I want to release smaller bite-size courses for you to learn from. I have gained so much confidence with teaching during this filming and I'm excited and what's to come.
Options for your membership:
1. You can stay as you are and just pay for as much video as you need for £20 a month.
2. You can transfer over to the full course when it is released and I can deduct your monthly payments (already paid) off the full course cost.
Is this course 'beginner' friendly?
This membership is unfortunately not beginner friendly. Ideally you would have taken my one-off Foundation Course (or been to my in person workshop/have weaving experience) to learn the basics and understand how I work.
What do I get for my membership fee?
If you joined me right at the start of this journey, initially it took a bit of time to build up plenty of content. I have built up around 40 hours of video content.
Can I pause my membership?
Of course you can. If you feel you have learned enough then you can cancel your membership. Whilst there is no restriction on class numbers you can rejoin at any time during 2025- maybe when there is a new topic or you have more time to focus on creating.
Note: I will add to these questions as they are presented to me.
Can I get yarn discount from Weavers Bazaar?
I have been in touch with Weavers Bazaar. If you plan a long term tapestry journey then I suggest you join the British Tapestry Group or American Tapestry Alliance. It will entitle you to a 10% discount on all yarn orders. They will not give me a discount purely for this membership unfortunately.
Note: new yearly membership to the BTGroup commences 1 April 2025.
How do I navigate the Weavers Bazaar website?
A couple of you have struggled with the website. You need to go into 'Online store', Wool Yarn, Coloured Wool, Full Coloured Stock Range, Click on the required colour - then Select Fine 18/2, select Tube, then size (25g) and finally quantity.
If buying gradient packs you simply need to select the fine yarn option.