Fiber Arts
Vibrant Rugs with Mary Zicafoose
Learn how to make vibrant rugs from this accomplished artist sharing her design philosophy, techniques, and personal tips.
Members$995.00 (any noted materials fee included) |
Guest$1,293.00 (any noted materials fee included) |
Tuition Assistance and Other Policies
Meeting Times
- Thur, 10/8/2026 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
- Fri, 10/9/2026 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
- Sat, 10/10/2026 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
- Sun, 10/11/2026 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thur, 10/8/2026 - Sun, 10/11/2026
About
Design and weave a weft-face rug sampler using hand-dyed wools from the studio of Mary Zicafoose, whose tapestry and rug weaving work spans four decades. Instruction will include her preferred warping and weaving techniques, and complete steps in finishing work for exhibitions and sales. This very comprehensive workshop offers technical solutions for the creative, non-loom-controlled, rug-making process.
Workshop goals:
- Learn tried-and-true warp and weaving techniques and formulas Mary uses through a step-by-step weaving sampler.
- Professional steaming, finishing, and installation methods, as well as systems to streamline packing, shipping, and exhibition, will be emphasized.
- You'll leave inspired to take your own work to the next level, with new skills and heightened confidence.
Daily schedule:
- Day 1: Introductory rug Power Point presentation, tie onto front beam, tighten warps, begin weaving, and understanding the straight line.
- Day 2: Weave all day. Focus on color gradations through continuous weaving technique demonstrations.
- Day 3: Weave all day. Focus on constructing angles through continuous demonstrations.
- Day 4: Complete weaving by noon. Finishing demonstration and lecture including steaming, hanging, packing, and shipping. Final Power Point presentation.
Details
- Experience level: This is an excellent workshop for the beginning as well as the advanced weaver.
- Must have experience warping a floor loom, as students are required to pre-warp their own looms.
- Rug weaving experience is helpful, but not required.
- Cancellation requests received prior to noon on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026, will be eligible for a refund minus a 15% cancellation fee ($149.25 for members, and $193.95 for guests). Cancellations after that date won't be eligible for a refund.
- Bring a sack lunch each day. A microwave and refrigerator are available for your use on the lower level.
Materials
- A $40 materials fee, included in the cost of this class, covers weft yarns and workshop handouts.
- You'll need to pre-warp your loom for a 12- to 18-inch weaving width. Time will be provided for this in the studio the week before class begins. Warping instructions will be emailed prior to workshop.
- You'll also need:
- One spool 250 grams (400 yards) 8/3 linen rug warp.
- Three stick shuttles.
- Cotton fabric strips for header.
- Wide-eye tapestry needle.
- Measuring tape.
- Scissors.
- Weaving temple that adjusts to your weaving width (optional).
Prerequisites
Must have experience warping a floor loom, as students are required to pre-warp their own looms.
Class Policies
Ages 14 and up are welcome.
BARN Policies
- View BARN's Cancellation and Refund Policy.
- Tuition Assistance is available. Fill out the application before registering.
- BARN is committed to accessibility. We try to make accommodations when requested; the earlier you contact us, the more likely we can help. Fill out the Accommodation Request Form before any class for which you require an accommodation. Email accessibility@bainbridgebarn.org if you have any questions.
- Sensory Statement: Makerspaces like BARN can be noisy and cluttered, smell strongly, and have bright or flickering lights. BARN is not an allergen-free facility. If you have concerns, please email info@bainbridgebarn.org.
Instructors or Guides
Mary Zicafoose
Weaving, Dyeing
Mary's tapestries and rugs span the globe from large-scale public installations to private collections in U.S. embassies on three continents. Her woven pieces blend cultural icons and symbols with a contemporary hand, creating powerful visual statements in fiber. The work and processes are a reflection of superb craftsmanship and her ability to speak articulately through the use of color.
In Mary's words: I am an ikat tapestry weaver. My fascination with pattern and indigenous cloth began as a child, with a scrap of Indonesian fabric given to me by a traveling aunt. After many formative years of art schooling and teaching, I somewhat surprisingly found myself behind a loom. I have spent the last three decades in pursuit of visual surprise on the flat woven 'rug' surface, through dye processes, tapestry techniques and intriguing color play. Weaving is a personal vernacular that speaks about my unabashed use of color and the power of symbols.
She has worked, traveled, and taught throughout the Americas. A largely self taught weaver, she received her BFA from St. Mary's College in Notre Dame, Ind. Her graduate studies include the Art Institute of Chicago and the University of Nebraska. She credits her courage at the dye pot to the influence of painter Mark Rothko and her designs to every textile she has seen and touched. She currently maintains a fiber studio in Omaha, Neb., and is constructing a new home and studio on her historic property, Pahuk, on the Platte River.
In Mary's words: I am an ikat tapestry weaver. My fascination with pattern and indigenous cloth began as a child, with a scrap of Indonesian fabric given to me by a traveling aunt. After many formative years of art schooling and teaching, I somewhat surprisingly found myself behind a loom. I have spent the last three decades in pursuit of visual surprise on the flat woven 'rug' surface, through dye processes, tapestry techniques and intriguing color play. Weaving is a personal vernacular that speaks about my unabashed use of color and the power of symbols.
She has worked, traveled, and taught throughout the Americas. A largely self taught weaver, she received her BFA from St. Mary's College in Notre Dame, Ind. Her graduate studies include the Art Institute of Chicago and the University of Nebraska. She credits her courage at the dye pot to the influence of painter Mark Rothko and her designs to every textile she has seen and touched. She currently maintains a fiber studio in Omaha, Neb., and is constructing a new home and studio on her historic property, Pahuk, on the Platte River.
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