Do I need prior weaving experience?

Some prior experience helps—this is beginner-novice level with the warp already on the loom. Newcomers can participate but may find the material challenging.

Are materials and the loom provided?

Yes — the warp is pre-warped on the loom so you can begin weaving; the class is structured to produce a 15x20" overshot tea towel.

How many students are in each class?

Class size is limited to 2 to allow close instruction and hands-on guidance.

What is the cancellation policy?

Cancellation policies vary by booking platform; check your reservation confirmation or use the referral link for provider details and updates.

Overshot Weaving Workshop in Arthurdale — Make a Historical Tea Towel (5/4/26) | Workshop | Events

On an evening in Arthurdale, West Virginia, the Loom Room comes alive with shuttles and the muted click of harnesses. If you're in town and want to learn a regional craft rooted in American domestic textile history, book the Overshot Weaving Workshop on 5/4/26. Located in Arthurdale, this two-hour class (6pm–8pm) teaches the overshot structure — a twill-based weave that uses two shuttles and at least four harnesses to create geometric floating motifs over a plain tabby ground. Students leave with a woven overshot tea towel (15x20") and a direct link to the coverlet patterns that were once common around these Appalachian foothills.

The Loom Room class is designed for beginner-novice weavers: the warp is already on the loom, so you can focus on shuttle handling, reading pattern sequences, and timing the floats that produce overshot’s iconic motifs. Instructor Rachel Hellwarth guides each student through set-up, tension adjustments, and finishing techniques, all in an intimate setting — group size is limited to 2 — which makes hands-on correction and close observation possible. Minimum age is 16.

Practical details matter: Go to 18 Q Rd. Arthurdale, WV 26520. The Loom Room entrance is the gray door located behind Center Hall. Parking is by the dumpster across A Road. Expect to sit for two hours and bring any personal optics or craft tools you prefer; the loom comes prepared so you won't need to warp before class.

In two hours you'll practice shuttle passes, learn to read a draft and sequence, adjust shed clearance, and finish edges so your tea towel is wash-ready. The class balances technical detail with accessible pacing; beginners with loom time will find it truly challenging. The room itself favors close observation—the rhythm of the beat with the beater, the color shifts in wool or cotton, and instructor notes that make technique click.

What makes this workshop special is its connection to place. Arthurdale was established as America’s first New Deal homestead community, and textile traditions like overshot coverlets are part of that local cultural fabric. The Loom Room preserves historic techniques while inviting modern makers to try pattern work that reads like architecture in thread. In a region better known for hiking and ridge lines, this shop offers a different way to engage the Appalachian story: with hands, rhythm, and an everyday object you carry home.

Whether you’re a traveler looking for a low-impact evening experience between outdoor days, a craft-minded visitor tracing regional textiles, or a sewer ready to learn structure-based patterning, this workshop delivers concentrated instruction, a finished piece, and a direct tie to Arthurdale’s living history. Spaces are intentionally small to keep teaching focused; reserve ahead if you want a seat at the loom.

About Arthurdale Heritage, Inc.

Arthurdale Heritage, Inc. preserves and shares the cultural history of Arthurdale, West Virginia through public programs, hands-on workshops, and community events. The organization hosts a range of experiences that connect visitors and residents with Appalachian traditions, including weaving, relief printing, herbalism, creative writing, folk music, and historical lectures.

Programs include classroom-style workshops such as Tiny Tapestry: Weaving for Beginners and Mug Rug Weaving, which teach basic loom techniques and let participants take home finished pieces. Art-focused offerings include a Relief Printing Workshop led by Meish Claus and Ekphrastic Writing: A Creative Writing Workshop with Jessie Van Eerden, both designed for practical skill development and artistic exploration. Music and storytelling are central to the calendar with events like Folk Music of the Southern Coalfields featuring Chris Haddox, and an outdoor theatrical performance of Shakespeare’s MACBETH by the Rusted Mechanicals troupe.

Educational talks and literary programming further highlight local history and practice. Making History with Christina Fisanick guides researchers and writers in using primary sources for family history and narrative work. Taste of Arthurdale presents historical perspectives on food in Appalachia, led by historian Katharine Donnelly. The Poetics of Gratitude workshop and Herbal Mixer build community through shared creative and practical activities.

Arthurdale Heritage, Inc. programs are delivered by named instructors and guest presenters and take place in Arthurdale, West Virginia. The organization focuses on accessible, place-based learning and cultural preservation, offering scheduled workshops and events that invite participation from local communities and visitors alike. Program details and schedules are posted regularly.