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Spend an evening at The Loom Room in Arthurdale learning overshot weaving with instructor Rachel Hellwarth. Walk away with a finished 15×20 tea towel and hands-on skills rooted in a New Deal community craft tradition.
Spend an evening at The Loom Room in Arthurdale learning overshot weaving with instructor Rachel Hellwarth. Walk away with a finished 15×20 tea towel and hands-on skills rooted in a New Deal community craft tradition.
Book with Arthurdale Heritage, Inc.
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Operated by Arthurdale Heritage, Inc. · Arthurdale, West Virginia
Arthurdale, West Virginia sits high in the Allegheny foothills, a small historic New Deal community where craft and local history meet. At 18 Q Rd. Arthurdale, WV 26520, The Loom Room hosts an Overshot Weaving Workshop (6pm–8pm) taught by instructor Rachel Hellwarth. This beginner-novice class guides participants through creating a 15×20-inch overshot tea towel with the warp already dressed on the loom; suggested age 16 and up. Inside the Loom Room, the key features are simple and tactile: floor looms arranged against wood-paneled walls, shuttles ready for a second motion, and a bench that becomes the vantage point for learning treadling patterns. Overshot is a twill-based structure that alternates tabby ground picks with a pattern weft that floats across multiple warp ends, producing geometric motifs historically used in coverlets. That patterning is the trip's central attraction—the slow reveal of motif as the beater falls and the shuttle passes feels like coaxing history into the present. The workshop is compact by design: small group size (2) and a two-hour window mean focused instruction. Rachel guides students through thread tension, using two shuttles, reading blocks and drafts, and weaving the distinctive overshot floats into a towel-sized sampler. Practical takeaways include warping basics already done for you, hands-on practice with pick-and-shuttle rhythm, and a finished textile you can gift or frame. Arthurdale itself is part of the local story. Established as a New Deal homestead community in the 1930s, its public buildings and Center Hall retain a lived-in sense of American craft revival. The Loom Room sits behind Center Hall; enter through the gray door and park by the dumpster across A Road. The workshop’s small scale and historical setting make it a standout: you’re not on an assembly-line class but learning in a space linked to a community experiment in self-sufficiency and practical craft. Who should book? Makers with some loom experience will get the most: this session assumes basic weaving familiarity but welcomes motivated beginners. It’s ideal for travelers looking to pair a short cultural workshop with hikes in the surrounding ridgelines or visits to local heritage sites. Bring focused attention more than ego; overshot rewards patience. Logistics at a glance: 6pm–8pm, ages 16+, tiny group, bring any personal tools if you prefer though the loom is ready. Meeting point and parking details are clear: 18 Q Rd., gray door behind Center Hall. This is a hands-on, local-heritage experience that turns a two-hour evening into a lasting cloth and a story to take home. Expect to leave with practical notes on thread choices, clear photos of your draft for later reference, and an appreciation for a craft technique that connects everyday textiles to Appalachian domestic arts and tangible skills to keep.
easy.
2 hours (6pm–8pm).
No particular fitness required; you should be comfortable sitting and using your hands for fine motor work.
Some prior weaving familiarity is recommended; the class is beginner-novice and will be challenging for total beginners but accessible with focus.
You’ll weave an overshot tea towel approximately 15×20 inches with the warp already on the loom.
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.
Minimum age is 16.
Yes, the warp and loom are prepared for the class; basic materials are provided so you can focus on technique.
Group size is very small (2), so expect focused, hands-on instruction.
Arthurdale was established as a New Deal homestead community in the 1930s, part of an early federal effort to create self-sufficient homesteads.
Supporting local craft reduces textile waste by encouraging repair and making durable, locally made pieces; respect the Loom Room space and bring reusable containers for any beverages.
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.
Book with Arthurdale Heritage, Inc.