Specialization in Textile Art and Contemporary Tapestry Techniques

Influences | Mariana Baertl

In this lesson I will tell you a little about what inspires me when creating, where to look for my own inspiration and what books and magazines support me and help me to express my ideas.

Influences | Mauro Frazão

Now, I will share with you my sources of inspiration and influences.

Module 2

For Diana Cunha, weaving is a dialogue between tradition and experimentation. Through her brand Oficina 166, she draws inspiration from ancestral textile techniques, architecture, and everyday objects, exploring how materials and forms can speak together. Her creative world is rich in texture, patience, and quiet beauty—where each tapestry is not just handmade, but thoughtfully composed to tell its own visual story.

18 lessons (3h 3m)

Choosing materials

There are many types of fibers. Each responds differently to handling (some are more difficult to work with than others) and have a different result after weaving. We will analyze various types of fibers and other materials and learn about the strengths and weaknesses of each one.

Loom types and frame choice

In this class, we will cover the various types of hand looms (comb loom, nail loom, cardboard loom, vertical / frame loom, circular loom). There are still other less conventional looms.

Main concepts of the frame loom

In this class, I will talk about the main concepts of the frame loom (definition of loom, warp, weft, shutter and shuttle). Tapestry and weaving are techniques through which fabrics are created. At the bottom, a fabric is made up of threads that cross, intertwine.

Assemble the warp on the loom

During this class, you will learn how to assemble the web on the frame loom. There are two ways, and I will explain both. Single-wire warp: With this technique, we will assemble the warp using a single thread, continuous to the warp. Multi-wire web: This technique may take a little longer; but it is simpler, because being individual wires we can control the tension more easily.

The brake point is one of the fundamental points of the tapestry in a frame loom and can be used in these situations: at the beginning of a piece to delimit the lower part of the piece, preventing the weave from slipping; at the end of the piece (at the top) preventing the weave from unraveling when we remove the piece from the loom; to create empty spaces in the tapestry and also to define the contours of the piece when you want a different shape from the loom.

Brake stitch

Taffeta stitch and fringes

The taffeta stitch or Gobelin stitch is the most common stitch in the tapestry. In this course, you will learn how to use it in its simplest form, however I would like to show you the various effects that this point may have used alternately in order to produce different patterns (presenting several samples).

13m

Soumak Stitch

The Soumak stitch is one of the stitches that gives more texture to a piece. You will learn the different ways to do it, as well as explore the different effects we achieve using different types of fibers.

You will learn the Pick n 'pick pattern similar to the plain weave but with two colors, the effect of which is colored columns vertically. This is a very successful point, as the effect created is very beautiful.

Pick n 'pick stitch

Geometric Shapes

Making a geometric shape requires prior preparation and this starts with the sketch. One of the factors to take into account is the area of the piece where we are going to place a certain shape.

In this class, you will learn how to make organic free-style shapes and follow a drawing. In fact, organic forms are simpler, as they do not have to be straight or symmetrical.

Organic shapes

Definition of part design

The decision regarding the design of the piece results from the combination of: inspiring elements, preferences of the client or recipient of the piece, place where the piece will be placed and budget. I will talk about each of these aspects and the best way to combine them.

Draft

It is often necessary to think in detail about the part before its execution, either because it is an order from a customer who intends to approve the design in advance, or because we consider it necessary to plan the part due to its complexity.

In this lesson, I will show you the step by step of building the piece, from the assembly of the loom to the execution of the stitches.

Start building the part

We will work the piece, according to the sketch already prepared and for that you will use the various points learned: taffeta, Soumak, Pick n'pick. We will build shapes and fill around them.

Apply texture

Let's play with the fringes until we reach the end of the piece.

Playing with fringes

Best points to finish the piece and shots

The ends of a piece are by nature the most fragile. Therefore, I will suggest the best finishing points for each type of piece.

Remove the piece from the loom

This is the moment we all look forward to when we make a loom piece. Perhaps, therefore, it is the phase in which we are most anxious and insecure. You will learn to remove the piece from the loom carefully and safely. After removing the piece from the loom, I will sew it to its support (bar or natural trunk) and talk about the most suitable ways to hang the piece on the wall.

Tips for starting your own business

Having developed my hobby into a profession, I would like to tell you about my experience on that path. In this last class, I will give you tips that I consider useful for those who want to change their lives and create their own business and also alert you to some situations and challenges that you may encounter along your journey.

Module 3

María Hernández weaves with intention, rhythm, and a deep respect for tradition. Through her brand Malatrama, she blends the ancestral essence of high-warp weaving with a love for natural textures and contemporary forms. Her creative world is shaped by slow craftsmanship and the expressive power of color and fiber—where every tapestry becomes a quiet space to observe, connect, and create with purpose.

16 lessons (2h 45m)

Main tools

In this lesson we will review what are the necessary tools for you to start knitting. I will explain how you can build a wooden frame at home, I will show the tools we need and their use: frame, wool, cotton thread, wool needles, scissors, a comb, pencil, paper, glue and a cardboard strip.

Knowing the fibers

Next, I am going to explain the most common types of fibers to weave while I am teaching them, also the ones that I usually use. Depending on the different types of fibers we will have some results or others.

Basic concepts

Here we will talk about the basic concepts of high heald weave, we will see what the warp is, what the weft is and what the weaving ligaments are. We will also see how to assemble the weaving frame and we will assemble a warp on which we will weave some samples in the next lesson.

Types of ligaments

In this lesson we will see the types of ligaments that we can practice in our final project. I will teach you how to make the taffeta or plain weave and some of its variants such as double taffeta and two-color taffeta.

In this lesson we will see the types of textures that we can use in our final project. I will teach you how to make the taffeta fabric with volume, soumak or braid, and the Turkish knot that we will apply as fringes or to give relief.

Types of textures

14m

Tapestry design

We began to design our tapestry. The main motif of this piece will be a vase with flowers in a geometric style. We will see how to build this sketch from some geometric shapes cut out of paper and combining them with each other. In this section we will also define the types of fabric and the measurements that it will have to later assemble the necessary warp.

Choice of color palette

Once we have planned our design, we have to choose the colors. We are going to see some basic notions of color theory that will help you define the appropriate tones that your tapestry is going to have.

The base of the tapestry 1

We have already selected the design and the colors with which we are going to work, now it is time to prepare the hoop for weaving; We will assemble the warp and begin to weave the base of the tapestry. First, we will place some fringes and then we will continue weaving and start with the base of our design.

The base of the tapestry 2

After weaving the fringes, we continue with the weaving of the entire base of the tapestry.

Weaving the central motif of tapestry 1

In this lesson we will create the central motif for our tapestry, the vase. We will work the straight lines, the diagonals and the creation of the central rhombus and then continue with the diagonal lines of the flower stems.

Weaving the central motif of tapestry 2

We continue working on the central motif by knitting the following diamonds with yarns of the colors we have chosen.

16m

Circles with volume 1

We already have practically all the main motif finished, we only need the creation of the circles with volume. Here we will see how to weave a circular shape, integrate it into our design, and how to add this volume to it by using the Turkish knot.

20m

Circles with volume 2

We continue to shape our tapestry by completing the circles and the white base of the fabric. It's almost ready!

Completion and finishing of tapestry 1

In this lesson we will see the point that we are going to use to close our tapestry and make it with a clean finish. We will also remove the tapestry from the frame by cutting it and, later, we will finish off all the loose threads to make the back part have the best possible appearance and the piece is totally secure.

Completion and finishing of tapestry 2

We continue with the final touches to get our piece of decorative fabric ready.

Various applications and final tips

To finish, we are going to see some ways to turn our handmade fabric into a more functional piece. In addition, I will give you some tips so that you can customize your final project and find your own style within this technique.

Module 4

In Diana Cunha’s world, weaving is a space for reinvention. After years of exploring frame loom techniques, she now pushes boundaries through bold textures, layered stitches, and unexpected details. Her creative process thrives on experimentation, drawing from nature, architecture, and personal memory. Each tapestry becomes a canvas where precision meets play, and tradition finds new ways to express itself.

17 lessons (4h 14m)

The importance of space and materials

In this class, I will explain what I decided to do as a project for this course and the aspects that you should take into account when you are preparing your workspace and choosing the materials you will use.

In addition to remembering how the basic tapestry stitches are made, I will give you some examples of uses that can be given to pieces made in frame loom and also tell you about some styles of tapestry made in Portugal.

Introduction to tapestry

Technique of weaving the inverted piece

Weaving the inverted piece is one of the possible techniques when using a frame loom. What are the advantages and challenges of this technique?

Stitches that give texture 1

In this class, I will teach you three of the stitches that give more texture to a piece of tapestry: “Pile weave”, Loops and fringes with the same yarn.

Stitches that give texture 2

In the second part of this class, I'll show you how to make Loops and we won't need a needle for them. We will use thicker wool as it gives more texture to the work.

How to create a “void” and how to apply props to your piece is what I will explain in this class. We will also see how to join the warp threads with colored threads and how to add beads, feathers, scales, etc.

Effects and props 1

In the second part of this class, I will teach you how to make trinkets. For this, you will need a cardboard or a hard surface to wrap the wires.

Effects and props 2

In this class, I will teach you five embroidery stitches that you can apply to your tapestries: flower foot stitch, back stitch, blanket stitch, feather stitch and French knot.

Assorted embroidery

When we design our piece, we look for what inspires us. In this class, you will accompany me as I draw the part of my project.

Inspiration and design

Prepare the loom and start weaving 1

In this class, you will see how I prepare the loom, setting up the web, attaching the design made in Procreate and starting to weave.

Prepare the loom and start weaving 2

In the second part of this class, after completing the background, I will apply the yarn I will use next. It's a longer yarn because I'm going to do the Soumak stitch.

Create the void and weave the first shapes

It's time to create the empty effect and weave the first shapes, applying some of the points learned in this course.

20m

More shapes and finish

In this class, I will continue to weave the piece, following the design, until I reach the top of the loom, where I will explain my preferred way of finishing.

After the woven piece and before removing the piece from the loom, it was time to put on the various props and embroider.

Props and embroidery

Finish off the piece and take it off the loom

Now that the piece is almost finished, it's time to finish off the loose ends inside out, take the piece off the loom and add the trinkets.

Storage and shipping tips

In this class, I will explain how to pack and prepare a tapestry for transport. Cleaning and conservation are also important topics that I will mention.

Composition and environment

This class will be dedicated to how I usually think about the ideal piece for each client and how I do the entire installation process.

14m

Module 5

Mariana Baertl views embroidery as a way to translate landscapes into texture. Inspired by the Peruvian environment, her process blends fine detail with organic flow—bringing nature’s rhythm into every stitch. Through her brand Living Fibers, she explores how thread and fabric can recreate movement, depth, and emotion. Her creative vision invites you to slow down, observe closely, and turn textures into tactile storytelling.

12 lessons (1h 14m)

Tools and materials

Here I will show you the different tools that we will need and that we can find in the market. From needles, racks, markers and the different fabrics where we can apply our creations. Then I will show you the wide range of materials that can be used in this technique, from ropes, to wool and fabrics.

Inspiration and sketch

Here I will show you some sources of inspiration to create a sketch with them and that we will later transfer to our base fabric.

Transfer of the sketch to the fabric

With our sketch ready, I will teach you how to make a pattern which we will transfer to our base fabric. Finally, we will prepare our hoop and fabric to start embroidering.

Fill point

Next we will see how to make a knitted filler point to create a flat texture, but with which you can cover spaces in a short time.

French knot

After working the first point we will go on to create textures with the French knot.

Materials application

Once we have our materials ready, we will start working with ropes and learn how they can be applied in different ways to create textures and reliefs. We will do it by applying ropes and a velvet ribbon.

Turkish Knot or Fringes

Now we will go to the Turkish knot. Here I will show you how to create super interesting textures with a modified shape of this knot.

Palestinian point

Now we will come to see the fifth point, the point of Palestrina.

Muddled

Now we move on to the next technique, the Barrel! I will teach you how to create beautiful pieces of embarrinado and how to attach them to our tapestry.

Final finishes

Once all the points have been learned and our decorative tapestry is finished, we will proceed to give it the final finishes and hang it.

Variations

Here you will see other variations of the points through a sample of knots this will help you to inspire you to innovate and explore with different materials and points.

Other apps

In this lesson I will show you other projects in which you can apply the learned points, such as cushions, bags, clothing and more.

Module 6

Mauro Frazão transforms wool into emotion. His artistic language is shaped by color, volume, and movement—each piece a sculpted reflection of feeling and form. With roots in traditional Russian stitching and a passion for modern expression, Mauro brings a vibrant, tactile quality to textile art. His creative universe is one where thread becomes sculpture, and walls become living canvases of sensation and story.

12 lessons (1h 4m)

Materials needed for the course

I will show you the material you will need to produce your tapestry.

How to do the Russian stitch

Let's go to the Russian stitch technique and its height variations!

Now, I'm going to introduce cutting, how to transform the Russian point into a pile.

How to carve wool

Design development

In this class, you will learn about my design development and mapping process.

Prepare the work area and transfer the design to the primary fabric

In this class, I will show you how to prepare your work area to start the course project.

Do it in practice

In this step, we will fill the design with the Russian stitches following the mapping done previously.

Resin the part

With the stitches already filled, I will now show you how to resin them by fixing them to the primary fabric.

Effects on wool

In this class, I will teach you how to add texture to wool, bringing more dimension and visual impact to the project.

Sculpting wool: preparing the base

Now that you know how to start sculpting, I'll show you some ways we can use to give the piece three-dimensionality.