Weaving at the ARCC
“I love weaving lessons at the ARCC. I drive 330 miles roundtrip and it’s well worth it. Lyla makes if fun while you’re learning. There are different looms to try out and all the weaving tools you would need.”
Nancy ~ Casselton, ND
“The ARCC was not able to offer weaving until Lyla Agius moved to the area and started teaching. I have taken several classes and seen what a first-class teacher Lyla is. She can inspire the beginner and guide the more experienced as well, always with a smile. The program has grown under her leadership. We’re lucky to have her.”
Carolyn Eaton ~ Aberdeen, SD
The ARCC Weaving Class is one of the most enjoyable I have taken. When enrolling, I thought “this is so different from my usual craft classes and knew nothing about it. It has been a valuable learning experience and one I look forward to every week. Lyla is a wonderful teacher and the people in class are supportive of each other as friends. I highly recommend considering this class.
~ Ellendale, ND
Weaving at the Studio
“Fantastic 2 days with Lyla for a private lesson. Lyla is a great teacher and was very patient with me and made me feel very comfortable in her studio. I learned a great foundation of weaving to bring home to my loom. I gained a new friend in the process. I would rate my time with Lyla 10+ out of 10.”
Becky E. ~ Garretson, SD
“I am so grateful for Lyla’s patience and persistence. She is a stellar teacher and coach! The gods were with me when I found her!”
Ann R. ~ Big Stone City, SD (see Ann’s story below)
Students Weaving Blogs
A New Weaver's Story
By Ann R. ~ Big Stone City, SD
My first weaving experience five years ago was with a textile artist in Thailand. I spent a month learning to weave on a vintage loom in his front yard using rubber bands and strings to keep everything working properly as I wove a table runner and placemats. Upon returning to the US I located an older woman in her eighties who was still weaving rugs on her vintage loom in a three season front porch; she finally had to kick me out when the weather turned cold in November. The following summer I discovered the Milan Village Art School where I took a rug weaving class and continued to weave rugs for the next several years with the assistance of the course teacher. Around the same time a new found friend gifted me her rigid heddle table loom after she discovered the craft was not for her. My rug weaving teacher along with another area weaver taught me to warp the loom and, with a little assistance from my husband, I became independent enough to weave small projects like table runners and mats at home. I spent one summer weaving kitchen towels on a big old vintage loom at the Milan Village Art School using yarn instead of fabric from weaving. Three years ago I met and started working with Lyla which has taken me to a whole new level with my weaving. We started by weaving twill and overshot gamps (pattern samples) and moved on to a large gamp profiling various pattern; it makes a lovely art hanging. The following summer I made a Turkish towel using a huck lace pattern which gave me experience weaving a wide piece using fine yarn and a specific pattern for an entire project. This year, I made five yards of loosely woven cotton/linen fabric made specifically for curtains in the reading nook of our lake home. Lyla has been with me through all of my most recent weaving learning experiences and she is the best. She is a highly skilled weaver with a calm patient manner which makes her an excellent teacher. She is always there to problem solve, encourage and coach me through my projects. Because of her excellent assistance, I have finally gathered the courage to purchase my own floor loom and, with a little warping help, hope to continue advancing my weaving practice. Learning to weave is an iterative process requiring patience and perseverance; both of which Lyla models in her teaching/mentoring/coaching.
Ann R. (2021)