Workshop on Traditional Cypriot Weaving

Workshop on Traditional Cypriot Weaving by Julia Astreou-Christoforou - 16th, 17th & 18th June 2014 9am – 4pm.

This three-day workshop is the ideal way for anyone to start if they have never woven before or want a refresher course of the basics. Looms will be already threaded with cotton yarn suitable for traditional “Phyti” and “Asproploumia” weaving, so participants will start weaving right away. Over the course of the three days participants will also become familiar with all the steps involved in getting a loom ready to weave.

Phyti and Asproploumia fabrics are of the most important types of Cypriot weaving and their development is closely related to the history of the island. All Cypriot traditional Phyti woven designs involve counting the warp threads and placing the coloured threads forming the design, among them. Nowadays only a few old women in Phyti village on the western side of Cyprus still do Phyti weaving. Even though the origins of Phyti weaving are lost, the geometric patterns used in Phyti weaving can also be seen from pottery of the Geometric period. Asproploumia form an open type lace weave which are based on the twisting and interweaving of threads. It is believed that the asproploumia are related to the oldest type of Cypriot weaving which developed in the Eastern Mediterranean since antiquity.

Cost: €150 (incl. €50 deposit to secure place)
Dates and Times: 16th, 17th & 18th June 2014 9am – 4pm
Location: Julia’s Weaving Workshop (1 Saint Barbara’s Str., Kaimakli, Nicosia, 1021, Cyprus)
Maximum number of participants: 4

Workshop Program

Monday 16th
Morning Session
Introduction - how the traditional Cypriot loom works
Practical weaving - Simple and twill weave
Practical weaving - Phyti design
Lunch break (1-2pm)
Afternoon Session
Overview of Cypriot weaving: phyti, lefkonitziatiko, asproploumia, satshia, patanies etc.
Practical weaving – Phyti design

Tuesday 17th
Morning Session
Practical weaving - Phyti design
Lunch break (1-2pm)
Afternoon Session
Overview of how contemporary designs develop from traditional Cypriot weaving – discussion with specific examples.
Practical weaving – Asproploumia design

Wednesday 18th
Morning Session
Making the warp on the wall
Practical weaving - Asproploumia design
Lunch break (1-2pm)
Afternoon Session
Practical weaving – experimenting, exploring a contemporary approach

For more information and to book your place please call us on 99475219 or e-mail us at [email protected]

Julia Astreou-Christoforou is a textile designer (specialising in woven textiles), artist and researcher based in Nicosia. She has represented Cyprus in renowned textile art exhibitions in Europe, including the International Tapestry Triennial in Lodz, Poland and La Borsa Accessorio Necessario in Florence, Turin and Antwerp. She has also created theatrical costumes for the Epidavros Festival in Greece through the Cyprus National Theatrical Organisation. In 2010 she was awarded a silver medal from the 'Sciences, Arts and Letters' organisation in Paris for her work in textile art and design, as well as her research into traditional textiles. Her workshop is located next to St. Barbara’s church in Kaimakli, Nicosia, Cyprus. Here she creates contemporary woven items inspired from traditional motifs.