Artist in Residence at the Textile Centre Haslach
Report by Amy Lewis
05.08 – 15.08.2025
The Textile Center Haslach offered me a special opportunity to work on the TC2 hand Jacquard loom with programming support from Elisabeth Stötzler. This residency allowed me to continue developing my fascination with floats within woven structures. Similar to a hand loom, the TC2 offers great freedom in material use while enabling more complex and diverse weave structures to be programmed. This combination was especially exciting for me, as I wanted to explore different material pairings while also learning the process of programming for jacquard weaving.
During the residency, I focused on checked patterns and experimented with breaking their regularity through hands-on interventions, such as cutting floats to create visual and tactile irregularities. This process led me to consider how floats could become an integral part of the pattern itself, and what new effects might emerge once they were cut. I began to think in terms of layered construction: what might be revealed beneath the cut floats, and how might different materials behave once the floated areas were disrupted?
In preparation for the residency, I reached out to Best Wool, a tufted wool carpet company based in the Netherlands, to source leftover high-quality wool yarns from their production system. Using these yarns, I explored bold weave structures alongside paper yarns, creating tactile, graphic designs that highlighted the contrasting qualities of wool and paper. With Elisabeth’s guidance, I gradually learned how to use the Arahne software to translate my designs into weave files that could be uploaded to the TC2 for manual weaving.
In the second week, I turned my focus to creating my own colour blends by plying multiple yarns together, which I then wove alongside contrasting, bold, mono-coloured linen yarns. This was a valuable exercise in testing colour and material combinations, and in observing their effects when integrated into geometric pattern designs. I am excited to continue exploring the possibilities of floated structures in the near future.
Another highlight of the residency was working alongside the other residents. Our diverse backgrounds made for a rich exchange of knowledge, practices, and cultural experiences. From learning about each other’s creative processes to sharing food and enjoying sunny afternoons by the riverside, this communal aspect added a special dimension to the residency.
Many thanks to Christina, Elisabeth, Andreas, and the entire HTC team for creating such a nurturing environment in which we were able to thrive under your guidance. Your trust and generosity made the experience truly fulfilling, and I look forward to following the creative journeys of my fellow residents.
Contact
email: amy@1-6m2.com
instagram: studioamylewis
