Delve into the rich history of Canadian coverlet weaving and give a modern twist to the craft of boutonné weaving with weaver and teacher Sara Bixler. 

You'll love this weaving video if you: 

  • Want more creative options to use with your rigid-heddle or harness loom 
  • Would like to include personalized motifs in your weaving 
  • Love textured yarns and want to enhance your plain weave 

By practicing this beautiful yet simple type of pile weaving, you can create home décor such as the pillow cover shown in this video using a simple rigid-heddle or 2-harness loom. You'll start by learning how to choose the best yarn combinations for your project, how to keep track of your motif easily, how to use a dowel rod to create yarn loop patterns, and more.

In Boutonné, you'll learn how to: 

  • Choose the best yarn for your project 
  • Organize and follow your pattern chart 
  • Use a dowel rod to keep pile uniform and in place 
  • Count threads accurately to create a clear motif 
  • Use ready-made motifs and design your own 

Join Sara, and get started with this beautiful and simple weave structure!


About this Technique

Boutonné (often misspelled boutenné, boutenne, or boutonne) is a type of pile weave with a rich history. Boutonné is a deeply rooted tradition among Acadian weavers in Québec, as seen in a wealth of simple French Canadian 2-shaft woven coverlets. Boutonné pieces are patterned with piles or loops brought to the surface of a plain-weave fabric to create both physical and visual texture. Those coverlets inspired the project you’ll weave during this course, and this small home project is the perfect introduction to this structure. 

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If you'd like to download this video, please visit https://shop.longthreadmedia.com/products/boutenne (this is a streaming-only video).

About Your Instructor

Sara C. Bixler

Sara C. Bixler is the owner and resident instructor of Red Stone Glen Fiber Arts Center in York, Pennsylvania. She has been teaching for nearly 10 years and prides herself on having a broad knowledge spectrum to share with her students. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Art and a Bachelor of Science in K-12 education—although she gives full credit for the depth of her knowledge to her apprenticeship with her father, Tom Knisely. You can find many examples of Sara’s work in issues of Handwoven and Little Looms and see her in person or in one of her many videos.

Reviews

Boutonne

“I had inherited a boutonne bedspread. I have been trying to find out what weaving structure it was. I really enjoyed going through the process of weaving a piece and learning the history of the technique. It was a very informative video. Thank you.” - KAREN HOYT

Lots of design potential on 2 shafts

“Sara did a great job (as always) of demonstrating this relatively easy (but slow) technique!” - Laurie Brown