Scheduled courses
Our Art School teaches textile skills at every level, from the basic to the highly specialised, with study programs concentrating on both ancient and contemporary textiles. Training comprises theoretical lessons – identification, technical analysis, basic concepts – and practical aspects such as design, weaving, restoration and embroidering. Our annual course calendar is constantly being updated; we also plan customised courses to meet the training needs of public and private entities.

March 06, 2019
Natural colours for textile restoration
Starting from historically-used dye plants (pre-extracted) and dyeing raw wool, silk and cotton yarns, students will create colour cards for use in identification and restoration of ancient textiles.

March 06, 2019
Historical tailoring for pegeant and performance
March 11, 2019
Figured fabrics. Recognition, analysis and cataloguing
Practical exercises on samples of ancient fabrics and 20th-century reproductions to learn a method of analysis of simple and complex weave structures using such analysis tools as the pick glass, digital microscope and macrophotography. Students are provided with samples and lecture notes.

April 01, 2019
Carpet. Basic notion of conservation and restoration 1
Introduction to rug and carpet conservation: basic notions concerning cleaning and correct maintenance.

April 08, 2019
Bobbin lace. Recognition, Study and Cataloguing
The aim of the course is to offer tools to recognize, analyze and describe laces, through the observation of objects in various states of conservation, both ancient and contemporary.

April 08, 2019
Tapestry. Basic notions of conservation and restoration 1
Introduction to tapestry conservation and basic notions of restoration.

May 08, 2019
Carpet. Basic notions of conservation and restoration 2
Application of integrative restoration techniques to a small fragment: replacement of broken warps, reweaving of the wefts and knotting.
May 20, 2019
Tapestry. Basic notions of conservation and restoration 2
Application of integrative restoration techniques to a small fragment: replacement of broken warps and reweaving in colour and in selected areas.
June 13, 2019
Shibori technique for wearable art
The course covers traditional Shibori techniques for tie-dye, stitch-dye, fold-dye, pole wrap-dye, etc. as well as three-dimensional effects, appropriate for creation of garments having great impact and artistic interest.

July 01, 2019
Introduction to jacquard weaving
Basic course to introduce participants to the Jacquard design process, to loom technology and the specifics of the Lisio loom set-ups.

July 01, 2019
Introduction to Jacquard weaving + Lodging
Basic course to introduce participants to the Jacquard design process, to loom technology and the specifics of the Lisio loom set-ups. The student will stay at Fondazione Lisio apartments, price for this course is cumulative of the accomodation costs.

July 15, 2019
Historical techniques and technologies from basic weaves to brocade and other weft effects
Intensive theoretical/practical seminar: the weave structures studied during the textile analysis courses are woven using a range of looms and visualization methods, to promote comprehension of the connection between weave annotation, analysis and loom technology.

July 22, 2019
Contemporary textile design inspired by historical Jacquard techniques
Representative samples of historical Jacquard techniques such as lampas, tacqueté, samitum are observed and analyzed. The number and function of warp and wefts series are identified, weave superimposition theory introduced and the drafting of complex weave structures practiced.
September 16, 2019
Basic weaving on the shaft loom
A course for learning the basics of weaving and how to weave ‘samplers’ on pre-prepared 4-to-8 heddle looms, to manage tensioning, shrinkage and shuttles, to repair broken threads and defects in the weave, to create impeccable selvedges.

October 09, 2019
Designing your dream bag
During the three days workshop, participants design and weave custom fabric for their personal creations on Lisio’s digital Jacquard loom. The workshop is open to weavers and designers.
October 21, 2019
Italian Folk Weaving
Introduction to the history of folk weaving in Italy.
October 28, 2019
Weaving on the shaft loom: threading and drafting
Theoretical/practical course to learn textile drafting; that is, how to read a diagram of the various components, threading, knotting and pedal set-up, and then weaving from the drawing on the loom.

November 11, 2019
Figured panels handwoven on a digital jacquard loom
Practical course during which figured panels are designed and subsequently hand-woven on a digital Jacquard loom.

November 18, 2019
Plain and weave-patterned cloth. Recognition, analysis and cataloguing
Course participants learn how to identify the constituent elements of woven textiles according to the methods proposed by the Centre International d’Etude des Textiles Anciens. Observation of historical samples in varying states of conservation, modern reconstructions and contemporary wovens.
January 20, 2020
Carpet weaving 1
Notions of history, use and technique relating to carpet-making. Course I: Basic level