On October 30, Flora Kovacs-Wester will give a workshop introducing Japanese kasuri weaving, commonly known as Japanese ikat. Kasuri is a traditional Japanese resist dyeing and weaving technique in which threads are carefully prepared and dyed before weaving to create characteristic patterns with soft, blurred edges. The finished pattern is the result of a long and intricate process of designing, preparing, tying, dyeing, aligning, and weaving the threads. In some regional traditions, creating a single bolt of fabric involves more than 30 steps and can take several months. This workshop offers a chance to explore some of these fundamental steps on a small scale and discover how the preparation and arrangement of threads shape the final woven pattern.An example of Kasuri from the TRC collection, TRC.2017.1467

During the workshop, participants will be introduced to the history of kasuri and its rich regional variations across Japan. Selected kasuri samples from the TRC collection will provide a starting point for close observation and fabric reading, encouraging participants to look beyond the finished pattern and consider how it was constructed. Participants will then practice tying sections of thread to create pattern variations. For the weaving stage, they will work with pre- dyed threads, exploring how their arrangement and alignment translate into a pattern as the fabric is woven. Working on a basic frame loom, participants will create a small woven kasuri sample of their own, offering a tangible result of their experiments and a starting point for further exploration. Suitable for textile enthusiasts of all levels, the workshop offers an opportunity to develop a deeper appreciation of the skill, precision, and remarkable craftsmanship behind this long-standing Japanese weaving tradition.

Flora Kovacs-Wester is a textile and costume professional and a Junior Fellow at the TRC Leiden, where she is currently developing a research project on Japanese kasuri weaving within the framework of the The Gieskes-Strijbis Fellowship Programme. Her research focuses on the TRC Leiden Kasuri Sample Collection, examining production techniques and the ways in which regional Japanese weaving and dyeing knowledge are embedded in these textiles.

• Date: Friday, the 30th of October 2026.
• Time: 10.00 - 15.00.
• Venue: TRC Leiden, Boerhaavelaan 6, 2334 EN, Leiden.
• Teacher: Flora Kovacs-Wester
• Language: English
• Costs: 85 euros. Coffee, tea and materials are provided. Participants are asked to bring their own lunch. A 30-minute lunch break is included in the workshop schedule.
• Maximum number of participants: 8. Minimum: 4.
  • If the minimum number of participants is reached, confirmation and invoices shall
    be sent.

Please register in advance: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Weaving is one of the oldest ways to create fabric. This workshop offers the opportunity to try it out.

The workshop is intended for beginners. No prior knowledge or experience with weaving is required. Participants will learn to weave on a table loom. They will be invited to experiment with the basic structures of weaving: plain weave and twills. Participants are encouraged to play with different yarns and colours to discover how patterns are created. The looms have been prepared. This means participants can get right to weaving.

During the study day examples from the TRC's rich collection will be used to illustrate and inspire. You do not need to bring anything, apart from your enthusiasm.

This workshop is given by Alice van Duijnen, who is experienced in many textile techniques ever since she learned knitting at the age of 6. She has taught knitting, crochet and weaving. As volunteer at the TRC she works on the technique oriented Reference Collection.Het soort weefgetouw dat wordt gebruikt tijdens de cursus

• Date: Friday, the 23rd of October 2026.
• Time: 10.00 - 16.00.
• Venue: TRC Leiden, Boerhaavelaan 6, 2334 EN, Leiden.
• Teacher: Alice van Duijnen.
• Language: Dutch/English, as required
• Costs: 85 euros. Coffee, tea and materials are provided. Lunch will not be provided.
• Maximum number of participants: 6. Minimum: 4.
  • If the minimum number of participants is reached, confirmation and invoices shall be sent.

Please register in advance: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Tarz embroidery is a centuries-old Moroccan art where stories, symbols and skills meet. This techniques has been carried from one generation to the next, teaching precision and dedication with every stitch. The detailed patterns carry underlying meaning, reflecting on themes like protection, harmony and happiness. Tarz embroidery courtesy of Nadia el Barnoussi

Nadia el Barnoussi is fashion and textile designer inspired by her own heritage and narratives of the Amazigh people, who are native to Nothern Africa. Her work balances tradition and innovation. She uses a variety of textile techniques to translate the rich Amazigh past to the present day.

"Handcrafting allows for an attention to detail, which extends beyond the design, growing into a story. This story connects past and present, reviving the beauty of Moroccan crafts. As a designer I feel called to continue these stories and pass them on to the next generation."

- Nadia el Barnoussi

• Date: Wednesday, the 18th of November 2026.
• Time: 10.00 - 13.00.
• Venue: TRC Leiden, Boerhaavelaan 6, 2334 EN, Leiden.
• Teacher: Nadia el Barnoussi
• Language: Dutch, English if necessary.
• Costs: 45 euros. Coffee, tea and materials are provided.
• Maximum number of participants: 8. Minimum: 4.
  • If the minimum number of participants is reached, confirmation and invoices shall be sent.

Please register in advance: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

A Persian kilim is a traditional flat-woven textile from Iran, known for its geometric patterns, vivid colors, and hand-weaving techniques passed down through generations.Kilim woven key chains, image by courtesy of Mohamad Khezri Lightweight and flexible, kilims embody Iran’s rich cultural heritage and often tell stories of community, nature, and everyday life.

This workshop introduces participants to the art of miniature kilim weaving, offering a hands-on and enriching experience. By adapting traditional methods to smaller scales, participants will explore their creativity while learning a unique cultural craft bridging past and present. Each participant creates a small woven piece such as a bracelet, bookmark, or keychain.

The workshop is designed for craft enthusiasts, art students, and anyone interested in textile arts, regardless of prior experience. Participants will benefit from a welcoming and collaborative environment making it suitable for all skill levels.Kilim weaving in progress, image courtesy of Mohamad Khezri.

• Date: Wednesday, the 21st of October 2026.
• Time: 10.00 - 14.00.
• Venue: TRC Leiden, Boerhaavelaan 6, 2334 EN, Leiden.
• Teacher: Mohamad Khezri.
• Language: English.
• Costs: 45 euros. Coffee, tea and materials are provided.
• Maximum number of participants: 8. Minimum: 4.
  • If the minimum number of participants is reached, confirmation and invoices shall be sent.

Please register in advance: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

A Dorset button is a style of craft-made button originating in the English county of Dorset. Their manufacture was at a peak between 1622 and 1850, after which they were overtaken by machine-made buttons from factories. The most common form is the cartwheel button. Dorset buttons are a great way to use up small amounts for yarn. Also do they offer you a method to have buttons in the same material as your knitted or crocheted projects.

Dorset buttons

In this workshop you will learn to create a cartwheel button, and discover the design possibilities. No special skills are required to join this workshop. Materials will be provided.

This workshop is given by Alice van Duijnen, who is experienced in many textile techniques ever since she learned knitting at the age of 6. She has taught knitting, crochet and weaving. As volunteer at the TRC she works on the technique oriented Reference Collection.

• Date: Wednesday, the 30th of September 2026.
• Time: 10.00 - 13.00.
• Venue: TRC Leiden, Boerhaavelaan 6, 2334 EN, Leiden.
• Teacher: Alice van Duijnen.
• Language: Dutch/English, as required
• Costs: 45 euros. Coffee, tea and materials are provided.
• Maximum number of participants: 8. Minimum: 4.
  • If the minimum number of participants is reached, confirmation and invoices shall be sent.

Please register in advance: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Examples of historical sewing stitchesThis is the second edition of the historical hand sewing workshop at the TRC this year. Due to unexpected large interest, the workshop will be repeated on the 9th of October.

The sewing machine is a 19th-century invention. Before that, people sewed by hand. Textile finds from prehistoric times, the Roman period and the Middle Ages show which stitches the seamstresses used. During the workshop we look at these finds and make a pouch for which we use as many different stitches as possible for the seams and hems, ranging from simple and purely functional to elegant braiding stitches. For a blog about this workshop held in 2020, written by Nelleke Ganzevoort, click here.

Participants do not need to bring anything, except patience and possibly their reading glasses (because some stitches are quite delicate). 

This Wednesday morning workshop is given by Dorothee Olthof, an expert in the field of archaeological textiles and in the reconstruction of medieval and later clothing.

• Date: Friday, the 9th of October 2026.
• Time: 10.00 - 13.00 pm.
• Venue: TRC Leiden, Boerhaavelaan 6, 2334 EN, Leiden.
• Teacher: Dorothee Olthof.
• Language: Dutch/English, as required
• Costs: 45 euros. Coffee, tea and materials are provided. Reading glasses might be necessary for the more delicate stitches.
• Maximum number of participants: 8. Minimum: 4. If the minimum number of participants is reached, confirmation and invoices shall be sent.

Please register in advance: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Embroidered dress yoke from Hebron, Palestine, early 20th century (TRC 2016.2035).Embroidery has been used to decorate Palestinian clothing for centuries, it has been a way to express both individual skills and a connection to the village.

During the workshop we are going to talk about the rich and fascinating history of Palestinian dress, the meaning of some common embroidered patterns and the transformation that Palestinian dress went through until now. Subsequently, the participants will learn the basics of the Palestinian cross stitch by following a specific pattern from a particular region of Palestine. All materials will be provided by the TRC, and use will be made of the TRC Collection for showing examples.

• Date: Wednesday, 20 May 2026.
• Time: 10.00 - 13.00 pm.
• Venue: TRC Leiden, Boerhaavelaan 6, 2334 EN, Leiden.
• Teacher:  Fatima Abbadi.
• Language: English (Dutch if necessary).
• Costs: 45 euros. Coffee, tea and materials are provided.
• Maximum number of participants: 8. Minimum: 4. If the minimum number of participants is reached, confirmation and invoices shall be sent.

 Please register in advance: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Aglets, also called points, are the ties used in medieval and early modern times to fasten garments: leather laces, plyed or knotted cords, braided or woven bands. We will start from historical images showing where and how aglets were used. A short presentation of historical materials and techniques will follow, and then the participants will be making one or more aglets themselves. A choice of several materials and techniques will be offered. There are no special requirements of knowledge or skills, and participants do not need to bring any tools or materials themselves.

This Wednesday workshop is taught by Geeske Kruseman, a dress historian specialising in early modern and medieval clothing. An aglet at the bottom of the buttons downs the centre front of a doublet c.1565-1570; the aglet is silk, woven on 2 tablets. Reconstruction and photo G.M. Kruseman.

• Date: Wednesday, 19 August 2026.
• Time: 10.00 - 13.00.
• Venue: TRC Leiden, Boerhaavelaan 6, 2334 EN, Leiden.
• Teacher: Geeske Kruseman.
• Language: Dutch and/or English, as required
• Costs: 45 euros. Coffee, tea and materials are provided.
• Maximum number of participants: 8. Minimum: 4. If the minimum number of participants is reached, confirmation and invoices shall be sent.

 Please register in advance: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.