Tonya Grant

Tonya Grant

8 South Cooper Lane
Shelburne Falls, MA 01370

(413) 925-9674
tmjrunt@aim.com

My name is Tonya Grant. I was introduced to weaving in high school. That is where I first saw a floor loom and Marguerite Davison's pattern book! I just remember looking at that book and wanting to do every single pattern. There was a lady at my church that I learned was a weaver! She helped me buy my first floor loom a couple years out of high school. Without much teaching I experimented with rugs and blankets. After a few years I decided I wanted to pursue this craft and really dive in. I became Becky Ashenden's apprentice back in 2016 for 6 months at her school, Vavstuga Weaving School in Shelburne Falls, MA. Apprenticing at a weaving school my job was to wind warps, set up looms for class,  tear them down and do it over and over again. From the classes, I had the oppurtunity to weave on a wide range of warps. From the fine linens to chunky wools. From narrow runners to wide blankets and coverlets. It was there that I was introduced to the drawloom and haven't looked back! I bought a 110cm Glimakra countermarch loom in 2016, with a drawloom attachment. I wove a few commission pieces but mainly loved to design and wove for family and friends. Today I have a 120cm Glimakra countermarch, combination drawloom. 

I am still at Vavstuga weaving school. I've been Becky's store manager for 7 years now. I am in the weaving world all day so I don't get to do a lot of personal weaving.