TC2 LoomLab in Otepoti/Dunedin
Christine Keller - Founder of Dunedin's LoomRoom - Textile Artist - Master Weaver - Teacher | Visual Art
Otago Ōtākou
Stretch Goal Message
I am sooo happy we hit the 12000 for this project.
I have written to the factory in Norway to order the loom parts...
The way Boosted works, we still have time until 2 pm tomorrow to add more money in.
I have what I need now, any extra money that still gets donated will be used by me for supporting my studio costs, will say it will pay me to do my research.
I have a mountain of weaving to learn now.
Very excited. Thank you SOOOO MUCH!!!
Match Donors
Each donation made will be matched, dollar for dollar, up to their matching amount.
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Boosted X Ōtepoti
Is matching donations up to $500
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Doris J.
Is matching donations up to $1,790
Such a digital loom is a fine thing - you surely need that 😊 -
Nini
Is matching donations up to $1,200
Overview
In my film you can see me weaving a unicorn within a tree of life motif from Northern Germany*. My TC2-loom could theoretically weave fabrics like this in a width of 70 cm, but I need to buy two more “MODULES” to realise this. Without getting too technical you could compare this to needing to get a set of specialist brushes for my style of painting or to get a larger canvas.
When I arrived in Dunedin 20 years ago, I was a Jacquard weaver - a weaver of images. Moving to New Zealand, I lost access to this technique.
Weaving is the crossing of threads and one of the oldest textile techniques of our human heritage. Historically weaving images has been a very timely and complicated art. Its mechanisation 200 years ago by Joseph Marie Jacquard used punch cards and therefor binary code - thread down - zero - thread up -one and lead historically to the invention of the computer.
30 years ago, the development of the TC2 Loom, the most modern digital hand loom in the world, was started by Norwegian Vibeke Vestby. Her invention superseded the Jacquard machine. After experimenting a year or so with this new to me tool, I now know what I need for my setup. I am asking you to help me bring this art form at its finest to the South Island and to establish the TC2LoomLab in the coolest small city in the South.
I would be very thankful for any support, huge or small. Thank you so much!
*By the way - The unicorn piece is a quick sketch, not for commercial use. The historic fabric is still woven today in Museumsweberei Meldorf in a technique called Beiderwand and has been researched by Lucia Schwalenberg. I just was fascinated by these patterns as a child already, they are part of my textile heritage.
Project Updates
The first project on the new modules!!! :-)
Dear supporters...
After half a year of still working on my previous warp and all the preparation like making a two coloured warp , the new modules are now all in!!!
I am now able to weave fine works with 1760 pixels and the full width of the loom.
I have a warp on the loom and a very complex design ready on the go for the upcoming show ART and TIME which will be in the community Gallery in the third week of July. If you are in Dunedin, please come and have a look.
Funding wise the cost for the modules and shipping used up a big lot and then there was some left over which I have blown last week on very fancy mercerised cotton yarn from Holland which I am planing to use on my current warp.
I have started to work with three shuttles and am blessed, that
Sam made me three shelves to hold the shuttles and and the Laptop while I am weaving.

Once the piece is woven, I will send you more photos.

This colour swatch is just a beginning of what can happen on the loom. I now only need to sort those weave structures and apply them to the design. Starting the actual weaving of the piece is immanent. (After spending probably a couple of hundred hours on designing and learning about the design to get here)
I am very thankful for your support. Sometimes I wonder why all of this would matter but then I feel so special to be able working on this skill that actually not many people in the country have all together. I hope that I can develop this gift into something that will touch many people in future.
Thank you THANK YOU!
Christine Keller, June 2026
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