TextileLab Q & A

What is the TextileLab? 

The TextileLab is a makerspace open for everyone, offering access to expertise and equipment for textile research, innovation, and creation. Run by the Icelandic Textile Center, the lab is the first of its kind in Iceland and located on Þverbraut 1 in Blönduós, a 2 min. walk from the main building, Kvennaskólinn. It serves artists, designers, collectives, and the local community as a resource and creative hub for working with e.g. fibers, wool, seaweed and textile waste. Facilities also include a small biolab and a yarn & materials supply focused on reuse and experimentation. 

Opening hours: Mon-Thu 8:00 - 17:00, Fri 8:00 - 15:00

Please contact us if you would like to visit or work in the lab outside of our opening hours: 

✉️ textillab@textilmidstod.is

📞 +354 837 6155

What is the TextileLab NOT? 

• It's not an institution: The lab is a makerspace run by the Textile Center and part of its facilities. 

• It's not a production facility or factory. It is a space for exploration, experimentation, and learning. People come to the lab to develop ideas, test materials, explore techniques, and experiment with new processes. The lab is ideal for creating samples and prototypes, but it is not intended for large-scale or commercial production. Once a project has been developed and tested, production should take place elsewhere.

• It's not a school. While the Textile Center offers workshops, courses, and training sessions - both on-site and online - and welcome collaborations with elementary schools, colleges, universities, and student groups, the lab itself is not an educational institution. Instead, it is a shared workspace for learning through making, experimentation, and creative practice. People are welcome to use the facilities to develop skills, explore ideas, and work on their own projects.

• It's not a "members" or "designers only" club: The lab is open to everyone. There is no membership, subscription, or professional background required to use the facilities. It is a shared space where people from different backgrounds can come to experiment, learn, and explore textiles and materials. Whether you are an experienced professional, a student, a maker, or simply curious, you are welcome to engage with the space and its resources.
  
  
• It's not a "Do-it-yourself" craft or hobby room: While the TextileLab is open to everyone, it is not a general DIY craft space. The lab provides access to specialised textile equipment and technology that is otherwise not available or easily accessible elsewhere in Iceland. The facilities are designed to support textile innovators, designers, artists, and researchers working with areas such as sustainable materials, textile waste, and digital weaving technologies. Staff members bring specialised knowledge and expertise to support experimentation and development. Simple projects are welcome, but the main purpose of the lab is to enable deeper exploration, testing, and innovation within textiles.

How do the lab and the Textile Center connect? 

It's the same thing! The TextileLab was established and is operated by the Icelandic Textile Center. It was developed as part of the European Horizon 2020 project CENTRINNO (2020–2024), in which the Icelandic Textile Center collaborated with international partners. Additional funding came from Iceland's Infrastructure Fund, the Lóa Innovation Grant for Rural Areas, and the Northwest Iceland Regional Development Fund. Húnabyggð Municipality provided the space on the ground floor of Þverbraut 1 in Blönduós, just a short walk from the Textile Center. The Textile Lab officially opened on 21 May 2021 and is managed, maintained, and staffed by the Icelandic Textile Center.

Who is the lab for? 

The TextileLab is a space for makers, artists, craftspeople, students, designers, innovators - anyone interested in exploring textiles and materials.

It's a place to experiment, sample, and try out ideas, not for large-scale production. You can work with specialised textile equipment and explore a wide range of materials, from Icelandic wool to seaweed, recycled fibres, and other natural or innovative materials. Our staff members bring specialised knowledge and expertise to support textile experimentation and development. 

Sustainability is at the heart of the lab. It's a space to test new ideas, learn new skills, and discover creative ways of working with materials in a more resourceful way. 

What does the lab offer? 

You are welcome to email us or visit during opening hours to learn more about what we do and meet our team. You can also use our machines at an hourly rate, which covers the cost of introductions, machine usage, and any materials you might need from our small yarn shop. To book a time or arrange a machine introduction please contact us via our email. Additionally, we offer courses and hosts workshops. To stay tuned check out our Instagram @textilmidstod or the section "Education" on the websites headline.

Additionally, we offer students the opportunity to work on their graduation projects in our lab. For further details be sure to reach out well in advance in project deadline.

What equipment do you have? 

Below is a list of the machines and tools currently available for use / rent (hourly / daily basis): 

Biolab ✧ Carding mill (Brother) ✧  Digital Looms: TC2 W2 and TC2 W3 ✧ Digital Embroidery Machine (Brother) ✧ Digital Sewing Machine (Husquarna) ✧  Digital Knitting Machine Kniterate ✧ FeltLOOM 60Pro ✧  Heat Press ✧  Laser cutter/engraver ✧  Library Corner  ✧  Tufting guns cut/loop ✧  Digital Sewing Machines: Husquarna, Juki Industrial and Juki Overlock ✧ Printer Prusa 3D ✧  Printer/Cutter Vinyl ✧ Yarn Shop 

SEE ALSO EQUIPMENT / THE LAB HERE: GALLERY

VIDEOS on YOUTUBE: KNITERATE - EMBROIDERY MACHINE - TUFTING - FELT LOOM - TC2 DIGITAL LOOM

I am not a designer or artist. Can I use the lab?

Yes! Just email our team and they can answer your questions.

Are you open for elementary schools?

Yes! We have welcomed student groups in the past and are always happy to introduce kids of all ages to the lab. We can organize small workshops or demonstrate different machines and processes. If the class is large, we recommend splitting students into smaller groups (10 students maximum).

I am an artist in residence at the Textile Center. Can I use the lab?

Yes! Machine access is not included in the residency fee (the TC2 residency is an exception), but you are welcome to book time on individual machines and use the workspace during opening hours, just like everyone else. If you are interested in a Tc2 residency (2 or 4 weeks), you can find more info and application forms on our website under "Ós Residency". 

Can I make small gifts and cake decorations and print on t-shirts in the lab? 

Yes, BUT: The lab it is not really a DIY craft space. The facilities are designed to support textile innovators, designers, artists, and researchers working with areas such as sustainable materials, textile waste, and digital weaving technologies. Our staff members bring specialised knowledge and expertise to support experimentation and development. Simple projects are welcome, but the main purpose of the lab is to enable deeper exploration, testing, and innovation within textiles.

Do you offer workshops and classes? 

Yes! Not every week or every month, but whenever there's enough interest and we have the capacity. The Textile Center has hosted a wide variety of workshops and classes over the years, ranging from traditional handcrafts to digital weaving. Follow us on Instagram (@textilmidstod) and check our website to stay up to date with what's happening.

What does it cost? How do I pay? 

You pay for the use of a specific tool / machine on site. The starting fee covers the introduction and assistance from our lab managers to help you get started. There's a price list on our website: https://www.textilmidstod.is/en/textile-lab/pricelist-lab

Is the Textile Center part of a "fab lab" network and / or collaborates with other labs? 

The Textile Center is an active member of the Icelandic FabLab Network, the Nordic FabLab Network, and the Shemakes network. In addition to fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange within these communities, we regularly host study visits from the University of Iceland’s and Reykjavík School of Visual Arts fashion and textile students, as well as visits from local schools and other institutions, encouraging hands-on learning and creative engagement across all levels of education. 

What does the staff in the lab do? 

Our lab managers are experts in the use of the specialized equipment available in the lab. With backgrounds in design, art, fashion, and weaving, they can provide on-site guidance and assistance (fees may apply) and are available to answer any questions you may have about equipment use or project ideas.

Please note that our staff members are not able to carry out the actual work or execute projects on your behalf. They are here to support, advise, and help you make the most of the lab resources.

I don't need instructions - can I just get the keys and use the space on my own? 

No, sorry! The TextileLab is not an unsupervised workspace, and access to the facilities always requires staff to be present. There are opening hours for a reason: staff need to be on site to ensure safety, provide technical support, and take responsibility for the specialised equipment and facilities. Many of the machines require knowledge and guidance to use correctly, and staff are also responsible for risk management, insurance requirements, and responding in case of accidents or technical issues. We are happy to support independent work and experimentation, but access to the work space is always within the framework of our opening hours and with staff available to assist when needed.

Why is the lab not open on weekends? 

The Textile Center is a private non-profit institution, and we are only a small team, so the lab is normally not open on weekends. We can make arrangements if need be, but it is not our standard practice. Occasionally, we do have weekend classes or courses.