Hoosier Hills Fiber Festival
A celebration of fiber arts and old-time artisan skills!
2025 Dates: Friday, June 6 & Saturday, June 7
Weaving
Friday 1:00 P.M. - 4:00 P.M.
Beginner Peg Loom Weaving
Workshop Fee Per Student: Early Bird $55 / Full Price $65 (plus cost of loom, or bring your own)
Total length of time: 3 hours
Instructor's Name: Case Runyan
Instructor's Business: Aoire Maith Fibre Studios
Instructor's Website: www.aoiremaithfibrestudios.com
Description: Learn to weave on these simple portable weaving looms! In this beginner course, we will learn to warp our looms and how to create on the loom using different fiber preps. We will create an 18” seat cushion for you to take home using 100% wool locks and roving. We will discuss how to take your weaving off the loom, ways to handle your warp strings, and the best options for both warp and weft.
Loom Requirement: Participants will need to provide their own loom or can purchase the following sizes of handcrafted looms from the instructor. You will pay her directly on the day of the festival.
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12" OG - $45 (Not Available for Beginner Workshop)
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20" OG - $55
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24" OG - $65
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36" OG - $100
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24" Goldilocks - $130
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36" Goldilocks - $200
View Case's handcrafted looms at: https://www.aoiremaithfibrestudios.com/shop/peg-looms/16
Items Included: Fiber to create an 18″ seat cushion, and warp for the project – Peg looms are NOT included in the materials, but are available for purchase in multiple sizes. A price list of looms can be provided, and is found on my website.
Student Provides: Bring your own peg loom, or looms will be available for purchase from the instructor. Also, scissors and a tape measure.
Prerequisites: None.
Minimum Age of Participants: 12
Friday 1:00 P.M. - 4:00 P.M.
Continuing Your Freestyle Weaving Journey
Workshop Fee Per Student: Early Bird $85 / Full Price $95
Total length of time: 3 hours
Instructor's Name: Liza Q. Wirtz
Instructor's Business: The Foldout Cat
Instructor's Website: www.foldoutcat.com
Description: Weave your joy! Maybe you’ve done a little weaving in the freestyle world, and you find it speaks to your heart. Now you’re ready to learn some new techniques to add to your freespirited toolbox as you continue down your weaving path. Invite this workshop into your life! Students will learn various ways to add creativity and personal expression to warp and weft as they weave the fabric of their heart on a highly approachable and easy-to-use two-harness floor loom. Supplemental warps, interlaid and interlocked shapes, rya knots, loops and worms, and more creative choices await! Students will take home what they weave.
Items Included: Use of pre-warped two-harness floor loom; use of associated tools (shuttles, bobbins, etc.); access to and use of a wide variety of different weaving materials, including yarn in various fibers, colors, and textures, embroidery floss, fabric scraps, fiber, trim, beads, wire, Mylar, etc. Each student will also get a bag of fibery treasures to keep; these can be used in workshop, in a future weaving, or both.
Student Provides: No participant-provided materials required; instructor will provide all necessary tools and materials. If students want to bring something personally meaningful to them to incorporate into their weaving if possible, they're welcome–indeed, encouraged–to do so. Some past examples: specialty paper, pieces of jewelry (this is a fun use for unmatched earrings and stray pendants), dyed or undyed fiber, leftover quantities of treasured yarn too small to knit or crochet into a finished item. Otherwise, students just need to bring their willingness to experiment and explore--and to practice imperfection!
Prerequisites: No special skills required. Some prior experience with weaving on some sort of loom is useful. That said, students who have never woven before but need this workshop in their lives nonetheless should find the learning curve easy to climb. Workshop open to students 8 years old and up; students must be tall enough to reach the floor pedals on the looms and able to focus for the duration of the workshop.
Minimum Age of Participants: 8 (under 12 must have adult present)
Friday 9:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M.
Freestyle Weaving for the Creative Spirit
Workshop Fee Per Student: Early Bird $85 / Full Price $95
Total length of time: 3 hours
Instructor's Name: Liza Q. Wirtz
Instructor's Business: The Foldout Cat
Instructor's Website: www.foldoutcat.com
Description: Weave your heart! Learn to weave freestyle and free-spirited on a simple floor loom. Honor your own inner sense of beauty and truth as you play with color, texture, and technique, and come away with a unique piece of woven art. Students will learn the basic skills of freestyle weaving on a highly approachable and easy-to-use two-harness floor loom. A few simple weaving techniques will be taught, but the emphasis of the workshop will be on exploration of color and texture in the service of personal expression. Students will take home what they weave.
Items Included: Use of pre-warped two-harness floor loom and associated tools (shuttles, bobbins, etc.); wide variety of weaving materials, plus access to and use of various different weaving materials: yarn in a variety of fibers, colors, and textures, beads, wire, embroidery floss, Mylar, fabric scraps, fiber, etc.
Student Provides: No participant-provided materials required: instructor will provide all tools and materials. If students want to bring something personally meaningful to them to incorporate into their weaving if possible, they're welcome--indeed, encouraged--to do so. Some past examples: specialty paper, pieces of jewelry (this is a fun use for unmatched earrings!), dyed or undyed fiber, leftover quantities of treasured yarn too small to knit or crochet a finished item with. Otherwise, students just need to bring their willingness to experiment and explore--and to practice imperfection!
Prerequisites: No previous experience with weaving required (though experienced weavers are as welcome as complete novices). Freestyle weaving is intended to be accessible to everyone, no matter their level of skill or knowledge. Workshop open to students 8 years old and up; students must be tall enough to reach the floor pedals on the looms and able to focus for the duration of the workshop.
Minimum Age of Participants: 8 (under 12 must have adult present)
Additional info: Workshop is truly intended to be open to anyone who wants to try freestyle weaving, from the pure novice to the experienced weaver.
Saturday 1:00 P.M. - 4:00 P.M.
Introduction to Tapestry
Workshop Fee Per Student: Early Bird $105 / Full Price $115
Total length of time: 3 hours
Instructor's Name: Nancy Macali
Instructor's Business: Ohmi Fibers
Instructor's Website: www.ohmifibers.com
Description: This half-day workshop will cover a variety of tapestry techniques - including warping a frame loom, color change, basic composition, fringe, ghiordes knots, sumac, and professional finishing. You will choose a weaving kit that includes a basic frame loom, yarn, tapestry needle and comb. Printed instructions will be given to each student along with access to videos for supplemental instruction. Each tapestry will be unique, using texture, color, and composition. All projects completed will be one-of-a-kind!
Items Included: Weaving kit - (1) plexiglass frame loom (12" x 15"), various yarns and fiber, tapestry needle and comb.
Student Provides: Scissors, notebook, and pen or pencil.
Prerequisites: None.
Minimum Age of Participants: 12
Saturday 9:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M.
Next Level Peg Loom Weaving
Workshop Fee Per Student: Early Bird $70 / Full Price $80 (plus cost of loom, or bring your own)
Total length of time: 3 hours
Instructor's Name: Case Runyan
Instructor's Business: Aoire Maith Fibre Studios
Instructor's Website: www.aoiremaithfibrestudios.com
Description: Take your peg loom weaving to the next level by creating your very own custom wall hanging! We will discuss warp and weft choices, along with templates to use or ignore. We will explore cascading locks, the strategic use of roving and knitting on the loom, and how to create pictures.
Loom Requirement: Participants will need to provide their own loom or can purchase the following sizes of handcrafted looms from the instructor. You will pay her directly on the day of the festival.
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12" OG - $45 (Not Available for Beginner Workshop)
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20" OG - $55
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24" OG - $65
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36" OG - $100
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24" Goldilocks - $130
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36" Goldilocks - $200
View Case's handcrafted looms at: https://www.aoiremaithfibrestudios.com/shop/peg-looms/16
Items Included: Roving and locks to create a 10x14" wall hanging, warp, and hanging dowel.
Student Provides: Scissors and a tape measure. A peg loom if you have it (with pegs no larger than 3/8"), otherwise they will be available for purchase.
Prerequisites: Some experience with peg loom weaving. We will NOT cover basics of warping the loom.
Minimum Age of Participants: 18
Friday 9:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M.
Pin Loom Weaving
Workshop Fee Per Student: Early Bird $35 / Full Price $45
Total length of time: 3 hours
Instructor's Name: Kelly Jones
Instructor's Business: Kiss Looms
Instructor's Website: www.kisslooms.com
Description: Explore weaving on the Kiss Looms square, triangle, and hexagon weaving looms. Many sizes are available to try out during the workshop. You will learn how to weave on each type of loom and seaming techniques to make them into larger projects, such as pillows, scarves, blankets, bowls and shawls. Yarn and looms will be available during the workshop. Looms will be available for purchase after the workshop.
Items Included: Use of looms during workshop.
Student Provides: Worsted weight yarn, scissors, yarn needle.
Prerequisites: None.
Minimum Age of Participants: 14
Saturday 1:00 P.M. - 4:00 P.M.
Rectangle Weaving
Workshop Fee Per Student: Early Bird $55 / Full Price $65
Total length of time: 3 hours
Instructor's Name: Kelly Jones
Instructor's Business: Kiss Looms
Instructor's Website: www.kisslooms.com
Description: Weave beautiful scarves on the adjustable Kiss Loom Rectangle Weaving Loom. In this workshop you will receive the 4″ × 19″ rectangle and learn how to weave on the loom. You will learn how to change colors, seam panels and adjust the loom so that you can weave various lengths, including how to use it as a square pin loom! The rectangle is perfect for worsted and heavy worsted weight yarns. This is a very versatile loom with many applications, such as scarves, cowls, table runners and blanket panels. You don’t have to be an expert to learn to weave on our rectangle looms.
Items Included: 4" x 19" Rectangle Weaving Loom (For an additional charge there is an optional upgrade to larger size loom at the end of the workshop).
Student Provides: Worsted weight yarn in two different colors.
Prerequisites: None.
Minimum Age of Participants: 14
Knitting
Saturday 1:00 P.M. - 4:00 P.M.
A Montage of Mosaic -
Or How a Simple Slipstitch Can Create So Many Different Looks
Workshop Fee Per Student: Early Bird $65 / Full Price: $75
Total length of time: 3 hours
Instructor's Name: Mary Jo Harris
Instructor's Business: Harris Caning and Knitting
Description:
"What do you think of when you think of Mosaic Knitting? Do you think of something geometric or 'Greek' looking? Checkerboard? Windowpane? Waffle-like or Woven? Something abstract or 'Op Art'? No matter which of the above you think of, they're all part of Mosaic Knitting! In this workshop we will explore:
• How mosaic patterns work
• How mosaic patterns differ from other slip stitch patterns
• Advantages of using a Mosaic pattern
• Disadvantages of using a Mosaic pattern
• How to make a sampler or start a project using one or more Mosaic patterns
Items Included: Handouts, and samples for examining in the workshop.
Student Provides:
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2 or more different colors of basic worsted weight yarn (no novelty yarn)
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Circular needles in a size appropriate for your yarn
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Paper for taking notes
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Pen or Pencil
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Stitch markers appropriate for your needles
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Usual knitting supplies
Prerequisites: Know how to cast on, knit, purl, and join in a circle.
Minimum Age of Participants: 12
Friday 1:00 P.M. - 4:00 P.M.
Adjustable Gauge Loom Knitting
Workshop Fee Per Student: Early Bird $65 / Full Price $75
Total length of time: 3 hours
Instructor's Name: Kelly Jones
Instructor's Business: Kiss Looms
Instructor's Website: www.kisslooms.com
Description: Always wanted to learn how to knit? Experiencing pain in your wrists from needle knitting? Loom knitting is great for those just starting out or those who have been knitting for years! This Beginner Basics of Loom Knitting workshop is for first-time loom knitters. We will start with casting-on techniques and how to do knit and purl stitches for flat-panel and in-the-round knitting as well as binding-off techniques. You will also learn how to adjust gauge for different projects and how to set up for double knitting. This is a great workshop to get your feet wet. We will use the adjustable Kiss Looms for the workshop and you will get a small-gauge 30-peg loom with 7 peg ends, a great starter loom with room to add on later. Whether you’ve been knitting with needles for years or have always wanted to knit, you’ll love working with an adjustable loom. It’s easy on your hands and gives you lots of versatility!
Items Included: Loom: 30 peg SG short and 7 peg ends included in workshop fee.
Student Provides: Worsted weight yarn.
Prerequisites: None.
Minimum Age of Participants: 14
Basics will be learned in the workshop, red sample shows the possibilites of what can be made on knitting looms.
Saturday 1:00 P.M. - 3:00 P.M.
Beginning Shetland Lace
Workshop Fee Per Student: Early Bird $45 / Full Price $55
Total length of time: 2 hours
Instructor's Name: Kelli Slack
Instructor's Business: A Twisted Picot
Instructor's Website: www.atwistedpicot.com
Description: Tackle the basics of Shetland Lace with this workshop. Learn about the history of Shetland lace and the meaning behind some of its most recognizable lace patterns. We will make practice swatches with four different stitch patterns to execute these fun lace stitches and practice making these specialized stitches. Plus take home an intermediate or advanced Shetland Lace pattern designed by Kelli.
Items Included: Booklet and pattern.
Student Provides: Students should bring a range of needles in sizes from US 2-6, scissors, tape measure, highlighter tape or post-it notes or magnetic chart, writing implement or note taking item(s), scrap yarn in both lace and fingering weight for making lace swatches.
Prerequisites: Students should know basic knitting skills such as: casting on, binding off, knit stitch, purl stitch, increases, and decreases. Students should have beginning lace knowledge and be ready to tackle intermediate lace knowledge. Students should be able to read written knitting instructions and be open to charted instructions.
Minimum Age of Participants: 16
Friday 1:00 P.M. - 4:00 P.M.
Brioche Knitting Next Steps -
Increase, Decrease, and Cables
Workshop Fee Per Student: Early Bird $50 / Full Price $60
Total length of time: 3 hours
Instructor's Name: Jenn Lampen
Instructor's Business: Synaptic Stitches
Instructor's Website: www.synapticstitches.com
Description: If you’re comfortable with basic two-color brioche knitting, but want to learn the skills to knit intricate brioche designs with flowing leaves or twisting cables, this is the workshop for you. You will learn the most common increases and decreases used in brioche for both fabric shaping and patterning. You will also learn basic right leaning and left leaning brioche cables that create cable crosses on the right side of the fabric and maintain undisturbed brioche rib on the wrong side.
Items Included: Instructions
Student Provides: Two contrasting colors of DK or worsted weight yarn (stash leftovers are fine, solids or semisolids recommended), 16-in US8/5.0mm circular needles, locking stitch markers.
Prerequisites: Students must be comfortable with basic brioche knitting flat.
Minimum Age of Participants: 16
Saturday 9:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M.
Cables Untangled
Workshop Fee Per Student: Early Bird $65 / Full Price $75
Total length of time: 3 hours
Instructor's Name: Mary Jo Harris
Instructor's Business: Harris Caning and Knitting
Description:
Knitted Cables look like they’d be difficult to make, but they really aren’t once you know the secret to making them. In this workshop we’ll discuss the following:
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How to make a knitted cable
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Left leaning vs. right leaning cables
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Various types of cables
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Various types of cable needles
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How to read a cable chart and pattern
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How to make cabled wrist warmers and other cabled items of your choice
Items Included: Handouts, cable needle, samples for viewing in the workshop.
Student Provides: Worsted weight yarn, needles in an appropriate size for your yarn, stitch markers, paper and pen/pencil for taking notes.
Prerequisites: Know how to cast on, knit, purl, and bind off.
Minimum Age of Participants: 12
Friday 1:00 P.M. - 3:00 P.M.
Chunky Funky Fun: Learn to Hand Knit
Workshop Fee Per Student: Early Bird $40 / Full Price: $50
Total length of time: 2 hours
Instructor's Name: Jaymi Horne
Instructor's Business: Cranky Kangaroo
Instructor's Website: www.crankykangaroo.com
Description: Make a beautiful pouf pillow while learning how to use chunky yarn to hand knit! No needles required! Learn how to use chenille yarn without the usual frustration. This is a great way to learn knitting, with no worry of tension or special stitches. You can also choose to turn your pillow into a pumpkin for fall décor!
Items Included: Yarn and printed pattern
Student Provides: Instructor provides all items.
Prerequisites: No experience necessary. Beginner friendly workshop, join in even if you've never knitted before.
Minimum Age of Participants: 10 (under 12 must have adult present)
Friday 9:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M.
Intro to Brioche Knitting
Workshop Fee Per Student: Early Bird $50 / Full Price $60
Total length of time: 3 hours
Instructor's Name: Jenn Lampen
Instructor's Business: Synaptic Stitches
Instructor's Website: www.synapticstitches.com
Description: Come learn the wildly popular brioche stitch! In this workshop you will learn the basics of two-color brioche in the round. You will leave the workshop with the knowledge to knit basic brioche projects, tips and tricks to help you avoid common pitfalls, and the start of your first brioche cowl.
Items Included: Instructional material.
Student Provides: Two skeins of DK or worsted weight yarn in contrasting colors, solid or semisolid colors recommended, 16-in US8/5.0mm circular needles, stitch marker.
Prerequisites: Students must be comfortable with basic knitting skills such as knitting, purling, knitting in the round, k2tog, yo, and slipping stitches.
Minimum Age of Participants: 16
Saturday 1:00 P.M. - 3:00 P.M.
Introduction to Duplicate Stitch
Workshop Fee Per Student: Early Bird $40 / Full Price $50
Total length of time: 2 hours
Instructor's Name: Paige Shipley
Instructor's Business: Paige Shipley Designs
Instructor's Website: www.paigeshipleydesigns.com
Description: Duplicate stitch is a decorative stitch worked over stockinette. It is a fantastic way to add pictures or motifs to knits that are already finished, and an excellent alternative to knitting intarsia. Easily add names or designs to sweaters, Christmas stockings, or anything your heart desires!
Items Included: Darning needle and a selection of yarns to use in your sampler
Student Provides: Item to be duplicate stitched. This can be a big swatch, a sweater from a thrift shop, a headband or cowl, as long as we have a big stockinette section, we can work with it! Please contact Paige if you have questions about what will work in the workshop: paigeshipleydesigns@gmail.com
Prerequisites: Basic knitting knowledge (knits and purls).
Minimum Age of Participants: 10 (under 12 must have adult with them).
Friday 9:00 A.M. - 11:00 AM.
Knitting Thrummed Mittens
Workshop Fee Per Student: Early Bird $45 / Full Price: $55
Total length of time: 2 hours
Instructor's Name: Paige Shipley
Instructor's Business: Paige Shipley Designs
Instructor's Website: www.paigeshipleydesigns.com
Description: Originating in Newfoundland and Labrador Island, thrummed mittens are a fun way to create wonderfully warm, fleece- lined mittens. Thrums were originally scraps of yarn leftover from weaving projects, but now roving (tufts of unspun wool) is used. Roving thrums are added every few rounds to create a layer of wool insulation that felts with use and these mittens get better every time you wear them!
HOMEWORK: Homework is 3 inches of ribbing (or length of their choice) so we can jump right into making and adding thrums. If the student doesn't do the homework, the thrummed alternative is a little pincushion/cat toy to get thrum practice.
Items Included: Natural roving, pattern, a handmade stitch marker.
Student Provides: 100g of worsted weight wool or wool blend- cannot be superwash.
Prerequisites: Student should be confident in knitting and purling in the round.
Minimum Age of Participants: 10 (under 12 must have adult present)
Friday 1:00 P.M. - 5:00 P.M.
Steeks: What Are They and How to Make Them
Workshop Fee Per Student: Early Bird $65 / Full Price $75
Total length of time: 4 hours
Instructor's Name: Mary Jo Harris
Instructor's Business: Harris Caning and Knitting
Description: Fear not! Steeks are not something you’ll dread once you know how to make them. They may actually make your knitting life easier! In this workshop, participants will learn:
- What a steek is
- Where, when, and how to use a steek
- Several Ways to make a steek
- How to steek a swatch using one of the methods covered in workshop
Items Included: Handouts, samples, and display.
Student Provides: Homework (see below)
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Light Colored Worsted Weight Yarn (can be the same yarn you used for the homework)
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Needles in an appropriate size for your yarn (Can be what you used for the homework)
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Sharp Scissors
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A Measuring Tape or Ruler
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Paper for taking notes
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Pen or Pencil
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Usual Knitting supplies
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Portable Light (optional)
HOMEWORK: Using light colored worsted weight 100% WOOL (not superwash) yarn and appropriate size 16” circular needles (probably size 7 – 9), cast on enough stitches to fill the needles. Then join and knit in the round for at least 8”. If you want, you can add a 1” garter stitch border to this which would make this it at least 10” long. Bind off the swatch and bring it to workshop.
Prerequisites: Know how to cast on, bind off, knit, purl, and knit in the round. Having basic sewing skills would be helpful but are not required.
Minimum Age of Participants: 13
Saturday 9:00 A.M. - 11:00 A.M.
Take a Stab at Knitting! Intro to Knitting
Workshop Fee Per Student: Early Bird $15 / Full Price $15
Total length of time: 2 hours
Instructor's Name: Paige Shipley
Instructor's Business: Paige Shipley Designs
Instructor's Website: www.paigeshipleydesigns.com
Description: New to knitting? Let's cover the basics- we'll talk about yarn and how to choose yarn and needles for projects and then jump right into casting on, knitting, and (time permitting) purling! All items included in our "Get Started Knitting" kit.
Items Included: 25 grams of worsted weight yarn, size 7 needles, info booklet of tips for new knitters, and a darning needle, all in a cute bag!
Student Provides: Eagerness to learn a new craft!
Prerequisites: None.
Minimum Age of Participants: 6 (under 12 must have adult with them).
Friday 9:00 A.M. - 11:00 A.M.
Using Variegated Yarn Without Tears
Workshop Fee Per Student: Early Bird $55 / Full Price $65
Total length of time: 2 hours
Instructor's Name: Mary Jo Harris
Instructor's Business: Harris Caning and Knitting
Description: Do you ever wonder how a skein of yarn will ‘knit up’ or what it will look like once you’ve made it into something? Have you ever obtained a skein of variegated yarn that you felt was just GORGEOUS and that you couldn’t wait to make something with it – but then didn’t like the result? Or you got the yarn home but then wasn’t sure what to do with it? This workshop is designed to remedy those situations. We'll discuss:
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What is Variegated Yarn
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What is Color Pooling - and how to Minimize it
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What Knitting Techniques and Projects can make variegated yarn look good
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Can start a swatch, scarf, or item of your choice
Items Included: Handouts and samples for viewing in workshop.
Student Provides:
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Variegated yarn - 1 or more colorways – whatever weight you’re comfortable using
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Circular needles in a size appropriate for your yarn
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Paper for taking notes
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Pen or Pencil
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Stitch markers appropriate for your needles
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If you have a variegated yarn that you have questions about, bring it to workshop. AND, if you have a pattern that you want to use with that yarn, bring it along with the needles called for in the pattern. If you don’t have a pattern in mind, just bring needles that you feel will work with the yarn.
Prerequisites: Know how to cast on, bind off, knit, and purl.
Minimum Age of Participants: 16
Dyeing
Saturday 12:00 P.M. - 4:00 P.M.
Beautiful Reds From Natural Dyes
Workshop Fee Per Student: Early Bird $50 / Full Price $60
Total length of time: 4 hours
Instructor's Name: Gina Levesque
Instructor's Business: Across Generations
Instructor's Website: etsy.com/shop/acrossgenerations
Description: This workshop will cover how beautiful lasting reds were produced on cloth. Dyes included are madder, cochineal, lac, and sappanwood. Students will learn how to manipulate of each color using pH and temperature for a wide variety of reds (and purples). The history of each dye will also be discussed. Students will leave workshop with samples and recipes.
Items Included: Binder of information, samples with labels, and all materials used in workshop.
Student Provides: Dye apron.
Prerequisites: None.
Minimum Age of Participants: 14
Friday 9:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M.
Dyeing Fabric with Earth Pigments
Workshop Fee Per Student: Early Bird $50 / Full Price $60
Total length of time: 3 hours
Instructor's Name: Gina Levesque
Instructor's Business: Across Generations
Instructor's Website: etsy.com/shop/acrossgenerations
Description: This workshop will focus on using clays and oxides from the earth to color cloth. Colors derived from these sources are highly color and light fast but require special handling to make them so. We will cover how to pre-treat fabric to insure maximum color uptake, dyeing the fabric, and post-dyeing finishing.
Items Included: All materials used in workshop (including pigments), linen sample squares, and a binder of information presented in workshop.
Student Provides: Dye apron, household cleaning gloves.
Prerequisites: None.
Minimum Age of Participants: 14
Saturday 9:00 A.M. - 11:00 A.M.
Hand Painting Yarn with Natural Dyes
Workshop Fee Per Student: Early Bird $55 / Full Price $65
Total length of time: 2 hours
Instructor's Name: Michelle Salyers
Instructor's Business: Color Me Happy Fiber Arts Studio
Instructor's Website: www.colormehappyfiberarts.com
Description: A workshop geared for knitters and crocheters who want to learn a little about natural dyes and have a fun experience creating their own hand-painted yarn. We will prepare the skeins ahead of time with a mordanting process so that it is ready for you to hand paint at the workshop. The cost of the workshop includes a 100g skein of Color Me Happy Fiber Arts yarn Sock Weight MCN (approx. 400 yards), natural dye materials, instruction, and a handout with resources. We will also provide you a bag and a card with instructions on how to steam at home. Depending on the size of the workshop, you may be able to purchase a second skein for the cost of materials.
Items Included: The cost of the workshop includes a 100g skein of Color Me Happy Fiber Arts yarn Sock Weight MCN (approx. 400 yards) that is ready to dye, natural dye materials, instruction, a handout with resources. We will provide you a bag and a card with instructions on how to steam at home. Depending on the size of the workshop, you may be able to purchase a second skein for the cost of materials.
Student Provides: Dyeing is messy, especially using the technique of hand painting. We recommend wearing clothes and shoes that can withstand the risk of stain. While the materials we are using should not dye your clothes, they can make stains (and we will talk about why there’s a difference).
Prerequisites: Prior experience with using yarn is helpful, but not required.
Minimum Age of Participants: 12
Friday 1:00 P.M. - 5:00 P.M.
Introduction to Natural Dyes
Workshop Fee Per Student: Early Bird $60 / Full Price $70
Total length of time: 4 hours
Instructor's Name: Gina Levesque
Instructor's Business: Across Generations
Instructor's Website: etsy.com/shop/acrossgenerations
Description: Techniques of natural dyeing will be taught using traditional methods. Students will learn the difference between a dye and a stain, colorfastness, light fastness and properties of individual dyes. Mordants and their effects on dyes will be taught. We will use dyes dating back over 500 years, learning their history and importance to ancient cultures and Native Americans. Each student will create a dye notebook to take with them. Dyes used will include, but are not limited to, madder, osage orange, black walnut, cochineal, logwood, plus a wide variety of additional sources.
Although natural dyes can be used on a variety of materials including paper and reeds for basketry, we will be dyeing 100% wool yarn samples in workshop. Each student will be given a sample to include in their dye notebook. Participants are encouraged to bring small samples of their own art medium (cotton, reed, other types of animal fibers) to drop into dye pots.
Items Included: A binder of information and dye sheets, workshop samples of dyed wool and a metal ring with labels to organize them, plus all materials used in workshop.
Student Provides: Participants should wear older clothing or a dye apron. Students may bring milk jugs or jars if they desire to take home remaining exhaust baths. Students should wear older clothing and/or aprons.
Prerequisites: None.
Minimum Age of Participants: 14
Saturday 9:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M.
Ombre Dye
Workshop Fee Per Student: Early Bird $65 / Full Price: $75
Total length of time: 3 hours
Instructor's Name: Nancy Macali
Instructor's Business: Ohmi Fibers
Instructor’s Website: www.ohmifibers.com
Description: Learn to dye the perfect ombre! This half-day workshop will cover 2 different gradation dyeing techniques with acid dyes on protein fibers. Technique 1 will utilize a single color to create a value range from dark to light. Technique 2 will blend 2 colors creating a smooth gradation from one to the next.
Items Included: Acid dyes, salt, citric acid, handouts/directions, 7 oz. wool yarn, note sheet, and sample sheet.
Student Provides: (14) – 32 oz. Mason jars with bands and lids, (2) – 1 cup liquid measuring cups, (1) – 2 cup liquid measuring cup, and rubber or latex gloves.
Prerequisites: None.
Minimum Age of Participants: 15
Crochet
Friday 9:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M.
Get Hooked! Intro to Crochet
Workshop Fee Per Student: Early Bird $15 / Full Price $15
Total length of time: 3 hours
Instructor's Name: Jaymi Horne
Instructor's Business: Cranky Kangaroo
Instructor's Website: www.crankykangaroo.com
Description: Learn this popular, fun, and portable craft! Learn the basics of crochet while making a practical washcloth. You'll learn all about tension, common stitches, and reading a pattern, and leave with the confidence to complete crochet projects on your own!
Items Included: All items needed: crochet hook, yarn, pattern and beginner tips, darning needle, all in a cute bag!
Student Provides: Eagerness to learn.
Prerequisites: No experience necessary.
Minimum Age of Participants: 12
Spinning & Fiber Prep
Saturday 9:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M.
Gettin' Batty With It: Art-Batt Tools & Techniques
Workshop Fee Per Student: Early Bird $85 / Full Price $95
Total length of time: 3 hours
Instructor's Name: Liza Q. Wirtz
Instructor's Business: The Foldout Cat
Instructor's Website: www.foldoutcat.com
Description: What is an art batt? How might you make one? What can you do with it, and why would you want to? How does a dog comb come into the fiber-prep picture? And what in the world is a rolag? Come card with Q and learn answers to those questions–and more. Yes, we ARE batty for batts–and we think you will be as well! Students will leave with the basic skills needed to create art batts, knowledge of some handy creative-carding tools, and fibery clouds of various kinds designed using ingredients from the unique Foldout Cat Batt Buffet and created using hand cards, blending boards, and drum carders.
Items Included: Use of instructor’s hand cards, blending boards, and drum carders and access to instructor’s Batt Buffet of Merino, Angelina, silk, bamboo, and other fibers to build several different batts. Blending boards will be available for sale during and at the close of the workshop.
Student Provides: No participant-provided materials required; instructor will provide all tools and materials. Students just need to bring their willingness to experiment and explore!
Prerequisites: No prior knowledge of fiber prep in general or carding in particular needed to take this workshop, which is open to all but geared towards the beginner.
Minimum Age of Participants: 12 - Students must be tall enough to reach the drum carders and to treat them with the care both student and carder deserve, and must be able to focus for the duration of the workshop.
Saturday 1:00 P.M. - 4:00 P.M.
Spinning the Herd: Starting Your Spinning Journey
Workshop Fee Per Student: Early Bird $85 / Full Price $95
Total length of time: 3 hours
Instructor's Name: Liza Q. Wirtz
Instructor's Business: The Foldout Cat
Instructor's Website: www.foldoutcat.com
Description: Are you a new spinner—or do you want to be? Maybe you’re intrigued by this spinning thing—beautiful fluffy fiber! turning into yarn! how cool is that?—but don’t have a spinning wheel in your life. Maybe you have a project in mind but can’t seem to find just the right yarn to fit. Maybe you’ve seen other people spin and think it looks like fun, but find the whole business of choosing one wheel from all those options confusing. Or maybe you’ve tried out a drop spindle and feel like you’re ready to give a wheel a shot, but have no idea which wheel is for you. If any of these descriptions sound like you, try this experiential workshop! You’ll get some exposure to the basics of spinning, including fundamental terminology and concepts, as you practice the core spinning skills of drafting and treadling on multiple different spinning wheels. By the end of the workshop, new spinners should have a sense of whether spinning on a wheel is for them and know a bit more about how various wheels work and how they compare with one another. Who knows–you might even discover a wheel that’s just right for you!
Items Included: Shared use of a portion of instructor’s herd of spinning wheels, including models by Ashford, Lendrum, Majacraft, Schacht, SpinOlution, and more; access to wool and wool-blend roving from various breeds (Bluefaced Leicester, Cheviot, Corriedale, Falkland, Merino) for use in experimenting with provided wheels.
Student Provides: No participant-provided materials required: instructor will provide all tools and materials. Students just need to bring their curiosity and willingness to learn--and their patience with the process and with themselves.
Prerequisites: No previous experience required; workshop is specifically and joyfully designed for new spinners. Workshop is process-oriented, rather than product-oriented.
Minimum Age of Participants: 14 Students must be able to treadle with both feet, to maintain a firm hold on wool roving, and to focus for the duration of the workshop.
Additional info: Although this workshop focuses on analog spinning wheels, instructor will bring a sample of her e-spinner herd.
Needle Arts
Friday 1:00 P.M. - 3:00 P.M.
Beginning Embroidery
Workshop Fee Per Student: Early Bird $65 / Full Price $75
Total length of time: 2 hours
Instructor's Name: Kelli Slack
Instructor's Business: A Twisted Picot
Instructor's Website: www.atwistedpicot.com & www.kellislackdesigns.com
Description: Learn the basics of embroidery with this kit based workshop and explore the interaction between needle, thread, and fabric. Join experienced embroiderer Kelli to practice Buttonhole Stitch, Cross Stitch, Fly Stitch, Feather Stitch, Satin Stitch, Chain Stitch, Fern Stitch, Lazy Daisy Stitch, Back stitch, and Running Stitch. Workshop includes kit with pre-printed fabric, stitch guide, needle, and hoop.
Items Included: Workshop includes kit with pre-printed fabric, stitch guide, needle, and hoop.
Student Provides: Scissors, a pencil or pen.
Prerequisites: None.
Minimum Age of Participants: 16
Saturday 9:00 A.M. - 11:00 A.M.
Beginning Sashiko
Workshop Fee Per Student: Early Bird $45 / Full Price $55
Total length of time: 2 hours
Instructor's Name: Kelli Slack
Instructor's Business: A Twisted Picot
Instructor's Website: www.atwistedpicot.com
Description: Sashiko is a Japanese handcraft that arose as a way to mend clothing. Now, sashiko is appreciated for its beauty and design. Join Kelli Slack in this workshop to learn basic techniques and start a quick project. Workshop includes kit for 2 coasters (pre-printed fabric, thread, and instructions), Sashiko thimble, book, and sashiko needle.
Items Included: Workshop includes kit for 2 coasters (pre-printed fabric, thread, and instructions), Sashiko thimble, book, and sashiko needle.
Student Provides: Scissors, pen or pencil.
Prerequisites: None.
Minimum Age of Participants: 16
Friday 9:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M.
Intro to Shuttle Tatting
Workshop Fee Per Student: Early Bird $85 / Full Price $95
Total length of time: 3 hours
Instructor's Name: Kelli Slack
Instructor's Business: A Twisted Picot
Instructor's Website: www.atwistedpicot.com & www.kellislackdesigns.com
Description: Learn the basics of shuttle tatting including rings, chains, picots, and joins and begin creating heirloom lace or fun accessories. We will also cover how to read a pattern, how to read a diagram, and sources for tatting and inspiration.
Items Included: 2 balls of size 10 thread, 2 shuttles, booklet.
Student Provides: Students should bring scissors, tape measure, highlighter tape or post-it notes or magnetic chart, writing implement or note taking item(s)
Prerequisites: None.
Minimum Age of Participants: 16
Needle or Wet Felting
Friday 9:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M.
3D Wet Felted Vessel
Workshop Fee Per Student: Early Bird $55/ Full Price $65
Total length of time: 3 hours
Instructor's Name: Heather Macali
Instructor's Website: www.heathermacali.com
Description: Learn how to wet felt in 3D! This course will cover basic dimensional wet felting techniques. You will create a felted vessel using wool fibers. Various color options will be available along with accents and textural locks to enhance the outside of your vessel.
Items Included: Protein fibers in a variety of colors, plastic resist, netting, soap, and vinegar.
Student Provides: Scissors, face mask, bath towel, rubber gloves, 3-gallon bucket, 2 cup liquid measuring cup, empty Gatorade bottle with lid (20 fl. oz.), plastic bag (transport wet vessel) notebook, and pen.
Prerequisites: None.
Minimum Age of Participants: 12
Saturday 9:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M.
Needle Felted Baby 'Possum
Workshop Fee Per Student: Early Bird $65 / Full Price $75
Total length of time: 3 hours
Instructor's Name: Julie Adams
Instructor's Business: Julie's Fiber Treasures
Description:
Did you know that opossums are the only North American marsupial? Join instructor Julie as she guides you through making a needle felted baby 'possum. As a beginner friendly course we will go over needles, felting surfaces, best felting wool types, and basic felting techniques. Then we move on to wire armatures, how to wrap wool, how to make basic shapes, and how to bring it all together.
Items Included: All materials and tools will be provided.
Student Provides: A great attitude.
Prerequisites: None.
Minimum Age of Participants: 14
Friday 1:00 P.M. - 5:00 P.M.
Needle Felted Mushroom
Workshop Fee Per Student: Early Bird $75 / Full Price $85
Total length of time: 4 hours
Instructor's Name: Julie Adams
Instructor's Business: Julie's Fiber Treasures
Description: Delve into a magical world and learn how to needle felt a mushroom. There will be several colors to choose from so your mushroom will be as unique as you are. You will gain knowledge in armature construction, wrapping wool, forming a mushroom cap, and how to mount your project in a pot or on a wood slice.
Items Included: All materials and tools will be provided.
Student Provides: Great Attitude
Prerequisites: Participants should know basic felting techniques.
Minimum Age of Participants: 14
Saturday 1:00 P.M. - 4:00 P.M.
Nuno Felted Neck Warmer
Workshop Fee Per Student: Early Bird $60 / Full Price $70
Total length of time: 3 hours
Instructor's Name: Mariya Gerhardt
Instructor's Business: MriyaWeave
Instructor's Website: www.MriyaWeave.com
Description: Goal - With wet felting technique make the nuno felted neck warmer.
In the workshop we will make neck warmer from extra fine merino wool roving (19mc), silk fabric, yarn, viscose fiber, silk thread. Wet felting is the process when hot water and soap are applied to layers of wool roving, while repeated agitation and compression causes the fibers to hook together or weave together into a single piece of fabric. Felt from wool is considered to be the oldest known textile. Nuno felting is is the process of felting wool roving onto another fabric (silk). "Nuno" is a Japanese word for cloth or fabric. In this workshop students will learn basic of nuno felting, felt together different fiber and fabric and have unique neck warmer with different design on both sides.
Items Included: Material kit will include- extra fine merino wool roving (19mc), hand dyed piece of silk gauze fabric approx. 17"x55", yarn pieces, viscose fiber, silk tread also all supply necessary for wet felting.
Student Provides: Towel, comfortable clothes and shoes.
Prerequisites: None.
Minimum Age of Participants: 14