A celebration of fiber arts and old-time artisan skills!
At the Johnson County Fairgrounds in Franklin, Indiana - 2026 Dates: Friday, June 5 & Saturday, June 6
Friday Morning Workshops
9 A.M. to 12 P.M.
Friday 9:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M.
Beginner Drop Spinning & Plying Techniques
If space in each workshop is open: For a full day of drop spinning instructions, you can sign up for this workshop and the Spin-On: Next Steps in Drop Spinning that is from 1:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M. on Friday.
Workshop Fee Per Student: $80
Total length of time: 3 Hours
​​​
Instructor's Name: Justin Near
Instructor's Business: LoMaNa
Instructor's Website: locallymadeinnashville.com
​​
Description: Learn how to spin your own yarn from natural fibers without the hassle and cost of a spinning wheel. In this class, we will learn the basics of drop spindles and how to spin on them, working in pairs and breaking down each movement required into smaller, more digestible bits. We will also cover plying and how to finish your yarn. All attendees will go home with handspun yarn that they have made and a drop spindle to keep.
​
Items Included: drop spindle and fiber
Student Provides: None
​​
Prerequisites: None
Minimum Age of Participants: 14
Friday 9:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M.
Beginning Hardanger Embroidery
Workshop Fee Per Student: $85
Total length of time: 3 Hours
​​​
Instructor's Name: Jennifer Johnson
Instructor's Business: Fiber Maker Studio
Instructor's Website: www.fibermakerstudio.com
​​
Description: Learn the foundation stitches of Hardanger embroidery in this 3 hour workshop creating the cover for a needle-case or scissors holder. Utilizing kloster blocks and cutwork, Hardanger embroidery is a traditional Norwegian openwork embroidery technique. Today Hardanger embellishes more than just the linen blouses of yesteryear.
Students should bring a pair of small, fine pointed scissors. The instructor will provide all materials including Aida cloth, DMC #5 and #12 threads, needles and instructional booklet.
​
Items Included: The instructor will provide all materials including Aida cloth, DMC #5 and #12 threads, needles and instructional booklet.
Student Provides: Students should bring a pair of small, fine pointed scissors.
​​
Prerequisites: None
Minimum Age of Participants: 10
Friday 9:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M.
Earth Pigments
Workshop Fee Per Student: $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 class 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. Techniques learned in class will be similar to those used to produce the first calico fabrics. We will cover how to pre-treat fabric to ensure maximum color uptake, dyeing the fabric, and post-dye finishing.
​
Items Included: All items needed for workshop.
Student Provides: Old clothing, rubber gloves.
​​​
Prerequisites: None
Minimum Age of Participants: 14
.jpg)
Friday 9:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M.
Freestyle Weaving for the Creative Spirit
If space in each workshop is open: For a full day of weaving instructions, you can sign up for the Freestyle Weaving for the Creative Spirit and the Continuing Your Freestyle Weaving Journey​ workshop, and you will continue weaving on your piece or begin a new one.
Workshop Fee Per Student: $90
Total length of time: 3 Hours
​​​
Instructor's Name: Liza Q. Wirtz
Instructor's Business: The Foldout Cat
Instructor's Website: foldoutcat.com
​​
Description: Weave your heart! Learn to weave freestyle and free-spirited on a simple, easy-to-use floor loom. Experiment with color, texture, and technique, and go home with a unique piece of woven art that reflects your creative spirit (yes, you do have one!). Students will learn the basic skills of freestyle weaving on a highly approachable, easy-to-use two-harness floor loom. The class will emphasize play and individual exploration of color and texture in the service of personal expression; a few simple weaving techniques will be taught along the way. Students will take home what they weave.
​
Items Included: Use of pre-warped two-harness floor loom (so students can get right to the fun part–weaving!); use of associated tools (shuttles, bobbins, etc.); access to and use of a wide variety of different weaving materials, such as 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 class, in a future weaving project, or both.
​
Student Provides: 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. (Note: any yarn students bring MUST already be wound into a cake or ball.) Otherwise, students just need to bring their willingness to experiment and explore–and to practice imperfection!
​​​
Prerequisites: No prerequisite skills or 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. Students must be tall enough to reach the floor pedals on the looms and able to focus for the duration of the class.
​
Minimum Age of Participants: 12
Friday 9:30 A.M. - 11:30 P.M
Get Hooked on Crochet: Intro to Crochet
Workshop Fee Per Student: $20
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 crochet? Let's cover the basics- we'll talk about yarn and how to choose yarn and hooks for projects and then jump right into crocheting! All items included in our "Get Started Crochet" kit.
​
Items Included: 25 grams of worsted weight yarn, size H crochet hook, info booklet of tips for new crocheters, and a darning needle.
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. - 12:00 P.M.
Pin Loom Weaving
Workshop Fee Per Student: $45
Total length of time: 3 Hours
​​​​
Instructor's Name: Kelly Jones
Instructor's Business: Kiss Looms Knitting and Weaving
Instructor's Website: www.kiss-looms.com
​​
Description: Explore weaving on the Kiss Looms square, triangle, and hexagon weaving looms. Many sizes are available to try out during the class. 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 class. Looms will be available for purchase after the class.
​
Items Included: Yarn and looms will be provided for use during class with looms available for purchase in the booth.
Student Provides: None
​​​
Prerequisites: None
Minimum Age of Participants: 12
Friday Afternoon Workshops
1 P.M. to 4 P.M.
.png)
Friday 1:00 P.M. - 4:00 P.M.
Bead Sashiko
Workshop Fee Per Student: $60
Total length of time: 3 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 class to learn the modern art of bead sashiko. From thread and fabric selection to beads and design, we will explore this exciting new approach to sashiko stitching. We will start a project in class, but you may not finish it. Class includes kit (pre-printed fabric, thread, beads, threader, needle, and instructions).
​
Items Included: Class includes kit (pre-printed fabric, thread, beads, threader, needle, and instructions).
Student Provides: Scissors, pencil or pen/ note taking items.
​​
Prerequisites: None
Minimum Age of Participants: 16
.jpg)
Friday 1:00 P.M. - 4:00 P.M.
Continuing Your Freestyle Weaving Journey
If space in each workshop is open: For a full day of weaving instructions, you can sign up for the Freestyle Weaving for the Creative Spirit and this workshop, and you will continue weaving on your piece or begin a new one.
Workshop Fee Per Student: $90
Total length of time: 3 Hours
​​​
Instructor's Name: Liza Q. Wirtz
Instructor's Business: The Foldout Cat
Instructor's Website: foldoutcat.com
​​​
Description: Weave your joy! So 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 class 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. Traveling inlay, two-color interlock, rya knots, loops and worms, and more creative choices await! Students will take home what they weave.
​
Items Included: Use of warped two-harness floor loom and associated tools (shuttles, bobbins, etc.); use of a wide variety of different weaving materials (yarn, embroidery floss, fabric scraps, fiber, trim, Mylar, etc.); all cloth woven in class. Each student will also get a bag of fibery treasures to keep; these can be used in class, in a future weaving, or both. And of course, students will take home whatever they weave!
​
Student Provides: 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. (Note: any yarn students bring MUST already be wound into a cake or ball.) Otherwise, students just need to bring their willingness to experiment and explore–and to practice imperfection!
​​​
Prerequisites: None. A little prior experience with weaving on some sort of loom is useful. That said, students who have never woven before but need this class in their lives nonetheless are encouraged to sign up and should find the learning curve easy to climb. Students who have taken a previous freestyle weaving class from the instructor or elsewhere are also encouraged to sign up. Students must be tall enough to reach the floor pedals on the looms and able to focus for the duration of the class.
Minimum Age of Participants: 12
Friday 1:00 P.M. - 4:00 P.M.
Mom's Casserole Carrier
Workshop Fee Per Student: $75
Total length of time: 3 Hours
​​​
Instructor's Name: Laura Klaus
Instructor's Business: Baskets by Laura
Instructor's Website: facebook.com/basketsbylaurak
​​
Description: This basket is large enough to hold a 9 x 13 casserole. Two sturdy handles are woven in the base of the basket to offer more support. Students will learn how to lay out the base incorporating the handles, so that this can be held with 1 hand. Identifying the right/wrong side of the reed, “chicken feeting” the fillers, twining, and start/stop weaving is just some of what will be taught. All tools will be supplied in class and new tools will be available for purchase after class.
​
Items Included: All supplies and tools needed to complete the basket will be provided.
Student Provides: None
​​​​
Prerequisites: None
Minimum Age of Participants: 12
Saturday 1:00 P.M. - 4:00 P.M.
Spin On! Next Steps in Drop Spinning
If space in each workshop is open: For a full day of drop spinning instructions, you can sign up for this workshop and the Spin-On: Next Steps in Drop Spinning that is from 1:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M. on Friday.
Workshop Fee Per Student: $60
Total length of time: 3 Hours
​​​
Instructor's Name: Justin Near
Instructor's Business: LoMaNa
Instructor's Website: locallymadeinnashville.com
​​
Description: So you’ve learned how to drop spin! Now what? Join us on an exploration of next steps. In this class, we will: practice standing and moving around while drop spinning; learn some spinning techniques; spin a variety of fibers; try out drop spindles with different physics and learn how to adjust accordingly; and break down your current spinning practice to improve different elements and get the yarn that you want.
​
Items Included: Fiber, use of spindles.
Student Provides: None, though they can bring their own spindles and fibers if they'd like.
​​​
Prerequisites: At least a beginner's knowledge of drop spinning, having taken Justin's Beginning Drop Spindle workshop can help.
Minimum Age of Participants: 14
.png)
Friday 1:30 P.M. - 3:30 P.M.
Take a Stab at Knitting: Intro to Knitting
Workshop Fee Per Student: $20
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.
Student Provides: Eagerness to learn a new craft!
​​
Prerequisites: None
Minimum Age of Participants: 6 (under 12 must have adult with them)
Friday Full Day Workshops
9 A.M. to 12 P.M. & 1 P.M. to 4 P.M.
With a 1 hour lunch break from 12 P.M. to 1 P.M.
Friday Full Day - 9:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M. & 1:00 P.M. - 4 P.M.
Beginning Inkle Loom
Workshop Fee Per Student: $125
Total length of time: 6 Hours
​​​​
Instructor's Name: Barbara Hoffman
Instructor's Business: Woven Works
Instructor's Website: www.facebook.com/WovenWorks
​​
Description: Learn to weave on an Inkle Loom. Create a warped face band that can be used as straps, bag dandles, trim, belts, even shoelaces. We will cover how to warp and weave on an Inkle Loom, how to read a draft, create your own patterns, and finish the band.
​​
Items Included: All supplies and materials will be provided, including loaner looms, handouts, and cotton string. If you have your own loom you may bring it to use.
Student Provides: Loom if you have one, loaner looms for use in workshop.
​​
Prerequisites: None
Minimum Age of Participants: 12
Friday Full Day - 9:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M. & 1:00 P.M. - 4:00 P.M.
Needle Felted Owl
Workshop Fee Per Student: $110
Total length of time: 6 Hours
​​​​
Instructor's Name: Julie Adams
Instructor's Business: Julie's Fiber Treasures
Instructor's Website: Facebook.com/jfibertreasures
​​
Description: Want to level up your needle felting? Join Instructor Julie as she guides you step-by-step through the process of creating an Owlet. We start with creating a wire armature, wrapping wool, and using Swax to create realistic claws and beak. Moving on, we will make and add shapes to build the body. Finally we'll add all the details and fluff out our owlets.
​
Items Included: All materials to complete the project will be supplied and tools will be available for use.
Student Provides: Photo reference if you have one.
​​​
Prerequisites: A general understanding of needle felting and how to work with wool. Completed at least 3 needle felting projects or taken one of my previous classes.
Minimum Age of Participants: 14
_JPG.jpg)
Friday Full Day - 9:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M. & 1:00 P.M. - 4:00 P.M.
Nuno Felted Japanese Knot Bag
Workshop Fee Per Student: $105
Total length of time: 6 Hours
​​​
Instructor's Name: Mariya Gerhardt
Instructor's Business: MriyaWeave
Instructor's Website: mriyaweave.com
​​
Description: In this hands-on workshop, students will learn how to create a nuno felted Japanese knot bag using wet felting techniques. This beginner-friendly course is perfect for those new to felting as well as anyone looking to explore a unique textile art form. In this workshop, students can either follow a guided design or explore their own creative style to make a unique Japanese knot bag.
The Japanese Knot Bag is a very popular style of project bag that is often used by crafters while they are on the move. It has a long strap on one side and a short strap on the other, and the long strap is slipped through the short strap to form a handle and close the bag.
During the class, students will make their own unique knot bag using a resist template, and a combination of materials -merino wool, silk fabric, felt pieces, viscose fiber, wool nepps, yarn. The workshop will focus on:
• Using resist to create seamless, three-dimensional felted objects
• Exploring the nuno felting technique, bonding wool fibers into sheer fabrics like organza silk gauze rarefied. The word "nuno" means "cloth" or "fabric" in Japanese
• Understanding how different types of materials affect texture and design
• Creating rich surface texture and personalized artistic detail in felting
By the end of the workshop, each student will complete their own unique Japanese knot bag—both a practical accessory and a personal piece of art.
​
Items Included: Material kit for student will include - merino wool, hand dyed pieces of silk gauze rarefied fabric, wool felt, pieces of sari silk fabric, yarn, wool nepps, viscose fiber, resist, plastic gloves, thin plastic, printed handouts.
Student Provides: old towel, scissors, plastic bag to take wet towel and felted project home.
​​​
Prerequisites: No previous felting experience is necessary. Just bring your creativity and enthusiasm! Wet felting require some physical strengths and stamina.
Minimum Age of Participants: 16