Hoosier Hills Fiber Festival
A celebration of fiber arts and old-time artisan skills!
At the Johnson County Fairgrounds in Franklin, Indiana - 2025 Dates: Friday, June 6 & Saturday, June 7
Click a workshop title below to jump to that description.
Saturday Morning Workshops
Saturday Morning Workshops begin at 9:00 A.M.
Check specific workshop for its duration.
Saturday 9:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M.
A New Spinner's Sampler
Workshop Fee Per Student: $60
Total length of time: 3 Hours
​​​
Instructor's Name: Vanda Paladino
​​
Description:
Have you taken a beginning spinning class, and now you’re not sure what to do next? Come learn about some ways you can move forward with improving your spinning and your understanding of the craft. Learn the language of spinners, try different fibers and fiber preps and talk about what kind of spinner you are and what kind you want to be.​
​
Items Included: Samples of different preparations of fiber. Samples of at least 3 different kinds of wool. Samples of other fibers such as silk, rayon and others.
Student Provides: Spinning wheel or Spindle in good working order
​
Prerequisites: Ability to spin a continuous yarn on a spinning wheel. This workshop is great for the almost brand-new spinner, or even more experienced spinners looking to expand their knowledge.
Minimum Age of Participants: 14
Saturday 9:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M.
Beginning Shuttle Tatting
Workshop Fee Per Student: $90
Total length of time: 3 Hours
​​
Instructor's Name: Kelli Slack
Instructor's Business: A Twisted Picot
Instructor's Website: www.atwistedpicot.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
Saturday 9:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M.
Blending Fibers - Color & Fiber Type
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: Multiple blending tools – a drum carder, blending board, hackle/combs, and hand carders – will be demonstrated, and participants will get to try each one. We will discuss the different ways wool can be prepped for spinning – rolags, roving, batts, nests, vertical stripping, and horizontal stripping – and how it can affect the attributes of the finished yarn. We’ll also discuss blending for color and blending different fiber types.
​​
Items Included: Students will select approximately 3 oz of fiber and add-ons to blend on a tool of their choice, tool use during workshop.
Student Provides: None
​​
Prerequisites: None
Minimum Age of Participants: 15
Saturday 9:00 A.M. - 2:00 P.M.
Everything Indigo
Workshop Fee Per Student: $65
Total length of time: 5 Hours
​​
Instructor's Name: Gina Levesque
Instructor's Business: Across Generations
Instructor's Website: www.facebook.com/acrossgenerationsfiberarts
​​
Description: In this class we will explore the uniqueness of an indigo bath and what chemical reactions are needed for it to work. We will discuss (and, for some, demonstrate) setting up various types of indigo vats including those from fresh indigo plants, dried plant material, synthetic vs. natural, fermentation vats, iron vats, etc. Each participant will leave with a folder of information and fabric samples dyed with indigo. This class will be a deeper exploration of indigo vats than is normally presented.
​​
Items Included: All consumables used in class, notebook of information, sample to dye and take home, disposable gloves
Student Provides: Please wear older clothing
​​
Prerequisites: None
Minimum Age of Participants: 16
Saturday 9:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M.
Felted Calla Lily Flower Necklace
Workshop Fee Per Student: $60
Total length of time: 3 Hours
​​​
Instructor's Name: Mariya Gerhardt
Instructor's Business: MriyaWeave
Instructor's Website: www.mriyaweave.com
​
Description: In this workshop students will learn how to make wet felted calla lily flower necklace from wool fiber and viscose fiber with wet felting technique using your hands, water and soap. This course is beginner friendly. Wet felting is the process when hot water and soap are applied to layers of wool fiber, while repeated agitation and compression causes the fibers to hook together or weave together into a single piece of fabric. Wool is amazing material, has sculptural features, and keeps its shape. Students will learn how to make volumetric flower, cord and how to attach them together. As a result each student will have a flower necklace which can be a nice addition for your wardrobe.
​
Items Included: Wool fiber, viscose fiber, plastic gloves, handouts.
Student Provides: towel, plastic bag to take wet towel home
​
Prerequisites: None
Minimum Age of Participants: 18 (13 - 17 year olds accepted if also accompanied by an adult also taking the workshop).
%20-%20Laura%20Klaus.jpg)
Saturday 9:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M.
Market Basket (Basket Weaving)
Workshop Fee Per Student: $60
Total length of time: 3 Hours
​​​
Instructor's Name: Laura Klaus
Instructor's Business: Baskets by Laura
Instructor's Website: www.facebook.com/basketsbylaurak
​​
Description: Need a utilitarian basket?? What's better than a good old fashion Market basket. This 12" x 8" x 8" basket has an open weave base. The handle is woven in as part of the basket so it's sure to hold a lot of weight. Start / Stop weaving, twining, and lashing is some of what will be taught. All tools needed to complete the project will be provided for use in class, new tools will be available for purchase. This is the perfect basket for beginners and what experienced weaver doesn't need another market basket!
​
Items Included: All materials needed to complete the project
Student Provides: None
​​
Prerequisites: None
Minimum Age of Participants: 15
Saturday 9:00 A.M. - 1:00 P.M.
Painting Tencel™ Weaving Warps
Workshop Fee Per Student: $95
Total length of time: 4 Hours
​​
Instructor's Name: Amanda Baxter
Instructor's Business: Shiny Dime Fibers
Instructor's Website: shinydimefibers.com
​
Description: Learn techniques for painting pre-wound Tencel weaving warps using professional quality MX dyes. Take two 3 yard 5/2 Tencel™ warps home to wash out and weave! You will receive a booklet of instructions to take home with you so you can continue your painting adventures.
​
Items Included: Two pre-wound and pre-scoured 3 yard 5/2 Tencel™ warps, printed instructions, dyes prepared ahead of time.
Student Provides: Apron or old clothes; kitchen gloves (I will bring extras)
​
Prerequisites: None
Minimum Age of Participants: 16
Saturday 9:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M.
Star Pillow
Workshop Fee Per Student: $70
Total length of time: 3 Hours
​​​
Instructor's Name: Kelly Jones
Instructor's Business: Kiss Looms
Instructor's Website: www.kisslooms.com
​
Description: Learn continuous strand weaving and create your own bold and beautiful
Star quilt block. In this class you will receive and learn how to weave
on a 4" square and a matching 4" triangle. We will work together on this
pattern, weaving each piece and seaming them together. Your block can be
used as a pillow front, wall hanging, or even the start to a beautiful
quilt. The possibilities are endless with these two little looms.
​
Items Included: 4" weaving square and matching 4” ½ triangle, locker
hook and tapestry needle
Student Provides: Please bring heavy worsted weight yarn in the following
colors to match project photo, or the colors of your choosing:
A: Red 50 yards
B: Dark Blue 100 yards
C: Lighter complimentary blue 50 yards
I Love This Yarn used in sample in Red Tweed, Marled Denim and Stonewash
14x14 pillow form – not needed for class
​
Prerequisites: None
Minimum Age of Participants: 16
Saturday 9:00 A.M. - 3:00 P.M.
Wet Felted Slippers
Workshop Fee Per Student: $70
Total length of time: 6 Hours
​​
Instructor's Name: Nancy Macali
Instructor's Business: Ohmi Fibers
Instructor's Website: www.ohmifibers.com
​
Description: This class will cover basic wet felting techniques to create custom wool slippers. We will discuss the optimal fibers to use and color placement. Each participant will leave the class with a custom pair of felted slippers.
Student Homework: Trace each foot on a piece of paper to create patterns; make sure to have at least 2" of paper allowance around each foot.
​
Items Included: Protein fibers (merino) in a variety of colors, plastic resist, netting, soap, vinegar, electric kettles, gatorade bottle, felting tools, and bamboo mat.
Student Provides: Bath towel, paper scissors, sharp scissors (Fiskars are great), notebook, pen/pencil, plastic bag (to transport wet slippers) and foot patterns (homework).
​
Prerequisites: None
Minimum Age of Participants: 16
Saturday Afternoon Workshops
Saturday Afternoon Workshops begin at 1 P.M. except "Portuguese Knitting for Beginners" which starts at 2 P.M.
Check specific workshop for its duration.
Saturday 1:00 P.M. - 4:00 P.M.
Brioche SOS: How to Correct Mistakes
Workshop Fee Per Student: $60
Total length of time: 3 Hours
​​
Instructor's Name: Jenn Lampen
Instructor's Business: Synaptic Stitches
Instructor's Website: synapticstitches.com
​
Description: One of the most common struggles with brioche knitting is knowing what to do if something goes wrong. In this class you will learn to identify some of the most common mistakes in brioche knitting and make a plan to address them. You will learn efficient ways to tink and frog brioche and when those are the right strategy to use. You will also learn how to fix dropped stitches and dropped yarnovers, as well as mistakes in patterning, such as decreases leaning the wrong way or misplaced increases and decreases. Finally, you will learn about the structure of brioche fabric to help demystify the fixing process and give you the confidence to tackle whatever mistakes you encounter in the future.
​
Items Included: Students will be provided with a printed handout of class notes
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, a second set of US8 needles (either another circular set or 2 DPNs), a set of circular needles 2-3 sizes smaller, locking stitch markers, crochet hook. HOMEWORK: After registration you will be emailed information about the swatch you will need to bring to the workshop.
​​
Prerequisites: Students must be comfortable with basic brioche knitting flat as well as common brioche increases and decreases. Familiarity with fixing mistakes in stockinette is helpful, but not required. Students may take this class after taking Intro to Brioche Knitting and Brioche Next Steps.
Minimum Age of Participants: 15
Saturday 1:00 P.M. - 3:00 P.M.
Fiber Grading
Workshop Fee Per Student: $75
Total length of time: 2 Hours
​​​
Instructor's Name: Cheryl Kersey
Instructor's Business: Click Fibers
​​
Description: This workshop will provide a basic understanding of sorting and grading natural animal fiber such as various breeds of wool, huacaya alpaca, suri alpaca, mohair and others.
The workshop is divided into two parts.
Part 1: The first half of the class will be an overview and provide an understanding of fiber physiology, characteristics, grades and attributes. By understanding these characteristics, producers and consumers of natural fiber will be able to make decisions that reduce waste and cost during processing and create a more uniform quality product that can command a higher price. Each participant will receive a set of fiber samples to visualize these characteristics.
​
Part 2: In the second part of the workshop, a full-size fleece will be used to demonstrate the evaluation and grading process. Additionally, samples of a variety of fiber types and grades will be available for hands on review and comparison.
​Items Included: Fleeces for use in workshop and handouts.
Student Provides: Participants may bring an unprocessed fleece or fiber sample for grading as part of the class (but not required).​
​
Prerequisites: None
Minimum Age of Participants: 12
Saturday 1:00 P.M. - 4:00 P.M.
Intermediate Drop Spinning
Workshop Fee Per Student: $55
Total length of time: 3 Hours
​​
Instructor's Name: Justin Near
Instructor's Business: LoMaNa
Instructor's Website: www.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: Wool for spinning
Student Provides: Drop spindle (spindles will also be provided for use during class)
​
Prerequisites: Beginning knowledge of drop spindling
Minimum Age of Participants: 14
Saturday 1:00 P.M. - 4:00 P.M.
Needle Felted Funny Fish
Workshop Fee Per Student: $65
Total length of time: 3 Hours
​​​
Instructor's Name: Julie Adams
Instructor's Business: Julie's Fiber Treasures
Instructor's Website: www.facebook.com/jfibertreasures
​​
Description: If you are looking for a fun beginner friendly needle felting project then you have found the class for you! Instructor Julie will guide you through the steps to make your one-of-a-kind Funny Fish. We will construct a simple armature, then use wool roving to wrap our base and build our shapes. It will look like an alien from Jupiter BUT I promise it will all come together and you will go home with a Funny Fish that makes you smile. We will use several different tools to help us along the way and I will be there through each step with helpful tips and tricks.
​
Items Included: All materials are included, supplies will be available for use
Student Provides: Participants may bring their own tools/supplies but everything will be provided
​
Prerequisites: None
Minimum Age of Participants: 12
Saturday 1:00 P.M. - 4:00 P.M.
Personalized Dorset Button Posy
Workshop Fee Per Student: $65
Total length of time: 3 Hours
​​
Instructor's Name: Jennifer Johnson
Instructor's Business: Fiber Maker Studio
Instructor's Website: www.fibermakerstudio.com
​
Description: Need a special button to trim that spring shawl? Come learn how to make your own - a Dorset style button. Using simple materials (plastic ring and thread), you can create gorgeous unique trims.
​
Items Included: All materials supplied - DMC floss; needle; plastic or metal base ring; workshop notes.
Student Provides: Scissors and a smile.
​​
Prerequisites: None
Minimum Age of Participants: 12
Saturday 2:00 P.M. - 4:00 P.M.
Portuguese Knitting for Beginners
Workshop Fee Per Student: $45
Total length of time: 2 Hours
​​​​
Instructor's Name: Kelli Slack
Instructor's Business: A Twisted Picot
Instructor's Website: www.atwistedpicot.com
​​
Description: Are you ready to try knitting by tensioning with your neck, a necklace, or a hooked pin? Portuguese knitting might be just your thing. This fun and practical knitting style takes advantage of the flexibility of knitting to help take the strain off your fingers and wrists. Learn how to Portuguese knit and purl while working flat and in the round..
​​​
Items Included: Handouts included
Student Provides: Students should bring a range of needles in sizes from US 5 through 8, scissors, tape measure, writing implement or note taking item(s), at least two balls of 20 yards of worsted weight yarn for practice
​​​
Prerequisites: Can be a complete beginner, but will benefit from some basic knitting skills such as: casting on, binding off, knit stitch, purl stitch, increases, and decreases.
Minimum Age of Participants: 14
Saturday 1:00 P.M. - 3:00 P.M.
Triangle Shawl Loom
Workshop Fee Per Student: $100
Total length of time: 2 Hours
​​​
Instructor's Name: Kelly Jones
Instructor's Business: Kiss Looms
Instructor's Website: www.kisslooms.com
​​
Description: Weave beautiful shawls on the Kiss Loom Fine Gauge Triangle Weaving Loom. In this class you will receive the 3 ft triangle loom and learn how to weave on the loom. This will make a beautiful neck scarf. Four 3 ft woven triangles will make a nice 4 ft poncho! If you wish to upgrade to a larger size after class, $90 will be applied to the upgraded purchase cost. You will learn how to change colors, seam panels, and make fringe. The triangle is perfect for worsted weight yarns. This is a very versatile loom with many applications, such as scarves, cowls, shawls and blanket panels. You don’t have to be an expert to learn to weave on our triangle looms.
​
Items Included: 3ft Triangle loom included in class fee.
Student Provides: Please bring 120 yards of heavy worsted weight yarn in
the color or colors of your choice.
​
Prerequisites: None
Minimum Age of Participants: 18