Hoosier Hills Fiber Festival
A celebration of fiber arts and old-time artisan skills!
2025 Dates: Friday, June 6 & Saturday, June 7
Saturday Morning Workshops
Saturday Morning Workshops all begin at 9:00 A.M.
Check specific workshop for its duration.
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
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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
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
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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
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Items Included: Handouts, samples, 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.
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Prerequisites: Know how to cast on, knit, purl, and bind off.
Minimum Age of Participants: 12
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
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Instructor's Name: Liza Q. Wirtz
Instructor's Business: The Foldout Cat
Instructor's Website: www.foldoutcat.com
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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.
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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!
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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.
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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.
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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
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
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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.
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Items Included: All materials and tools will be provided.
Student Provides: A great attitude.
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Prerequisites: None.
Minimum Age of Participants: 14
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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
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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.
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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
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View Case's handcrafted looms at: https://www.aoiremaithfibrestudios.com/shop/peg-looms/16
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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
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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
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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
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Instructor's Name: Paige Shipley
Instructor's Business: Paige Shipley Designs
Instructor's Website: www.paigeshipleydesigns.com
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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.
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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!
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Prerequisites: None.
Minimum Age of Participants: 6 (under 12 must have adult with them).
Saturday Afternoon Workshops
Saturday Afternoon Workshops begin at 1 P.M. except "Beautiful Reds from Natural Dyes" which starts at 12 P.M.
Check specific workshop for its duration.
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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
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Instructor's Name: Mary Jo Harris
Instructor's Business: Harris Caning and Knitting
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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
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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
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
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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
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
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Instructor's Name: Kelli Slack
Instructor's Business: A Twisted Picot
Instructor's Website: www.atwistedpicot.com
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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.
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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
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
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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!
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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 class: paigeshipleydesigns@gmail.com
Prerequisites: Basic knitting knowledge (knits and purls).
Minimum Age of Participants: 10 (under 12 must have adult with them).
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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
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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
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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
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Instructor's Name: Mariya Gerhardt
Instructor's Business: MriyaWeave
Instructor's Website: www.MriyaWeave.com
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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.
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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.
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Prerequisites: None.
Minimum Age of Participants: 14
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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
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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.
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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.
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Prerequisites: None.
Minimum Age of Participants: 14
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
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Instructor's Name: Liza Q. Wirtz
Instructor's Business: The Foldout Cat
Instructor's Website: www.foldoutcat.com
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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!
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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.