Silk Sampler with Jeanine Bakriges (Saturday, 6 hours)

Proficiency Level: Adv. Beginner to Intermediate

One glorious day of hands-on exploration of the various forms of moth-made silk: Bombyx mori silk sliver; Tussah silk sliver; silk noils; recycled sari silk; silk hankies, commercially prepared silk blends and more. Tips and techniques will be practiced to help tame these luxurious, luminous, and often slippery fibers. Blending techniques with handcarders that incorporate the silk fibers with wool and other fibers will be covered, enabling the spinner to design unique combinations.

Material Fee: $10.00

New Wave Fibers Seminar with Jeanine Bakriges (Sunday, 3 hours)

Proficiency Level: Adv. Beginner to Intermediate

Modern fiber development has been taking some amazing leaps of late. Produced from products such as the soybean, corn and milk, spinners now have the chance to be "on the cutting edge" of textile technology. We'll get a "taste" of how some of these unusual fibers spin up in this sampler workshop. We'll also explore some of the older synthetics, such as nylon and mylar. Some of these fibers are glitzy, some are silky and some are soft but incredibly strong. All are very interesting to spin into yarns. Blends, both commercially prepared and your own handcarded preps, with wool and other animal and/or plant fibers will be included.

Material Fee: $7.00

Designing Better Crocheted Fashion Garments with Lily Chin (Saturday, 6 hours)

Proficiency Level: Intermediate

The stereotype of crocheted clothing is that of suits of armor. To avoid this look this class will analyze the elements that go into good garment design and figure out how to achieve this in our medium. Discussed will be fitting, fabric, drape, graphics, visuals, color, stitches, texture, silhouette, line, construction and more.

Material Fee: None

Borderline Personalities or "On the Edge" with Lily Chin (Sunday, 3 hours)

Proficiency Level: Intermediate

Borders and edgings differ from trims in that they are very often worked separately, usually in a different direction. The main knitting is then picked up from this border or edging and worked upwards. This separation  means more possibilities for variations of materials, gauge, stitch, etc. The problem of how to join the same border or edging along vertical sides, curved edges and garment tops is addressed. Get to know more possibilities for adding interest to knit garments or even "dressing up" store bought items with bits of knitting. Also included are novelty add-ons.

Material Fee: None

Hand Spindling Basics with the High Whorl Spindle with Nelda Davis (Saturday, 6 hours)

Proficiency Level: All Levels

Learn to spin a worsted style draft with an ergonomically friendly technique. Make a strong join, draft a smooth, even yarn, ply from two yarn sources, a center pull ball and by Andean plying. We'll also discuss spindle design and different spindle weights appropriate for creating different yarn types. Instructor will provide prepared wool, and spindles can be borrowed for the workshop.

Material Fee: $10.00

Choosing and Preparing a Fleece with Nelda Davis (Sunday, 3 hours)

Proficiency Level: All Levels

This class provides information on wool and lock structure, sheep breeds and wool types, as well as their suitability for various uses. Discussion and samples on how and what to look for (and also what to look out for) when fleece shopping, as well as how not to alienate the seller. The session includes a participatory skirting and sorting demonstration, info on scouring and storage methods and a discussion of ways to deal with problem fleeces. Scoured locks and prepared, ready to spin samples of 5 easy to spin fleeces are provided.

Material Fee: $8.00

Inkle Loom Weaving with Daryl Lancaster (Saturday, 6 hours)

Proficiency Level: All Levels
No Weaving experience necessary

Starting with a PowerPoint presentation, participants will learn to make heddles for the loom, follow a draft , and warp the inkle loom. Proper techniques for weaving a tight even band with good selvedges will be explained. A more intermediate technique of inkle loom pick-up for interesting design options will also be demonstrated. Participants will be able to finish a small project by the end of the day.

Material Fee: $15.00

Inkle Loom Weaving with Daryl Lancaster (Sunday, 3 hours)

Proficiency Level: All levels

Starting with a PowerPoint presentation, participants will learn to make heddles for the loom, follow a draft and warp the inkle loom. Proper techniques for weaving a tight even band with good selvedges will be explained. Students will be able to make a small sample by the end of the workshop.

Material Fee: None

Three Bags Full with Judith McKenzie McCuin (Saturday, 6 hours)

Proficiency Level: Spin a continuous thread

Students will learn to spin three very different types of yarn: a worsted sock yarn, using various fleeces suitable for combing; a medium weight yarn with a robust crimp that can be fulled for a lightweight, longwearing sweater; a fine fleece for a lace weight yarn. We'll look at patterns and techniques that are suitable for each project. Methods of plying and finishing both the yarn and fabric will be covered.

Material Fee: $15.00

Three Wild Downs: Bison, Yak and Cashmere with Judith McKenzie McCuin (Sunday, 3 hours)

Proficiency Level: Spin a continuous thread

The down from these fascinating animals is warm, lightweight and incredibly soft. In this seminar we'll look at how to buy it, prepare it and spin it into a full range of yarns from laceweight to bulky. We will also try some blends and novelty yarns and we'll learn a little more about these fascinating animals and the lands they come from.

Material Fee: $15.00

The In-Out Circle-Square Shawl with Sandy Terp (Saturday, 6 hours)

Proficiency Level: Advanced

This is a design class. Minimum knitting—just a bunch of swatches as the student works on ideas for a theme. Three or more patterns will be chosen and plugged into the construction. Basically, the shawl starts in the middle with a more-than-circular doily or other round design. When it is 1/3 of the way out, the work is squared out by putting the increases in the corners. The last 1/3 of the piece is done with a border pattern on the sides and a portion of the original circle in the corners. A knit-on edging finishes the shawl. The numbers work for any yarn or gauge. This is for the lace knitter who wants to do some designing on their own, but wants the security of a tried and true set of guidelines.

Material Fee: None

Lace Edgings with Sandy Terp (Sunday, 3 hours)

Proficiency Level: All levels

The hardest thing about lace knitting is following the directions! We will work an old edging from the traditional directions, then chart, analyze and work it from the chart. Finally, we will rewrite it in Lace Shorthand and work it again. There will be many tips on technique given along the way. Mostly lecture but students can work along and try out the techniques. Handouts provided.

Material Fee: None

Natural Dye Workshop with Rita Schwab (Saturday, 6 hours)

Proficiency Level: All Levels

Learn how to extract the dyes from Mother Nature’s abundance. Goldenrod, sumac berries, walnut hulls, logwood and madder root are just a few examples of plants used to create strong natural pigments. A mordant such as tannin, metals or vinegar is used to set the dyes, . Mordants will be thoroughly discussed. Bring sample skeins of your natural yarns such as wool, cotton, silk, rattan, jute, hemp, reed or linen for experimentation. You will also dye a couple of your full skeins of natural yarns. Silk scarves will be available for purchase if you would like to create some lovely gifts. This is a hands-on workshop over an open fire pit. Dress appropriately to get down and dirty!

Material Fee: $15.00

Something to Dye About with Rita Schwab (Sunday, 3 hours)

Proficiency Level: All Levels

Mother Nature holds an abundant color palette when leaves, berries, flowers, barks etc, are extracted through boiling plant fibers. In this hands-on workshop you will work over an open fire pit dyeing with brilliant colors from Mother Nature. This quick 3 hour workshop cannot encompass all the techniques of natural dyeing. But, we can sample our colors by dyeing two silk scarves in a variety of techniques such as dip dyeing, tie-dyeing, shibori and more. This is a great class for those curious about natural dyes ---- and its just plain fun! Additional silk scarves are available for purchase.

Material fee: $15.00