Classes
Summer Classes
Natural Dyeing- Silk & Wool Yarn, Fabric & Fiber
Sat July 20th 10 - 5
Learn to harvest and use the colors of nature to dye wool or silk yarn, fabric or raw fiber! Even felt!
You'll be in awe of the colors we can create from the dye garden out back of the store, using wood chips from my brother's woodworking shop, and even scraps from our own kitchen table! Along with a few that aren't indigenous to this area but are readily available to play with!
READ CLASS DESCRIPTION AND PRICE During this workshop you'll learn several different manners of extracting color from dye plants, you'll learn how to adjust and alter the color by shifting the pH of the dye baths, and you'll learn about several different mordants we use in naturally dyeing and how the choice of mordant affects the color outcome. I'll supply yarn samples for your notebook so you will have a sample of each dyebath and pH adjustment for future reference so you can repeat colors (see photo of a typical "sample notebook" in the gallery of photos. And you are welcome to bring 4 - 6 ounces of yarn or fiber or felt to throw into a pot in the afternoon - there are always colors left over and so as we take the last hour of class to review what we did and the chemistry behind it all as we assemble your sample notebooks, we can have some of your own yarns, fibers, fabric pieces or felt in cooking so you have a nice piece to go home to knit, spin, or sew!: Instruction fee: $100 A materials fee will be collected at class to cover the propane used, the mordants, the yarn samples for your notebooks, extensive handouts and the natural dyes: $25
Botanical Printing & Natural Dyeing - Cotton (and other cellulosic fibers)
Sat - Monday August 10 - 12th 10 - 5
FULL
During this 3 day deep dive into both botanical printing and natural dyeing for the cellulosic fibers, you'll learn a lot and have an opportunity to make lots of sizeable samples of each technique individually, as well as combining the two techniques in a variety of ways.
From scouring the fabric to learning about a variety of different tannins (and combinations thereof) and how your choice of each affects the outcome, to naturally dyeing a range of colors created from the store's dye garden (and my brother's wood working shop!), you'll have lots of wonderful pieces that can also use in quilting, sewing bags or other accessories, or as a base for decorative stitching for wall art!
READ CLASS DESCRIPTION AND PRICE The first day will be about working up 6 small samples so you get experience with the technique, get a chance to practice laying out your plant materials in an aesthetically appealing way, and learning how the different mordants and tannins interact, since each of the samples will be a different combination of variables. Day two will be about giving you time to work u p at least 4 pieces in the combination of mordant, tannin you liked best from Day 1 and with the experience from Day 1 informing your choice of plant and layout of the plant materials for a pleasing outcome! This way you'll have a set of learning samples PLUS more larger pieces from the second day that you could use in a quilt, wall hanging, to make bags, etc. On Day 3 we'll cover the process of natural dyeing on cellulosic fibers and combining pieces of botanical printing with natural dye colors! So you'll have an opportunity to naturally dye a new piece of fabric and then botanically print it...as well as naturally dye over a previously printed sample from the first day. AND you'll also have an opportunity to design a new sample piece where you'll print and naturally dye at the same time! So you'll experience a variety of ways to add both color and print while learning all about various methods of extracting the color from different types of plant materials and also ways of modifying the natural dyes to create dofferemt colors. A materials list will be sent out a month beforfe class so you can gather your fabrics. Instruction fee: $325 A materials fee of $40 will be collected the day of class to cover all the propane tanks, tannins, mordants, and natural dyes.
Botanical Printing - Cotton (and other cellulosic fibers)
Sat & Sun Aug 10th & 11th 10 - 5
N.B. this is the first 2 days of the more comprehensive 3 day workshop listed above.
FULL
During this 2 day intro to botanical printing on the cellulosic fibers, you'll learn about prepping/scouring the fabric, the chemistry of mordanting, the affect of your choice of tannins to the color outcome, and the plants that are best for printing.
And you'll have an opportunity to work up several samples.
This is the first two days of the 3 day workshop described above. So if you register for just this part, your fabric designs will not have any background color - you will be entirely reliant on color from the plant material and the tannins for color. If you want colorful backgrounds as seen in the eco print gallery for the class above this one, you need to take the third day to learn that.
READ CLASS DESCRIPTION AND PRICE The first day will be about working up 6 small samples so you get experience with the technique, get a chance to practice laying out your plant materials in an aesthetically appealing way, and learning how the different mordants and tannins interact, since each of the samples will be a different combination of variables. Day two will be about giving you time to work up pieces in the combination of mordant, tannin you liked best from Day 1 and with the experience from Day 1 informing your choice of plant and layout of the plant materials for a pleasing outcome! This way you'll have a set of learning samples PLUS another 4-6 more pieces from the second day that you could use in a quilt, wall hanging, to make bags, etc. A materials list will be sent out a month beforfe class so you can gather your fabrics. Instruction fee: $275 A materials fee of $30 will be collected the day of class to cover all the propane tanks, tannins, mordants.
Fall Classes 2024
Check back as classes will be added as they are planned and I'm hoping to have the full schedule posted by Aug 30th.
Introduction to Weaving: Table Runner or Scarf
Thursdays 6-8 p.m. Oct 3rd-Dec 5th (but not Halloween or Thanksgiving)
Learn how to plan a project, wind the warp, dress the loom, and weave on a multiple harness loom, all while weaving either a scarf or table runner - your choice!
From figuring out how much yarn you need to troubleshooting tension issues or broken threads, establishing good weaving technique for the best selvedges, to hemstitching or other possible "finishes" to your piece, I"ll walk you thru every aspect of the weaving process during this 8 session class.
READ ABOUT CLASS DETAILS WE supply a 4 harness floor loom for you to use during the class so you do not need any equipment, or previous knowledge to join us. You'll have a pick of 2 projects and among several different patterns to choose from for your scarf or a table runner (your choice). I'll walk you thru everything you need to learn to weave. From planning a project to winding the warp, dressing the loom, getting good selvedges, troubleshooting problems and even finishing steps! There is no possibility for you to "make up" a class outside of hours if you miss one, so please don't register if you will be out of town for any of the Thursdays during the class dates EXCEPT Halloween and Thanksgiving, when we won't meet anyway! Class fee includes instruction, extensive handouts and use of the loom: $225 You'll need to purchase your materials for the project the first night of class - so that cost depends on your choices but it could be as low as $25.
Super Bulky Slippers!
(Advanced Beginner Knitting)
Tuesdays Oct 8, 15 and 22 5:30 - 7:30
This new pattern (to be revealed August 2nd) by Fiber Co features the &Make Super Bulky 100% wool yarn.
We just knit them up for a store model, but can't reveal the pattern until it is officially released.
But I can tell you its a great one to advance your knitting skills with!
Learn magic loop, the essentials of sock knitting, and how to work a cable -- all in a quick knit project.
READ ABOUT CLASS DETAILS During this three week workshop, I'll guide you thru the sometimes tricky tubular cast on, knitting magic loop (a GREAT advantage when you move on to a fine pair of socks) and also working a cable while reading from charts. You need to be conficent in your cast on, knitting, purling, etc. to take this class, so it is not for rank beginners. But if you have the basics down, this is a great project to build your knitting skills with. Instruction fee: $55 Materials (2 sks of &Make Super Bulky) can be purchased the night of class at a 15% participant discount.