Fiber Festival Workshops

Begin to Spin!

Description: Learn to make your own, unique handspun yarn on a spinning wheel! We’ll play with several types of prepared wool while we discuss wheel maintenance, drafting, treadling, plying, and finishing techniques to make a balanced yarn. No previous experience required. Warning: Spinning can be addictive!

Ages: 16 & up

Cost: $65
Material Fee: $10 (paid to instructor at the class via cash, check, or PayPal)
Includes: all fibers and handout, as well as in-class use of ball winder, niddy-noddy, and lazy kate. For an additional $10, students may borrow a spinning wheel and bobbins for use in class. There is no need to reserve a rental wheel before the workshop.

Materials for Students to Bring: Any spinning wheel in good working order; the instructor may be able to assist with minor wheel repairs, but this MUST happen outside of class. If you have questions about your wheel, please bring it along, but plan to rent one from the instructor. For an additional $10, students may borrow a spinning wheel and bobbins for use in class.

Max Participants: 7
Minimum number of participants to hold the class: 2

When:
Saturday, November 2nd: 9:30am-12:30pm and 1:30pm-4:30pm
Sunday, November 3rd: 9:00am-12:00pm and 12:00pm-3:00pm
Workshop Room 5

Instructor: Marcia Weinert of Undeniably Loopy - undeniablyloopy@gmail.com

Beginning Tunisian Crochet

Description: Create a simple swatch using two Tunisian Crochet stitches to be used as a coaster. You will learn how to make your first row, Forward Pass, Return Pass, Tunisian Simple Stitch, & Tunisian Knit Stitch. Tunisian Crochet is an exciting way to expand your stitching knowledge to create knit like garments and accessories.

Ages: 7 & up

Cost: $75
Material Fee: $15 (paid to instructor at the class via cash, card, Venmo, or pay at booth)
Includes: 20g DK weight cotton yarn, naturally dyed 6.0 MM crochet hook

Materials for Students to Bring: none

Max Participants: 10
Minimum number of participants to hold the class: 3

When:
Sunday, November 3rd: 1:30pm-3:00pm
Workshop Room 4

Instructor: Siobhan Booth of Yarn Over Floyd - yarnoverfloyd@gmail.com

Circular Loom Weaving with the Heart in Hand Loom

Description: Introduction to warping and weaving a circular loom. Discovering new ways to use your favorite excess yarn. How to start and end a circular weaving. Ideas and examples of different projects you can make with the Heart and Hand Circular Loom. Hats, coasters, blankets, scarfs....using your own familiar techniques: crochet, knitting etc. Students are eligible for discounts on additional looms and yarn.

Ages: 10 & up

Cost: $25
Material Fee: $45 (paid to instructor at the class via cash, check, card, or Venmo)
Includes: Circular Loom approx. 12 inches in diameter, weaving needle, extra warp, heart ornament, inspiration yarns package

Materials for students to bring: Just themselves and their imagination

Max Participants: 10
Minimum number of participants to hold the class: 5

When:
Saturday, November 2nd: 11am-1pm
Workshop Room 2

Instructor: Ashly Ann Bartholomew of Ashly Anns Hands - ashlyannshands@gmail.com

Corded Wool Stool

Description: Weave a stool with a rush pattern using core-spun wool.

Ages: 13 & up

Cost: $50
Material Fee: $75 (paid to instructor at the class via cash, check, card, Venmo, or PayPal)
Includes: stool and choices of colors in wool

Materials for Students to Bring: scissors

Max Participants: 12
Minimum number of participants to hold the class: 6

When:
Saturday, November 2nd: 9:15am-12:15pm
Workshop Room 3

Instructor: Sue Muldoon of Redux For You - suemuldoon@suemuldoonimages.com

Felted Roses

Description: This workshop will cover several techniques in creating felted roses. Students will learn how to make roses from pre-felted wool and wet felted wool made in class. Students will also learn a variety of assembly techniques including needle felting.

Ages: 12 & up

Cost: $50
Material Fee: $35 (paid to instructor at the class via cash, check, Venmo, or PayPal)
Includes: Pre-felted wool, merino roving, felting needles, templates, instructions, spray bottle, foam felting pad, bubble wrap, paper towels

Materials for Students to Bring: Scissors, pen, small towel

Max Participants: 20
Minimum number of participants to hold the class: 15

When:
Saturday, November 2nd: 11:00am-1:00pm
Workshop Room 1

Instructor: Nancy Butler of Lyric Hill Farm - lyrichillfarm@yahoo.com

Felted Soap

Description: Workshop participants will learn how to wet felt soap The class will cover fiber selection and blending, and wet felting techniques

Ages: 12 & up

Cost: $45
Material Fee: $35 (paid to instructor at the class via cash, check, Venmo, PayPal)
Includes: Roving, 2 bars of soap, bubble wrap, felting needle, water container, instructions, organza bag, paper towels

Materials for Students to Bring: Hand towel

Max Participants: 25
Minimum number of participants to hold the class: 15

When:
Saturday, November 2nd: 9:30am-10:30am
Workshop Room 4

Sunday, November 3rd: 1pm-3pm
Workshop Room 4

Instructor: Nancy Butler of Lyric Hill Farm - lyrichillfarm@yahoo.com

Folk Art Rug Hooking

Description: Like all old-fashioned crafts, rug hooking is low-tech, simple and lots of fun! You can easily incorporate rovings, hand spun and commercial yarns, felting techniques and embellishments, once you have mastered the basics. Learn the sequence and procedure of rug hooking, from start to finish. Every step will be demonstrated. We will discuss the history and tradition of primitive rug hooking, learn about finding and preparing materials, and research sources for design inspiration. You will choose from a variety of simple folk art designed rug hooking KITS, for a small mat or chair pad, purchased directly from the instructor. Your rug hooking kit will include everything needed: hook, instructions, design suggestions, binding, burlap, hoop and a selection of one-of-a-kind heirloom and hand dyed wools ($25-$50, depending upon size). If you have a favorite pair of sharp fabric scissors, please bring these to class.

Ages: Adults

Cost: $55
Material Fee: $25-$50 + $8.50 if you need to purchase hook (paid to instructor at the class via card, check, exact change cash)
Includes: Hook, instructions, design suggestions, binding, burlap, hoop, and a selection of one-of-a-kind heirloom and hand dyed wools

Materials for Students to Bring: sharp fiber scissors, hook (or available for purchase)

Max Participants: 18
Minimum number of participants to hold the class: 5

When:
Sunday, November 3rd: 9:30am-12:00pm
Workshop Room 1

Instructor: Janet Conner of J. Conner Hooked Rugs - jconnerhookedrugs@gmail.com

Knitting With Sheep Locks

Description: This workshop brings the knitter together with the Shepards that raise the beautiful fiber animals. Tabbethia Habbold of Long Island Yarn and Farm and Kimberly McAlindin team up to demonstrate Kimberly’s technique of knitting Cotswold sheep locks into a project. Tabbethia speaks about animal husbandry while Kimberly teaches the actual technique. Several examples will be shown.

Ages: 16 & up

Cost: $40
Materials Fee: $8 (paid to instructor at class via cash or card)
Includes: 1 ounce of washed Cotswold locks

Materials for Students to Bring: Size US 8 knitting needles, Worsted weight wool yarn in a light color

Max Participants: 30
Minimum number of participants to hold the class: 10

When:
Saturday, November 2nd: 11:45am-1:15pm
Workshop Room 2

Instructor: Kimberly McAlindin of Knit A Rainbow - kimberly@knitarainbow.com

Make a Beaded Cuff Bracelet? Of Course You Can!

Description: You will learn to knit with beads and make a beautiful bracelet, too! In this class you will learn to knit with beads by pre-stringing the beads on some lovely hand-dyed yarn from Chicken Coop dyeworks. You will walk away with a finished or almost finished bracelet. This class gives you enough time to practice your skills with help available every step of the way. While we learn, I will tell you tips, tricks, and stories about beads and knitting with beads. You will have lots of fun learning to knit with beads and creating a beaded bracelet of your very own.

Ages: any with skillset: Basic: cast-on, knit, bind off

Cost: $40
Material Fee: $30 (paid to instructor at the class via cash, check, or card)
Includes: Yarn, beads (your choice of colors), tool, pattern

Materials for Students to Bring: Size 2 needles, straight, circular or DPN, small bowl for beads

Max Participants: 25
Minimum number of participants to hold the class: 3

When:
Saturday, November 2nd: 1:30pm-4:30pm
Workshop Room 1

Instructor: Jean Elizabeth Glass of Bead Biz - jean@beadbiz.org

Mending Socks on the Katrinkles Darning Loom

Description: Have you been looking for a way to use visible mending to repair your hand knit garments? Maybe some of your favorite clothes need a little love (ours always do!) and you want to learn how to easily darn socks or mend a hole in a sweater? Our Darning & Mending Loom Kit includes all of the tools you need to repair a hole in a knitted garment, making it easy to do it yourself. We'll walk you through the process, or you can follow the enclosed simple instructions. You’ll be mending clothing and accessories in no time! Thanks to the unique construction of our Darning Loom, accomplishing more creative or complicated mends is easier than with a traditional darning egg or darning mushroom.

Ages: 12 & up

Cost: $49
Material Fee: $36 (paid to instructor at the class via cash or card)
Includes: The Darning Loom Kit includes: 1 x Darning Loom, 1 x Heddle (approximately 1.5" long), 1 x Elastic Tie, 1 x Tapestry Needle, 1 x Instruction Pamphlet
(Please pick this up in the Katrinkles booth before the workshop)

Materials for Students to Bring: a hand knit or commercial knit sock to mend, with or without a hole (ideal would be a fingering weight hand knit sock with a hole to mend), a pair of scissors, some fingering weight yarn (a few yards of a color that contrasts the sock)

Max Participants: 15
Minimum number of participants to hold the class: 8

When:
Sunday, November 3rd: 1pm-2:30pm
Workshop Room 1

Instructor: Katy Westcott of Katrinkles - https://katrinkles.com/pages/contact-1

Nålbinding

Description: Nålbinding is an old-world method of creating fiber products. This class will teach basics for those that need it and if you have basic knowledge, we can teach you an advanced stitch.

Ages: 12 & up

Cost: $36
Material Fee: $15 (paid to instructor at the class via cash or Venmo)
Includes: needles, instruction sheets, wool

Materials for Students to Bring: none

Max Participants: 20
Minimum number of participants to hold the class: 10

When:
Saturday, November 2nd: 9:30am-10:30am
Workshop Room 1
Saturday, November 2nd: 3:30pm-4:30pm
Workshop Room 4

Instructor: Kat McKinnon-Cleary of The Shire of Niche, Ancient Threads - luinagreinefeirme@gmail.com

https://www.instagram.com/luinagreinefeirme https://www.facebook.com/luinagreinefeirme

Our vending partner and neighbor farm:

http://www.ancientthreadsfarm.com/

Needle Felt a Cardinal

Description: The brilliant red of a cardinal makes this bird one of our very favorites, they winter here in New England. Their brilliant color stands out so beautifully against the winter landscape. Join Jennifer and Melissa of Going Gnome for this fun needle felting class. In this class participants will learn to make a three-dimensional felted form, make and attach felted pieces to one another, and do surface decoration. This is a fun class for absolute beginners but has plenty to offer those with needle felting experience. Each participant with leave with a finished Cardinal (approximately 2” tall), a foam work surface and 2 felting needles.

Ages: 15 & up

Cost: $45
Material Fee: $20 (paid to instructor at the class via cash, card, check, or Venmo)
Includes: Wool, felting needles, and foam felting pad

Materials for Students to Bring: none

Max Participants: 18
Minimum number of participants to hold the class: 6

When:
Sunday, November 3rd: 10:00am-12:00pm
Workshop Room 3

Instructor: Jennifer & Melissa VanSant of Going Gnome - goinggnomefelting@gmail.com

Needle Felt Saint Nicholas

Description: Join the ladies of Going Gnome is this fun holiday workshop! If you are new to needle felting or want to take your skills to the next level this is a great workshop for you! Participants will learn to make a solid wool, 3-dimensional figure, make and attach felted pieces, do face detail, and finish off their jolly St. Nick with his beard of curly locks, and holly on his hat. Warm up your holiday season in this fun and creative needle felting class. Participants will leave with a completed St. Nicholas (approximately 5” tall), a foam work surface, and 2 felting needles.

Ages: 15 & up

Cost: $55
Material Fee: $30 (paid to instructor at the class via cash, check, card, or Venmo)
Includes: Wool, felting needles, and foam felting pad

Materials for Students to Bring: none

Max Participants: 18
Minimum number of participants to hold the class: 6

When:
Saturday, November 2nd: 1:45pm-5:00pm
Workshop Room 2

Instructor: Jennifer & Melissa VanSant of Going Gnome - goinggnomefelting@gmail.com

Playing With Clay-Learn How to Make Buttons & More

Description: I will show you how to use polymer clay to create buttons, yarn bowls, stitch markers and shawl pins. Participants will make Items of their choice.

Ages: 13 & up

Cost: $50
Material Fee: $40 (paid to instructor at the class via Venmo) + $5 shipping fee (creation will need to be baked, finished and shipped)
Includes: clay, shaping forms, cutting tools, mats, rolling tools

Materials for Students to Bring (optional): If you have a project you’re working on or yarn you’d like to match, bring it along so you can create buttons or a shawl pin for it.

Max Participants: 8
Minimum number of participants to hold the class: 4

When:
Saturday, November 2nd: 3:30pm-5:00pm
Workshop Room 3

Instructor: Debi Leibovitz of repertoire design - deb@repertoiredesign.com; Instagram: @repertoire_design

Proddy Sunflower

Description: This workshop combines traditional rug hooking with proddy flower petals.

Ages: 15 & up

Cost: $60
Material Fee: $40 (paid to instructor at the class via cash, Venmo, or PayPal)
Includes: Design on primitive linen, stripped wool, wool petals, rug hook

Materials for Students to Bring: Rug hooking frame or 14" hoop and scissors. *Instructor will have both hoops and scissors that can be borrowed by students for the workshop only.

Max Participants: 10
Minimum number of participants to hold the class: 5

When:
Sunday, November 3rd: 9:30am-12:30pm
Workshop Room 4

Instructor: Naomi Allen of Raven's Gate Primitives - ravensgateprims@gmail.com

Sweet Red Nose Reindeer

Description: Learn to needle felt over armature to create this sweet red nose reindeer. Skill level is beginner to advanced. You can turn it into an ornament! Bring a friend and create together.

Ages: 14-90

Cost: $65
Material Fee: none
Includes: Complete Kits provided including all tools.

Materials for Students to Bring: none

Max Participants: 16
Minimum number of participants to hold the class: 10

When:
Sunday, November 3rd: 9:30am-11:30am
Workshop Room 3

Instructor: Angelina Fleury of American Made Crafter's By A&W - awngi@cox.net

Visible Mending

Description: Darning is the technique of mending a hole in cloth with needle and thread alone. The process incorporates basic stitching and weaving to create beautiful, functional repairs. With a visible mending approach, we will learn the basics on a provided fabric sample, incorporating embroidery stitches, weaving patterns, and color theory along the way. Everyone will go home with a completed sample and small kit to continue their mending at home. Optional: bring a personal garment that needs mending to consult on the best approach.

Ages: 12 & up

Cost: $95
Material Fee: $5 (paid to instructor at class via cash, check, or Venmo)
Includes: Take-home embroidery hoop, fabric sample, 3 bobbins of yarn, 1 needle, printed handout

Materials for Students to Bring: scissors, personal mending project

Max Participants: 10
Minimum number of participants to hold the class: 6

When:
Saturday, November 2nd: 9:15am-11:15am
Workshop Room 2

Instructor: Sophia DeJesus-Sabella of Hartford Artisans Weaving Center - ssabella@weavingcenter.org

Weaving on the Rigid Heddle Loom

Description: Weave a cowl or short scarf on the rigid heddle loom. We'll teach you how to weave on these pre-warped looms. You get to weave and take home your own creation.

Ages: 13 & up

Cost: $85
Material Fee: $25 (paid to instructor at class via cash)
Includes: pre-warped loom and 100% hand dyed wool yarn

Materials for Students to Bring: none

Max Participants: 10
Minimum number of participants to hold the class: 5

When:
Sunday, November 3rd: 12:00pm-3:00pm
Workshop Room 2

Instructor: Cecilia Tkaczyk of Cece's Wool, LLC - ceceswool@gmail.com

Wet Felting for Kids 8yrs and up

Description: Students will learn how to lay out and decorate a flat piece for wet felting. They will felt and full their piece and if time permits, they will sew it together to make a headband/ear warmer or small bag. Written instructions will be provided so that the project can be repeated at home, or completed if it is not finished during the workshop.

Ages: 8 & up

Cost: $40
Material Fee: $10 (paid to instructor at class via cash, check, card)
Includes: 4oz bag of felting fiber, small bag of decorative fibers, ribbon, surface on which to felt and full, soap, warm water, overlay to felt through, plastic bag to take project home

Materials for Students to Bring: Students might want to bring an apron, or rain poncho, to minimize getting wet, or a change of clothes for after the class.

Max Participants: 8
Minimum number of participants to hold the class: 2

When:
Saturday, November 2nd: 1:30pm-3:00pm
Workshop Room 4

Instructor: Diane Droescher of Laurel Ledge Farm - dianeipt@comcast.net

I require parents to stay in the building, not necessarily in the workshop area. Parents need to leave their cell phone number when they bring their child to class. I have extensive experience with special needs students, and they are welcome to participate. However, I ask that parents of special needs children contact me by phone at least a week prior to the workshop so that I can prepare to meet their child's needs.

Winter Tree Landscape Wool Painting

Description: Learn the art of needle felting a two dimensional “wool painting” with Jen from The Felted Bee. In this beginner friendly workshop, you will learn skills and techniques specific to needle felting on a flat surface as well as how to make your own wool painting of a winter scene with pine trees and a starry night sky. Needle felting is a technique of using a very sharp, barbed needle to repeatedly stab into the wool to create felt. Using this technique, we will place wool flat onto a surface and gently stab the wool into place to create images. Unlike needle felting something three-dimensional, wool painting can be very unrestricted, freeing and open ended. We are still using the same materials and tools; we are just keeping everything two dimensional. If you like painting or drawing, wool may be your next favorite medium.

Ages: 13 & up

Cost: $45
Material Fee: $15 (paid to instructor at class via cash, Venmo, card)
Includes: Three barbed needles in three different sizes, 4x6 block of foam as a work surface, 5.5x7.5 sheet of pre-felted wool, a variety of wool batting for the project, a worksheet with information and a photographic example

Materials for Students to Bring: none

Max Participants: 16
Minimum number of participants to hold the class: 4

When:
Saturday, November 2nd: 1:00pm-3:00pm
Workshop Room 3

Instructor: Jennifer McCarthy of The Felted Bee - thefeltedbee@gmail.com