Start by picking colors, and finish by proudly wearing and modeling your own handwoven scarf! In a weekend, you’ll set up the loom, weave, and finish your scarf, with optional bead embellishment. No experience is necessary. Beginners are encouraged to try their hands – and feet – at this wonderful craft!
Expand your spinning with yarns that range from the smoothest worsted to the loftiest woolen yarns. One extreme creates firm, hard-wearing yarns with crisp definition, and the other maximizes softness and warmth – and feels like magic to spin! This skill-building week covers a variety of drafting and fiber preparation techniques, including working with multiple fibers, designing yarns for different uses, and spinning novelties. Best suited for those who can spin a continuous yarn.
Expand your band weaving with a variety of patterns, materials, and techniques! This pattern-packed week starts with working together to set up looms and weave samples in a round-robin. We’ll examine design elements in plain-weave bands and use advanced techniques including pickup, rep, beading, tubular weaving, and more. Complete a notebook of a dozen drafts and samples, then explore your favorites with additional projects. Prior band weaving experience is recommended.
“Where did Sleeping Beauty prick her finger?” How often do you hear that question when someone sees you spinning? Take a step back in spinning technology before the flyer and bobbin and discover the rhythm of spinning on a driven spindle. Learn to draft from the tip of the spindle and to alternate drafting and winding on with a quick reversal of the wheel. A spindle wheel is well-suited to delicate fibers and even single-handed spinning – useful on a charkha or great wheel.
Spinning wheel with quill spindle (not flyer and bobbin) is required. Must be able to spin & ply a basic yarn (on handspindle or flyer wheel).
Discover the wonder of woolen spinning. Most spinners start out learning to make smooth, compact worsted yarns. Take your spinning to the other extreme with woolen long-draw from hand-carded rolags. This method maximizes loft, elasticity, and warmth in your yarn, and it feels like magic! We’ll cover fiber preparation, two long-draw spinning techniques, and discuss fiber selection.
Single-drive spinning wheel or E-Spinner is required. Must be able to spin & ply a basic yarn.
Expand your inkle weaving repertoire in a round-robin workshop. Sample a variety of patterns, yarns, and techniques. This workshop will examine design elements in plain-weave bands, and explore advanced techniques such as pick-up, rep, beads, and tubular weaving.
Inkle loom required. Must be able to warp an inkle loom.
Inkles-narrow woven bands-have dozens of applications, including straps, handles, trim, material for constructing larger items, and accents for other handwoven cloth. Learn to use the simple, portable inkle loom to make your own unique creations. Select a pattern or design of your own, warp the loom, and weave a project or two. No experience is needed to start “playing with the band!”
Equipment and yarns are available in the Folk School weaving studio.
Wondering how wool becomes cloth? Come by the expo building at Once Upon a Farm. I will be blending wool, spinning yarn on my spinning wheel, and weaving a scarf on a rigid-heddle loom. I’ve been spinning at Harvest Festival since 2001! Learn about yarn and cloth production, and see samples of 50+ different fiber types. Shop handspun yarns, handwoven items, and even a few small looms.
Warm up your winter holidays with handwoven gifts! Learn the basics of 4-shaft weaving by reading a pattern, setting up the loom, and weaving your own cloth. Start with a sampler and move on to selecting or designing your own projects. Scarves, shawls, and table linens are just some of the possibilities. Start your weaving journey or refresh your skills in this beginner-friendly class.
Equipment and yarns are available in the Folk School weaving studio.