Carolina FiberFest Workshops
Secure Online Class Registration
This registration site has basic class descriptions. Please refer to www.carolinafiberfest.org/classes-workshops for Required Skills, Materials Students Should Bring and Homework.
Adventures in Upcycling with Beth Remhof
Friday 4:30 pm – 6 pm Saturday 4:30 pm – 6 pm Your home and local thrift stores are hidden gold mines for sources of fiber for projects. Learn how to transform sweaters, t-shirts, and “problem-child” yarns into new projects for yourself and your home. What will students learn: News ways create and transform sweaters, t-shirts, and yarns. - unravel a sweater to reuse the yarn - felt and transform a wool sweater into a tote bag - how to cut a t-shirt, pillowcase, or sheet into useable yarn - a simple safe home dyeing technique - no-fuss chain plying technique
Beginning Rug Hooking with Claudia Lampley
Friday 9 am – 12 pm Traditional rug hooking, learn how to repurpose old woolens to make a mug rug. Students will learn the basics of rug hooking. They will also learn what fibers and backings work best and a brief history of rug hooking.
Beginning Spinning & Fiber Prep with Chelsea Fehskens
Saturday 5 pm – 6 pm Here is your chance to learn the centuries-old art of creating yarn on a wood drop spindle. Step-by-step process ensures understanding and success. We'll also cover some basics of wool types and preparation. Each student will leave with a finished mini skein, spindle, and extra wool roving so you can keep spinning! Students will learn how to use a beginners drop spindle, introductory spinning basics, parts of a spindle, types of twist, how to draft fibers and wool preparation, spinning a single yarn, how to use a homemade niddy noddy to empty the spindle and how to set their first handspun yarn.
DIY Fiber Prep or Send Your Fiber to a Mill? with Alesia Moore
Thursday 6 pm – 7:30 pm Thinking about purchasing fiber? What is involved in preparing your own fleece? Should you send it to a mill? What are your options? Fiber preparation makes a huge difference in your final product. Knowing your options allows you to control the process. Learn the various stages of prep: skirting, tumbling, washing/drying, dyeing, picking, carding, combing, blending etc.
Easy Dye Silk Scarves with M Theresa Brown
Friday 10 am – 11:30 am Saturday 10 am – 11:30 pm Create your own beautiful abstract designs on silk scarves! No need to steam or heat set. You’ll leave with 2 ready to wear pure silk scarves that you designed. Students learn: how to use special dyes to create their own unique designs on silk scarves.
Fixing Your Knitting with Kim Garnett
Friday 1 pm – 4 pm $52 The biggest difference between an experienced knitter and a beginner, is the ease with which they can fix their mistakes. In this class we explore how to fix common mistakes. We will begin to learn how to read our knitting and then discuss the most common errors made in knitting and hopefully learn how to fix them in ways that do not involve ripping out all of our hard work. Students will learn how to fix common mistakes, such as dropped stitches, too many increases or decrease, not enough increases or decreases, as well as mistakes in pattern knitting.
Fleece Selection and Prep with Elaina Kenyon
Thursday 2 pm – 5 pm $54This workshop will cover different considerations to include when looking at the type of fleece to buy, the price of the fleece, questions to ask the shepherd and different aspects of the fleece that will affect prep time.
Hooked Sunflower Pin Cushion with Claudia Lampley
Saturday 1 pm – 4 pm Learn the basics of rug hooking and proddy while making a one of a kind 3-D sunflower pin cushion on a vintage bed spring.
Hyperbolic Crochet with Sue Helmken
Friday 9 am – 4 pm Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced crocheter, you’ll have fun with hyperbolic crochet! This system of crocheting based on mathematics can be used to create anything from flowers to sculptures. It is the basis for the crocheted coral reefs that have been created in galleries across the country. Join us and learn this fun process that doesn’t even need patterns! Students will create the basic shapes of hyperbolic crochet and learn how to make their own patterns.
Indigo Dyeing with Diana Cathcart
Friday 1 pm – 12 pm Saturday 1 pm – 3 pm Join textile designer, Diana Cathcart, for a two-hour workshop that will guide you through establishing your own fructose indigo vat. By the end of the session you will have created your own natural indigo dye starter, which you can take home and use for several dyeing projects. Participants will receive information for further reading and care instructions for their newly established vat. If you want to dye naturally with indigo at home but aren't sure how to begin, this is the workshop for you!
Learn to Spin on a Drop Spindle with Jane Bynum
Friday 11 am – 1 pmFriday 4 pm – 6 pm Saturday 11 am – 1 pm Learn how to make yarn from fluff by the addition of twist, using hand spindles. These simple ancient devices were the only tools used for spinning from the Stone Age until the late Renaissance, and they are still the best choice for many kinds of yarn. You will learn the basics of drafting and twisting, using hands, sticks, and stones. Then you will have the opportunity to try several types of spindles, different kinds of fibers, and different ways of drafting. This class prepares you for spinning on your own, with a solid foundation to continue learning on the spinning wheel. All materials and a spindle, which you get to keep, are included in the fee. Students may want to bring a pen and paper to take notes.
Learn Tunisian Crochet with Rohn Strong
Saturday 1 pm – 4 pm Tunisian crochet is fun, fast, and looks just like knitting. Join the king of Tunisian Crochet, Rohn Strong, as he helps you though the beginning steps needed to become a Tunisian superstar. With a standard crochet hook and worsted weight yarn we’ll work our way through the basic stitches and even make a headband, perfect for gifting!
Mosaic Knitting: Two Color Knitting, One Color at a Time with Rusty Boyd
Saturday 9 am – 12 pm Have you ever wanted to do beautiful 2 colorknitting? Were you worried about carrying 2 yarns at once, keeping your colors at the right tension, or jogless rows? Worry no more! Mosaic knitting is for you. Mosaic knitting uses 2 colors, but only one color every 2 rows! You can create beautiful 2 color designs and it is all garter stitch! Students will learn: How to read a mosaic chart, carry your yarns to make adecorative edge, slip stitches to create the mosaic pattern, and make a beautiful scarf that will get raves every time you wear it!
Needle Felting Intro with Alesia Moore
Friday 9 am – 10:30 am Saturday 9 am – 10:30 am Needle felting is a fun, creative and inexpensive fiber craft in which wool fleece or roving is sculpted, using special barbed needles. In this class, you will learn a variety of needle felting techniques, create your very own original piece and go home with all the materials you need to continue felting! These techniques can then be used to create many different items including 3-D sculptures, wool paintings, jewelry, ornaments, embellishments and more. You can also use needle felting techniques to appliqué wool onto your favorite projects including bags, hats, scarves, and other items. Student fee includes a needle felting kit with everything you need to get started. No needle felting experience is needed to succeed in this beginner-level class.
Nuno Felted Scarf with Vickie Clontz
Saturday 9 am – 4 pm Create a beautiful one-of-a-kind art scarf to wear all year round! Learn the traditional technique of nuno-felting – Japanese for “cloth” – as we wet-felt a unique accessory in your choice of colors. Choose from instructor’s array of hand-dyed silk chiffon scarves, fibers and novelty embellishments such as curly mohair, silk, bamboo, and sparkly Angelina. You’ll leave the class with a finished work of art! Suitable for all skill levels, but as in many wet-felting classes, some physical exertion is required.
Painting with Wool
Friday 1:30 pm – 3 pm Saturday 4 pm – 5:30 pm Learn to use needle and wet felt techniques to paint your own one-of-a-kind masterpiece.Minimum age: (10 and up)
Portuguese Knitting with Ruth Santos
Friday 9 am – 12 pm Whether you’re a Continental or English/American style knitter, Portuguese knitting is a fantastic method to add to your repertoire that can make you an even better knitter. This ancient, ahem…vintage style of knitting can help you improve your tension issues, makes purling a breeze, and it can speed you up as well! This is a great style to learn that will help you ease into stranding with two colors in no time at all! It’s no wonder so many people want to learn it and love it the minute they do! Students will learn how to tension yarn using a knitting pin as a guide, and will learn how to construct knit and purl stitches, and increases and decreases, in order to make Ruth’s Bam Bam Cowl using this new style of knitting.
Sew Little Time! with Susan Lilly
Friday 1 pm – 3 pm There’s a way to enjoy appliqué without needle turning, hemming or worry about frayed edges! Learn the basics on sewing with wool, using various thread choices. Some discussion about color theory is shared in this workshop. Once you understand the basics, a new world of creativity is yours! Gifts you craft are treasures forever so get started now. What will students learn? •Wool felt vs. wool wovens •Techniques for hand embroidery with wool, flannel and cotton (blind stitch, straight stitch, French knots, lazy daisy, couching, etc.) •Simple designs for projects perfect for gift giving •List of resources for wool crafting on social media, websites and vendors
Spindle Spinning - Beyond the basics with Jane Bynum
Saturday 1:30 pm – 3:30 pmThe class will cover different kinds of fiber and the different ways of preparing and spinning them. The focus will be on the variety of spindle types and their relation to how they are used; woolen and worsted drafts and when each is appropriate; twist direction and angle; ply structures and their relation to singles twist.A variety of spindle styles will be available for testing. Students are welcome to bring fiber and multiple spindles, especially ones with problems..
Triangle Loom Weaving – On the Bias with Linda Person
Saturday 9 am – 12 pm Weaving on triangle looms is fun and quick! This class will introduce beginners to weaving basics as well as show an alternative method of weaving on tri-looms. We will cover yarn choices, color change, correcting mistakes and finishing techniques. Make two triangles using 18” looms and join them together for a small finger towel or washcloth. Looms and tools will be provided for class and available for purchase. Students will learn continuous strand weaving on the bias on a triangle loom.
Up and Down on the Rigid Heddle Loom with Leslie Fesperman
Thursday 1 pm – 7 pm Rigid Heddle looms are simple looms, but can be very versatile. Portable, easy to warp, available in multiple widths and reed sizes, they are a great way to be introduced to the awesome world of weaving AND to make a dent in your yarn stash. This workshop will go over the basics of learning to weave on a rigid heddle loom. You will learn weaving terms, how to calculate a warp and plan a project, how to warp the rigid heddle loom using the direct warping method, the proper way to wind a stick shuttle, and basic finishing for scarves. Participants will prepare their loom for weaving a scarf and finish the project on their own. This workshop will go over the basics of learning to weave on a rigid heddle loom. You will learn weaving terms, how to calculate a warp and plan a project, how to warp the rigid heddle loom using the direct warping method, the proper way to wind a stick shuttle, and basic finishing for scarves.
Wool Bead Earrings with Vickie Clontz
Friday 4 pm – 6 pm “Learn to wet-felt beautiful beads of wool fibers and create a couple of pairs of earrings to coordinate with your favorite ensemble. Instructor will bring a rainbow of colors of wool fibers, sparkly Angelina fibers, and an assortment of novelty beads to enhance your creations.
You may request a refund by emailing [email protected]
Students may also re-sell or gift the class at their own expense. Please notify the Festival if you find you are unable to attend or you sell or gift your class to another person.
