WORKSHOPS

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• Design Your Own Shawl

  • When
    24 Aug 2019
  •  
    10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
  • Location
    207 Coxe Ave, Asheville, NC
  • Spaces left
    5

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  Students will learn how to shape 4 different styles of shawl: half circle, triangle, sideways triangle and square. They will learn how to input different texture, cable or colorwork patterns into these shapes in order to design their own unique shawl.
  
  Level: Intermediate
  

  Materials fee: None
  

  Registration: Members $100, Non-members $120

  Instructor:  Christina Danaee 
  

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• Indigo Harvest

  • When
    31 Aug 2019
  •  
    10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
  • Location
    207 Coxe Ave, Asheville, NC
  • Spaces left
    10

  Register

  Bring your freshly harvested leaves and learn four simple non-vat techniques using ice water and a blender to get robin's egg blue and lavender on protein fibers and light blue and pink on cellulose with the addition of readily available household chemicals. If time permits, we may make a fructose vat with the strained pulp.

  Level: Beginning; anyone whose mother allows them to use a blender can do this
  

  Materials fee: $5 for ice, assists, handouts

  Instructor: Eileen Hallman

  Registration: Members $100, Non-members $120

  
  

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• Hat on a Ball

  • When
    07 Sep 2019
  •  
    9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
  • Location
    207 Coxe Ave, Asheville, NC
  • Spaces left
    13

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  This is a relatively quick and simple way of making a cloche, beret or flared brim style of felt hat. Students will learn how to manipulate the materials and understand the process. Each student will make a simple hat, with or without embellishments. Different colored fleece will be provided as well as design extras such as mohair, fancy yarns, metallics, etc. Participants are encouraged to bring special yarns or fleece of their own that they may want to use and/or share in their projects.
  

  Level: All
  

  Materials Fee: $25 for Different colored fleece as well as design extras such as mohair, fancy yarns, metallics, etc

  Registration: Members $100, Non-members $120

  Instructor: Vasanto
  

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• Small Looms with Big Results

  • Start
    08 Sep 2019
  •  
    10:00 AM
  • End
    09 Sep 2019
  •  
    4:00 PM
  • Location
    207 Coxe Ave, Asheville, NC
  • Spaces left
    10

  Register

  Weaving can be small, portable and uncomplicated while remaining creative, challenging and lots of fun. Susan brings decades of weaving skills to these small loom projects that can become as large as the weaver can imagine. From tiny amulet purses to snuggly throws for your couch, there is no limit to the results of weavings done on these small looms. Textures, colors and weave structures will all be studied in this two-day class on September 8 & 9. Whether you have no experience and would like to try weaving on a small scale as an introduction, or whether you have been weaving on a large loom for years and now have reasons for scaling down, this class will offer many types of looms and techniques for you to consider. From cardboard, to pot holders, to pin looms and bands, this class will challenge you to use your imagination and hopefully see weaving from a different angle.

  Level: All levels

  Materials fee: $20 for all looms and all yarns

  Instructor: Susan Morgan Leveille

  Registration: Members $200, Non-members $240

  
  

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• From Tapa to Washi: The Legacy of Papery Mulberry

  • Start
    14 Sep 2019
  •  
  • End
    16 Sep 2019
  •  
  • Schedule
    2 sessions
  • Location
    207 Coxe Ave, Asheville, NC
  • Spaces left
    25

  Register

  Materials made from the bast fiber of the paper mulberry plant (broussonetia papyrifera) are known by many names: tapa, wauke, kozo, dak, saeh, aka, malaing, gul-toot, hiapo, kapa, dualang, washi, hanji, and many others. Originally from the Asian Pacific region, paper mulberry has been transported by humans and animals so that it now is present and continues to spread in each continent, except Antarctica. The plant has a voracious system of roots that can quickly overtake native species, degrade soil quality, and cause erosion. However, in parts of the world where the plant has a legacy of a culture of use, there is not a problem with it spreading because people recognize the value of it, and it is kept in ecological balance through use. Paper mulberry has been used for millennia as clothing, spiritual material, currency, rope, paper, scripts, sculpture, wall paper, bags, contemporary art, and more. In this hands-on, two-day workshop we will survey the diverse historic and contemporary uses of paper mulberry, how to identify the plant in the wild, responsible harvesting practices, and various processing methods. Starting with the raw plant, participants will learn how to process the bast fiber to achieve a variety of effects. Each participant will form a sheet of paper from pulp and a swath of bark cloth or lace to take home.
  

  Level: All levels
  

  Materials fee:

  Registration: Members $200, Non-members $240

  Instructor:  Lauren Bacchus

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• Explorations in Kudzu Fiber

  • When
    21 Sep 2019
  •  
    9:30 AM - 4:00 PM
  • Location
    207 Coxe Ave, Asheville, NC
  • Spaces left
    15

  Register

  Members of the Kudzu Cooperative and Local Cloth are excited to facilitate a workshop that explores the ancient processes of harvesting, cooking, retting, and rinsing kudzu vine fiber. This lustrous, dynamic fiber has been used for thousands of years in various parts of Asia to make rope, cloth, and paper. Kudzu is so abundant in our bioregion, and the Kudzu Collective is committed to promoting this culture of use. Join us in exploring the vast story kudzu has to tell us, and bring your ideas of how its fibers can be used for fiber art! Instructors from the Kudzu Cooperative, will guide workshop participants in hands-on kudzu vine processing throughout the morning. We will begin the day harvesting in a nearby urban kudzu patch, and then work together to rinse already retted fiber (retted means “rotted,” so prepare for a stink!). Wear clothes that you don't mind getting wet and a little messy. During lunchtime we will hear the story of kudzu, an intriguing tale of many layers, and introduce the group to the culinary and medicinal benefits of kudzu root starch, another valuable coproduct of this useful plant. Throughout the afternoon, we will then work with processed kudzu fibers to explore how the fiber responds to various manipulations. A small skein of pre-processed fiber will be provided for participants to experiment with spinning and weaving. Feel free to bring a small loom or other spinning and weaving equipment to experiment with. Additional pre-processed fibers will be available for purchase. Don't miss this unique workshop that encompasses ecology, sustainability, anthropology, and fiber art!
  

  Level: All
  

  Materials Fee:  $10
  

  Registration: Members $50, Non-members $60

  Instructor: Kudzu Co-Op Members

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• Beginning Spinning

  • When
    29 Sep 2019
  •  
    1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
  • Location
    207 Coxe Ave, Asheville, NC
  • Spaces left
    1

  Register

  Curious about spinning? This class is designed for the new spinner, or someone who needs a refresher on the basics. Learn about the workings of a spinning wheel and tools like the niddy noddy and lazy kate. Practice the motions of drafting (pulling) fiber and spinning it into yarn. Plying and finishing yarn will also be covered, if there is time. You'll leave this class with a skein of yarn from what you've spun. All tools provided, or bring your own wheel if you have one.

  
  Level: Beginner
  Materials Fee: $10 for fiber and use of spinning wheels
  

  Registration: Members $50, Non-members $60

  Instructor: Lorri Helms
  

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• Two colors, One round – beginning stranded colorwork

  • When
    05 Oct 2019
  •  
    10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
  • Location
    207 Coxe Ave, Asheville, NC
  • Spaces left
    10

  Register

  In this class, we will explore stranded colorwork while working on the Knights’ Banner Cowl. This is a 3-color cowl with simple stitch repeats.
  

  Level: must know how to knit, purl, and work in the round

  Materials Fee: None

  Registration: Members $50, Non-members $60

  Instructor: Varian Brandon
  

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• Recipes for Upcycling

  • When
    06 Oct 2019
  •  
    1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
  • Location
    207 Coxe Ave, Asheville, NC
  • Spaces left
    5

  Register

  Experience transforming your old clothes into new upcycled treasures in this one day workshop. You will learn “recipes” from upcycle designer Stina Andersen on how to turn your old pair of pants or shirt into a fit and flare skirt. Transform a shrunken wool sweater into new functional accessories. No prior sewing skills required. Bring your sewing machine and 3-5 garments that you want to transform or dig into our clothing stash and request a classroom machine.

  Level: All levels

  Materials fee: None. Instructor will supply extra clothes and classroom machines to share. Scissors, pins, notions, trims etc.

  Instructor: Stina Andersen

  Registration: Members $50, Non-members $60

  
  

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• Eco Printing - Playing with Nature's Colors

  • When
    12 Oct 2019
  •  
    10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
  • Location
    207 Coxe Ave, Asheville, NC
  • Spaces left
    3

  Register

  Discover the creative art of Eco Printing! Spend a day playing with leaves and flowers learning to capture the unique qualities of plants on silk and cotton. We will use natural dyes and plant materials to make a lasting print on silk scarves and cotton dinner napkins. Learn how to prepare your fabrics, what plants produce dyed prints, and how to print with those that don’t during this relaxed day of encouragement and fun. Herbal tea, made from some of our favorite dye plants, and all dye materials will be provided. Celebrate Fall and its colors through eco printing.

  All levels welcome
  

  Materials Fee: $30 for all materials that students will eco print and take home. Also supplied will be plant and natural dye materials (though we may forage for some, too), herbal tea, and class handouts.

  Registration: Members $100, Non-members $120

  Instructor: Maria Muscarella 

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• Stranded Colorwork – beyond beginning

  • Start
    19 Oct 2019
  •  
  • End
    26 Oct 2019
  •  
  • Schedule
    2 sessions
  • Location
    207 Coxe Ave, Asheville, NC
  • Spaces left
    15

  Register

  In this 2-part class, we will explore stranded colorwork further as we work on a pair of colorwork mittens. These traditionally-shaped mittens include increasing and decreasing in colorwork, a picot hem, and a “thumb trick” technique to complete this colorful accessory. Must be comfortable with stranded colorwork and working in the round in a small circumference.
  

  Level: Intermediate
  

  Materials Fee: None

  Registration: Members $100, Non-members $120

  Instructor: Varian Brandon

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• Sewing Your Precious Handwoven Fabric

  • Start
    01 Nov 2019
  •  
    10:00 AM
  • End
    03 Nov 2019
  •  
    4:00 PM
  • Location
    207 Coxe Ave, Asheville, NC
  • Spaces left
    7

  Register

  Sewing with handwovens often requires special techniques. The fabric characteristics of raveling and bulk require extra care and creativity in construction techniques to make your finished garment have a professional look. Learn tips and techniques to complete that garment that has been in your head for years.
  

  Level: All

  Materials fee: $5 Download fee of written and pictorial information

  Registration: Members $300, Non-members $360

  Instructor: Joan Berner

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• Techniques for Controlling Creative Chaos at the Loom

  • When
    08 Nov 2019
  •  
    10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
  • Location
    207 Coxe Ave, Asheville, NC
  • Spaces left
    2

  Register

  The goal of this workshop is to learn a wide variety of techniques that facilitate preparing to weave, setting up for weaving, and the process of weaving flow from start to finish. This is not a workshop for total beginners. It is a workshop for those who have ever tangled a warp; have wondered how to smoothly wind warps and bobbins from multiple cones; want to know how to mix textures, colors, warp chains, yarn weights without tension issues; interested in working with multiple warp chains easily; could benefit from learning to cleanly split warp chains to use some threads now, some later; might like to try using a warping paddle and warping mill, who want some great techniques for designing at the reed; want to learn how to efficiently tie onto an existing warp to avoid sleying/threading for every project; interested in why some chains won't unchain and how to make the perfect untwisted chain; already know how to setup from back to front but want to learn why/when setting up front to back for a particular project is an overwhelmingly better choice; already know how to setup front to back but want to learn to do it more effortlessly. Kathrin will demo these techniques and invite class members to explore them with hands-on assistance. You do NOT need to bring a loom. There will be time for Q&A as we address specific topics that relate to your weaving process.

  Level: Intermediate
  

  Materials Fee:  $5 for Demo loom, Demo warps, Warping paddle and warping mill, Multiple cones of yarn for demoing warp and bobbin winding, Hand tools including variety of shuttles, electric bobbin winder, and small tools

  Registration: Members $125, Non-members $150

  Instructor: bio append #instructor name Kathrin Weber
  

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• Not Your Grandma's Dye-Pot!

  • When
    09 Nov 2019
  •  
    10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
  • Location
    207 Coxe Ave, Asheville, NC
  • Spaces left
    6

  Register

  The goal for this dyeing workshop is to learn the basics for dyeing full rich color in cellulose yarn (cotton, rayon, linen, etc.), dyeing safely, traditional as well as non-traditional application of dyes, and processes needed to set the dyes for color fastness. Students will learn fundamentals for dye application to produce one of a kind, technically sound and color-fast hand-dyed cotton yarn and fabric. Students will learn techniques for space-dyeing skeins and warps, resist dyeing yarn, and how to set up a basic dye kitchen. And, beyond that, to learn to dye with personal fearlessness and intention. We will discuss and explore a wide variety of ways to layout warps to be dyed - each layout giving a different result for what will turn into woven fabric. This is not a “recipe” class. Using 7 hues of Fiber Reactive MX dyes students will begin to develop insight into the essence of color that allows them to blend, shade and produce a full spectrum of color.
  

  Level: All levels, from Beginner to Advanced
  

  Materials Fee:  $30 for pre-wound, scoured warps and skeins for those of you who want to supplement your supply. Please order through my webshop at least 2 weeks before the workshop. Since I am driving, I can bring them along with me.

  Registration: Members $125, Non-members $150

  Instructor: bio append #instructor name Kathrin Weber
  

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• Upcycled sweater gnomes

  • When
    10 Nov 2019
  •  
    10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
  • Location
    207 Coxe Ave, Asheville, NC
  • Spaces left
    10

  Register

  We will create gnomes with recycled sweaters.

  Level: Beginning

  Materials fee: $3 for rice, wool for noses, thread,stuffing and fiber for beards.

  Instructor: Elizabeth Searle

  Registration: Members $100, Non-members $120

  I

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• Recycled sweater mittens

  • When
    30 Nov 2019
  •  
    1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
  • Location
    207 Coxe Ave, Asheville, NC
  • Spaces left
    7

  Register

  Mittens will be created using upcycled wool sweaters

  Level: Intermediate

  Materials fee: $ for Sewing machine if needed

  Instructor: Elizabeth Searle

  Registration: Members $50, Non-members $60

  
  

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• Weaving From The Stash

  • When
    01 Dec 2019
  •  
    10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
  • Location
    207 Coxe Ave, Asheville, NC
  • Spaces left
    10

  Register

  Staring at your yarn stash deciding what weaving project shall be next, your eyes land on that yarn you bought at a fiber fair in 2012. You loved it then, and you love it now, but it remains on the shelf because you are just not sure how to use it. Or you still have a small quantity of a precious and expensive yarn, but don’t know how to combine it with other yarns so that it still plays the starring role in the design. Or maybe your yarn stash has simply reached critical mass, and you need to use it up so you can order more. This one-day off-loom workshop will give you suggestions for using the yarn you have to weave the cloth you want. Bring a few of your “challenge” yarns with you, and leave with one or more project ideas.

  We will:

  -Evaluate the qualities and properties of the yarns you’ve brought.
  -Share ideas about the best project for them with other participants.
  -Learn ways to combine your stash yarns with other yarns.
  -Get hands-on practice with color-mixing exercises, fiber identification & research and drafting with graph paper or computer software.

  Supplies to bring: A few yarns from your stash you are not sure how to use, pencil, pen, a few colored pencils or markers, graph paper, small calculator, scissors, scotch tape, color wheel

  Level:  Intermediate

  Materials Fee: $10 for Handout with design worksheet, design tools

  Registration: Members $100, Non-members $120

  Instructor: Karen Donde

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• Woven Shibori with Silk and Lanaset

  • Start
    14 Dec 2019
  •  
  • End
    16 Dec 2019
  •  
  • Schedule
    3 sessions
  • Location
    207 Coxe Ave, Asheville, NC
  • Spaces left
    9

  Register

  Combine woven shibori, a loom controlled patterning system using temporary gathering threads, with silk noil and Lanaset dyes to create samples or a scarf. Bring your 4-8 harness loom dressed with a dummy warp 180 ends sett at 12epi (instructions and threading drafts will be provided) ready to tie on silk.  In addition to the aforementioned loom, participants will need to bring 2 shuttles, bobbins, warp separator (paper or sticks), scissors, seam ripper and other tools for weaving. A pickup stick longer than 15" is optional. Manual bobbin winders will be available. Learn the process. Handouts will support taking your new skills to your home studio.
  

  Skill Level: Intermediate
  

  Materials fee: $35 for silk noil warps (one per participant), silk weft, embroidery floss, dyes (including vinegar and sodium alginate), handouts, woven shibori samples, miscellaneous tools (plastic containers, brushes, cross holders, etc.)

  Registration: Members $300, Non-members $360

  Instructor: Neal Howard
  

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