Courses

The Sámi are Scandinavia’s only UN-recognized indigenous people, and have a culture rich with fiber traditions. In Advanced Sami Knitted Mitten Techniques, students will be introduced to Sámi mittens and some of the more difficult techniques while creating a several sample swatches: right and left leaning slyngborden, three ways to…

Have you made felt before and found yourself frustrated with the design?  The colors became muted and soft, the easily identifiable bird became a cloud?  This is a class for those who have worked with felt and want to now focus on the details of design.  We will look at…

Discover the magic of “painting with beads” through your choice of seven different signature beaded lapel pin projects. In a reflection of the art and craft of bead embroidery, artist Jo Wood will lead you through your choice of one or two bead-embroidered projects, time permitting. The birch tree pin…

Try your hand at a simple bead weaving project in this introductory course that teaches two distinct skills: bead weaving and leather sewing. This project is based on a traditional amulet-style bag design Marcie learned from her grandmother, intended to be worn as a necklace. Students will complete and embellish…

Brightly colored seed beads have been used to embellish and brighten clothing and homegoods for centuries. Learn to make a beaded doily in this short class and experiment with color and pattern repetition to create a unique piece. Beadwork artist Marcie McIntire will provide instruction and materials for creating these…

If you're curious about weaving on a floor loom but not quite ready to make the investment or if you have a floor loom but haven't quite mastered it, this course provides an oppoortunity to experience a variety of equipment and techniques. Students will learn about weaving including a brief…

Boro is a Japanese folk textile with an indiscernible eloquence and aesthetic that was originally created out of necessity, in which small scraps of precious fabric are carefully stitched together to create a larger cloth or repair a garment. In this course students will review a brief history of Boro…

Did you know that for spinning some fibers, you have to do a long draw? Did you know that you can’t get a true woolen spun yarn without the long draw? Did you know that, in the end, spinning with a long draw is faster? This class will not only…

Those of us in the rocky, Northern climes know that the world is a cold hard place. Luckily there’s a felted solution: the wool seat cozy. Add a beautiful and warm wooly cushion to your favorite chair, car seat, canoe or take it with you and sit in snug serenity…

Felting is based on three main principles: flat, sculptural and open form. Featured international guest instructor Karin Flatøy Svarstad will explore all three of these techniques in this three day workshop, using birds as inspiration, though students will be free to take inspiration from whatever forms they like. Karin is…

The kitchen is a great place for handmade wool items. Potholders, tea cozies, cup cozies, placemats, hotpads, table runners, dish scrubbies, felted soap balls-- all these projects use the basic method of taking wool batting or roving, adding designs with a felting needle (or not), add water, soap and agitation…

Join featured international guest instructor Karin Flatøy Svarstad for an exploration of wool varieties and felting techniques, resulting in a wearable (or not, your choice!) hat. This felting technique is easy to learn, opens the door to innumerable creative possibilities and can be used to make bags, shoes, slippers or…

Get ready to experience fun with fibers! Join skilled artists from the Northwoods Fiber Guild to create hands-on fiber projects designed specifically for kids and a helpful adult. Students will choose and create their own fiber crafts such as tapestry weaving on a cardboard loom, felting wool containers, Suminagoshi Japanese…

Bring a favorite North Shore image to class: four-legged, swimmer, winged, rooted, or creepy crawler. You’ll use that image as the subject of your bead embroidery and make your own unique beadwork on felted wool (material provided). Your piece can be made into pin for a wearable work of art,…

Learn how to knit and embroider a mitten in the Swedish Lovikka style. Lovikka is a town located near the Arctic Circle with a renowned tradition of Sami-inspired embroidered embellishments, including a braided tassel. This mitten is knit in the round on double-pointed needles using a single ply yarn. The…