Courses

Enjoy the “thrill of discovery” in the many colors which can be achieved, and the variation of color that can be found in nature's palette, by learning the complete subtleties of dyeing with natural materials. Dyeing with natural plants is more than a craft, it's a fascinating and inexpensive hobby.…

Combine bead embroidery and needle felting to create a unique landscape “painting”. Learn the basics of both needle felting and bead embroidery in this two day workshop. Participants will bring a landscape image (photo, magazine image, postcard etc.) to inspire their beaded piece. First, we will create a simple needle…

Nets aren’t just for catching fish! In this class you will learn an ancient technique to make a netted sack for everyday use. To make a net, you only need to learn to tie one knot. The craft of net making has remained unchanged for thousands of years, a universal…

In this class students will begin by traveling (in pictures and stories!) to Kyrgyzstan and discover how felt is used, why it is such an important textile for the people of Central Asia, and fill ourselves with inspiration! We will then get our own hands into the wool as everyone…

In this one day course, students will learn to carve simple nordic-inspired designs on linoleum blocks and use permanent fabric inks to print the design on their fabric. By using a variety of design elements and shapes and colors in the printing process, a simple design can become a unique…

Scarves: Many of us don't leave home without them. They are imperative in the winter but they can also simply be fashionable.  In this class you will learn the modern wet felting technique called Nuno which creates a durable, elegant and warm material by combining wool with silk or other…

Late June means lupines in many shades of purple will populate the ditches and roadsides of the North Shore, creating the perfect setting for discovering purple possibilities in natural dyes. We will discuss basic color theory as to how to create various purples and lavenders. In this class, we will…

Penny rugs use felted wool scraps to create a textile feast for the eye. Multicolored scraps are arranged in contrasting and complementary colors to create table runners, placemats and more, making a room come alive with color. Shapes of descending sizes are layered onto a wool background piece and stitched…

Rug hooking traces its roots to the northern colonies and Canada, when immigrants utilized textiles on hand to create rugs for their homes. Hooked rugs are made by drawing narrow strips of wool fabric through a background fabric of cotton, linen or burlap with a curved hook much like a…

North House and the north woods are full of inspiring colors and patterns for the quilter. Laura Ricketts has designed a nine block wall-hanging with thematic blocks, as well as a North House central block. This North Woods quilt class will focus on triangles: dealing with bias in fabric and…

UUnfortunately, traditional sheepskin blankets with a tanned leather back require that the sheep make the ultimate sacrifice. Yet it doesn't have to be so! Instructor Becky Utecht has developed a modern approach to an age-old craft. Using felting techniques, students in this course will start with an unwashed sheep fleece…

Reds have always been the color of passion! In this class we will explore nature’s passion with a variety of natural red dyes such as cochineal, lac, madder, quebracho, and amaranthus. We will extend our palette by overdying with indigo and fustic for a variety of purples and oranges. The…

The Sámi are Scandinavia’s only UN-recognized indigenous people, and have a culture rich with fiber traditions. In Sámi Knitted Mitten Techniques, students will be introduced to Sami mittens and four characteristics which set them apart: cuffs, thumbs, decreases and braids (with or without tassels). We will create a sample swatch…

Combine wool, soap and water, a felting needle and agitation and the sculptural possibilities are endless!  This is a day to experiment with the amazing sculptural flexibility of wool and go beyond the basics. Using a variety of fill or building a wire armatage students create a sculpture of their…

It works! Sew your own Scandinavian work shirt, designed for comfort and for your favorite outdoor activities. Learn a life-long skill while creating a shirt you will love to wear. Traditional shirts in the Scandinavian countries are great for layering and designed for outdoor life. Natural fiber striped fabrics of…