KAWS 2024: Sustainability in Fiber Arts

Class Descriptions

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2:30 PM - 3:55 PM

Book Making

Instructor: Barrie Mason

East Meets West Red Journal - Students will make a two needle coptic journal with red cardstock covers which are just itching for decoration. All supplies and tools will be furnished for this project. Many basic bookmaking skills will be taught and participants will come away with a fun, six inch square journal with 180 pages of 80 lb drawing paper.

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9:30 AM - 12:30 PM

Down the Rabbit Hole: Beginning Spinning

Instructor: Meagan Condon

Are you a passionate knitter ready to deepen your understanding of yarn? Have you woven your way to the end of your stash? In this class, you will learn to make your own yarn using a drop spindle. Create unique yarns you can’t buy in the store and become a better knitter as you explore why and how yarn behaves the way it does. Suitable for all ages, geared toward individuals who have never spun or for those who have tried and failed. A top-whorl spindle and fiber will be provided.

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4:05 PM - 5:30 PM

Introduction to Nålbinding

Samantha Herrington

Nålbinding is an ancient technique, predating knitting and crochet by thousands of years. It involves creating interconnected loops with a single needle and lengths of wool roving or yarn. Nålbinding is considered endangered by the Heritage Crafts Association, and by taking this class students are taking part in the conservation of an at-risk art! Students will be taught the Oslo stitch and learn the exciting history of the technique. The class fee includes an informational handout with additional resources, wool yarn, a basic nålbinding needle, and a spray bottle for felting.

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9:30 AM - 10:55 AM

Ply-Split Braiding

Tammy Taylor

Ply-split braiding is a technique where one twisted cord passes through another twisted cord or cords splitting the plies of the latter cords. This is unlike weaving or many forms of braiding where cloth is formed by threads interlacing in an over-under sequence. Patterns are formed by cord color, and splitting order. This is a very basic beginner class in ply-split braiding. Students will learn 2 braid structures. We will discuss yarns and tools. Students will take home make a key fob. No experience needed. All supplies and a handout will be provided.

11:05 AM - 12:30 PM

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2:30 PM - 5:30 PM

Sewing with Metal

Malissa Long

Students will learn to sew metal and make a metal and fabric piece of art. I will provide all materials and will have some sewing machines available.

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2:30 PM - 5:30 PM

Spin the Yarn You Need: Understanding Wheel Adjustments

Meagan Condon

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"Your very first yarn was thick and uneven. Shortly after, you mastered spinning the finest lace… and couldn’t quite get that thick yarn again. Now you want something in the middle. There are a number of different factors you can control to get the yarn thickness you want, from what you do in the draft zone to what ratios you select on your spinning wheel. This class takes a technical look at making adjustments to get the yarn weight you actually need for a particular project! "

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Tips for Better SmartPhone Photography

Phyllis Carlyle

"That phone in your pocket has taken over as the only camera for most of us! The topics covered will include: Lighting, Shooting Control, Minor in-phone editing and more. Since the teacher uses an iPhone, it will be featured, but many of the concepts covered apply to any phone or camera. While Phyllis is not a professional photographer, she has assisted with professional photo shoots and taken many product photos during her graphic design career. Plus she has completed an 8-week online smartphone photography class. As a lifelong maker focused mostly on sewing and fiberarts, she will concentrate those types of photographs."

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9:30 AM - 12:30 PM

Weaving with Handspun

Instructor: Sherri McNish

Cloth woven from handspun yarn is beautiful, lively, subtle, unique, but also can be intimidating. 

When I started weaving with handspun yarn I wondered: How much fiber to buy? What sett to use? Does it matter how I spin the yarn? Do I need sizing? How do I warp singles? Should I full the fabric? What if I don't? Research led to the answers "sample" and "it depends". That’s true, but not helpful!

In the class, we will discuss planning a project from start to finish, including the amount of yarn or fiber needed, sett, tips and tricks for warping and weaving with handspun, and different ways to finish the fabric. How does one start planning a project without a sample and also the power of sampling. We will cover both systematic mathematical work-flows or organic free-form methods. During the class, everyone will plan their own woven project.

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