Skill Level and Prerequisites: Beginner - No experience necessary

Instructor:  Peggy Doney from The 100th Sheep

Sunday, April 27, 2025; 9:00am - 4:00pm

$150 member/non-member **Includes Entry Fee into Fiberfest**

Join us as we explore, hands-on, a method for building a systematic collection of 66 colors from three hues. After covering some basic safety, equipment, and dye stock mixing, you will measure out amounts for the 63 new colors using the formulas provided. The class will apply those colors to white, tan, and grey yarns to get a total of 198 color samples! Along the way, you will see color theory in action, as the basic hues and the three yarn colors affect the resultant color, explore the math behind the triad, simple ways to extend the recipes to any amount of fiber or yarn you choose, and more. Everyone will leave with their own recipe notebook and 198 sample swatches, notes, and a link to helpful spreadsheets.

Materials Notes:  All dyeing materials and supplies will be included in the cost of the class

Equipment Notes: Please bring rubber gloves and an apron (or wear old clothes)

Skill Level and Prerequisites: Intermediate - student must be able to independently spin both thin and thick, spin in both directions on their wheel (Z twist & S twist), ply

Instructor:  Peggy Doney from The 100th Sheep

Saturday, April 26, 2025; 9:00am - 12:00pm

$60 member/non-member **Includes Entry Fee into Fiberfest**

There’s a marvelous world where you can cook up intricate works of art by spinning and plying uniform singles in contrary directions. The colors and crosswise patterning of crepe construction lend distinction to these three ply yarns. Spin thick, spin thin, S and Z – mix them all together and make crêpes!

Materials Notes:  All materials will be provided and included in the cost of the class

Equipment Notes:  Students will need to provide their own wheel in good working order, at least 3 bobbins, a Lazy Kate and a niddy-noddy

Skill Level and Prerequisites: Beginner - No experience necessary

Instructor:  Pam Poppe

Saturday, April 26, 2025; 9:00am - 12:00pm

$63 member/$73 non-member **Includes Entry Fee into Fiberfest**

Learn the art of Card Weaving by creating a pair of shoelaces!  Using a set of 10 cards (provided in class) you will learn to set and warp your loom, read a pattern, and weave beautifully patterned bands on an inkle loom. 

Equipment and Materials:  Looms, cards and yarn will be provided in the class. A set of 25 Card Weaving Cards ($13 value)  is included in the class fee.  Inkle looms will be available for members to check out (no fee) in order to independently finish your projects, if needed. Non-members may rent a loom for $25

Ages 12 and older, please.

Maximum participants:  6

Skill Level and Prerequisites: Beginner - No experience necessary

Instructor:  Emily Bollhoefer

Saturday, April 26, 2025; 9:00am - 12:00pm - Full

Saturday, April 26, 2025; 1:00pm - 4:00pm

$50 member/$60 non-member **Includes Entry Fee into Fiberfest**

It’s relaxing, it’s portable, it’s inexpensive and it spun the world’s threads for thousands of years.  It’s the Drop Spindle! Spindling is a great way to learn the mechanics of spinning, to learn how to handle fiber, and to experiment with new fibers.  Spindlers have great control of drafting and the insertion of twist.  The instructor will demonstrate with various fibers and spindles.  Plying techniques will be discussed and demonstrated.  No experience necessary!

Equipment: Drop Spindles and Fiber will be available for your use or you are welcome to bring your own. 

Instructor Bio:  Emily is a member of the Des Moines Weavers and Spinners Guild and one of the more accomplished spinners in the Midwest. Her gorgeous yarns have earned many accolades including Blue Ribbons in Spinning and Handknit with Handspun, Best of Show and Sweepstakes at the Iowa State Fair; Blue Ribbons at the Wisconsin State Fair; Best of Show at the Michigan Fiber Festival; and 1st Place at HGA Convergence 2024!

Maximum participants:  6

Skill Level and Prerequisites: Beginner - No experience necessary

Instructor:  Lisa Nelson

Saturday, April 26, 2025; 1:00pm - 4:00pm

$60 member/non-member   **Includes Entry Fee into Fiberfest**

Learn to make a lightweight, felted wool scarf using unspun merino wool fiber, soap and water, and the energy you bring! Wet felting is a physical activity; come prepared to stand, knead and further agitate your scarf to create a beautiful work of art you can wear!

As an artist, Lisa takes her inspiration from the woods, fields, and riverbanks near her home. Her love of felting began with a hat-making class 15 years ago, and has grown from a hobby to a full-time endeavor. Lisa finds wool fiber in particular to be a versatile medium, with endless possibilities for creating 2 and 3-D works, and takes great joy in sharing the magic of felting with others

Materials:  A $5 Materials Fee is payable directly to the instructor

Maximum participants:  10

Skill Level and Prerequisites: Beginner - No experience necessary

Instructor:  Bonnie Ohrt

Saturday, April 26, 2025; 1:00pm - 3:00pm

$60 member/non-member   **Includes Entry Fee into Fiberfest**

This class will start with the basics of needle felting, and learning the capabilities of 3 different species of wool types used: Alpaca, Sheep’s wool and Llama fiber.  We will go over the steps involved in order to create your own style or design of the pictured example of a Mountain Bluebird. 

You will have your choice of doing this Bluebird picture, or you can select from a large variety of other project examples the instructor will have available that day.

A “Starter Kit” is included with the class fee. This kit includes all materials needed to create your own picture – with plenty of wools to take home with you to continue another project!

No special skills are required – as when doing any needle felting pictures – your own creativity will show through.Everyone has their own style and this is just a fun new art concept to learn!

Materials Notes:  Students do not need to bring anything - all materials, including the Starter Kit, will be provided and included in the cost of the class.  The Starter Kit includes:

Wool base

Foam pad

Fiber multi-Pack

3 Needle felting needles

Instructor Bio:  Bonnie is the creative energy behind Homespun Family, a small family business which incorporates both the historical side of her family and the current activities with their fiber animals.  Bonnie creates many 2D needle felting artworks and custom animal prints.  Having learned from her grandmother and parents, Bonnie has years of experience weaving rag and denim rugs, and also fiber/wool rugs made from their own alpaca as well as Jacob Sheep, Navajo Churro, Racka Sheep and llama!

Maximum participants:  12

Past 2023-2024 Guild Year Classes:

Beginning Rigid Heddle Sept. 17 & 24, 2023

Rag Rug Weaving Sept 30 & Oct 1, 2023

Overshot Weaving on a Rigid Heddle Loom Oct 7, 2023

Beginning Weaving on a 4-Shaft Loom Oct 10, 12, 17, & 19, 2023

Beginning Card Weaving Oct 15, 2023

Beginning Spinning on a Wheel Oct 28-29, 2023 

Weekend Weaving Workshop Nov 11, 12, 14, 2023

Beginning Tapestry Nov 18, 2023

Beginning Band Weaving Nov 18, 2023

Beginning Drop Spindle Nov 18, 2023

Weave-a-Scarf Workshop Dec 2, 2023

Intermediate Rigid Heddle Dec 10, 2023

Color as a Communication Tool with Chris Acton Jan 13, 2024

Texture in Tapestry                                                                                   Jan 21, 2024

Overshot Weaving on a Rigid Heddle Loom Jan 27, 2004

Kumihimo Feb 4,  2024

Weave and Sew a Tote Feb 6, 2024

Weekend Spinning Workshop Feb 10, 11 2024

Beginning Rag Weaving on a 4-Shaft Loom.                             Mar 2, 2024

Working with Rags                                                                                     Mar 3, 2024

Repurpose and Create: Making Cordage                                      Mar 10, 2024

SAORI Weaving with Chiaki O'Brien Apr 27, 2024

Beginning Rigid Heddle Apr 27, 2024

Beginning Card Weaving Apr 27, 2024

Beginning Drop Spindle Apr 27, 2024

Learning to USe a Pin Loom Make-and-Take Apr 27, 2024

Bengala Mud Dyeing with Chiaki O'Brien Apr 28, 2024

Past 2024-2025 Guild Year Classes:

Beginning Spinning on a Wheel Sept. 7 & 8, 2024

Beginning Weaving on a 4-Shaft Floor Loom Sept. 10, 12, 17, & 19, 2024

Beginning Rigid Heddle               Sept 28

Introduction to Natural Dyes Sept 29

Beginning Tapestry Oct 6

Beginning Drop Spindle Oct 20

Tea Towels on a Rigid heddle Oct 26

Weave-A-Scarf Workshop                                                                                            Nov 23

Double Weave on a Rigid Heddle Dec 8th

BeginningCard Weaving Dec 15th

Beginning Spinning on a 4-Shaft Loom                                                               Jan 28, 30, Feb 4, 6

Weaving Krokbragd on a Multi-Shaft Loom with Debby Greenlaw Feb 20 - 22

Supported Spindle Mar 30

Bookbinding with Woven Covers Apr 6