Skill Level and Prerequisites: Beginner - No experience necessary

Instructor:  Cherie Maxson

Tuesdays & Thursdays; January 28, 30, February 4, 6, 2025; 6:00pm - 9:00pm

$205 member/$230 non-member

Learn to weave on a 4 shaft floor loom! In this class we will work from winding a warp through warping the loom and weaving a sampler of simple weaves. Handouts and discussion will include planning a project, vocabulary of weaving, reading a drawdown, talking about yarn weights and what those numbers mean, warping from back to front, sleying the heddles and reed, and setting up the shafts to weave plain weave and some twills.

Material Notes:  You only need a pair of scissors and note-taking materials.

Equipment Notes:  Floor looms provided by the Guild for the class.

Maximum participants:  4

Skill Level and Prerequisites:  Advanced Beginning: Must be able to warp a loom and weave independently

Instructor:  Debby Greenlaw

Thursday - Saturday; February 20-22, 2025; Each day there will be a Morning session starting at 9:00am +  Afternoon session (tbd), 2.5 to 3 hours each (5 to 6 hours of online instruction each day)

$200 member/non-member

Krokbragd weaving is a traditional Norwegian weft-faced twill weaving technique in which the warp is completely covered.  The fabric is sturdy and dense and ideal for rugs, wall hangings, and table linens.   It is a wonderful way to get creative with color while still maintaining symmetry and form in a woven structure.

Over 3 days, you will learn about the history, structure, and common motifs of Krokbragd.  Debby Greenlaw, author of  2 books  Krokbragd: How to Design & Weave and Krokbragd Patterns, will share tips for color and yarn selection, selvedge management, and finishing techniques.  You will weave a Krokbragd sampler and learn about what makes this unique weave structure so much fun to do-- all in the comfort of your own home!  

You can use any loom that allows you to weave with a minimum of 3 shafts or the ability to make 3 different sheds. This includes:

• A 3+ shaft table or floor loom

• A rigid heddle loom, as follows:

1. A heddle and 2 pick up sticks OR

2. Two heddles OR

3. A heddle, heddle rod and a pick up stick.  

Your class fee includes all the yarn needed for your class (warp & weft), shipped in time for you to have your loom dressed and ready for the first day of the online Zoom class. At the time of registration, you will need to indicate your choice of yarn colorway.  See the pictures above for reference.

The sessions will be recorded and available to registered participants for one month following the live event. 

Maximum participants:  20

Skill Level and Prerequisites: Beginner - No Experience Necessary

Instructor:  Cherie Maxson & Missy Gilje

Sunday, March 2, 2025; 10:00am - 3:00pm

$105 member/$125 non-member

A great introduction if you've been curious about weaving! You'll learn the basics of warping the loom and weaving. This is a full day class and you will complete multiple wash rags made from Sugar ‘n’ Cream cotton. 

Materials Notes: You will need to bring 2 skeins of Sugar N Cream cotton, in 2 contrasting colors.

Equipment Notes: A Schacht Rigid Heddle loom with an 8-dent reed will be provided for the class.  If you prefer to provide a loom for your own use, please make arrangements with the instructor prior to the class.

Maximum participants:  8

Skill Level and Prerequisites: Intermediate: Prior Spinning Experience Required

Instructor:  Cherie Maxson

Sunday, March 30, 2025; 1:00pm - 3:00pm

$50 member/$60 non-member

Supported Spindles come in several different types such as Russian, Bead, Tibetan and Phangs to name a few. They all work by spinning in a bowl or cup on your lap, allowing them to be extremely portable, and usable in a small space such as a car, on the couch or in your favorite recliner. In this class, we’ll cover the mechanics of using a supported spindle for spinning a single, and discuss how to ply on one. We’ll discuss the different types of spindles available, and list makers. We’ll also discuss what type of bowl is best for each type of spindle. 

Materials Notes:  Fiber to practice with and all other materials will be provided.

Equipment Notes:  For this class, you will need to bring a small shallow bowl or cup. A teacup with a shallow rim on the bottom is ideal for this.  The spindles and whorls will be provided for use in class. If you have your own, bring it to use!

Maximum participants:  6

Skill Level and Prerequisites: Beginner - No experience necessary

Instructor:  Seth Anderson

Sunday, April 06, 2025; 12:00pm - 4:00pm

$60 member/$70 non-member

This class provides an additional use for your handwoven fabric! Students will have a choice between creating a long stitch binding with a soft woven cover OR cutting their handwoven fabric to seal into a hardcover book with exposed binding. All finished books will be approximately 6” tall x 4.25” wide.

For those not wanting to cut their handwoven items, please come to class prepared with a woven piece approximately 6.5” x 9”. (Slightly larger pieces are acceptable. It just means you’ll have a little more fabric overhanging the paper.) Soft cover books allow more flexibility with woven yarn weight! For this class, your handwoven item should not include yarn weight bulkier than a worsted yarn.

For those brave enough and willing to cut their handwoven item for a hardcover book, please utilize a finer weight of yarn. Anything including 8/2 or sport weight yarn (or lighter) is perfect for this class. I recommend utilizing a serger and creating a path to cut, so your non-utilized fabric doesn’t unravel. Stitch a rectangle that is approximately 7” x 9.5” and then stitch a rectangle path at least a half inch larger on all sides. You will cut between these two paths during class to acquire your cover.

Materials Notes:  All interior paper and book binding materials will be provided by the instructor for this class. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to send an email to tinyturtlestudio.sa@gmail.com

Materials Fee:  A $15 materials fee for paper and binding materials will be payable directly to the instructor

Maximum participants:  10

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

$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:  Vaibhavi

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

$70 member/non-member **Includes Entry Fee into Fiberfest**

Transform ordinary fibers into extraordinary art! This macraweave class combines the elegance of macrame with the richness of weaving, guiding you to craft a stunning, textured wall hanging. Perfect for beginners and creatives alike—discover the joy of blending knots, patterns, and textures to design a piece that’s as unique as you are. Ready to make something beautiful? Let’s create magic with fiber!

Materials Notes:  All materials will be provided; a Materials Fee has been included in the Class Fee

Instructor Bio:  Vaibhavi provides the artistic talent and creativity for Artizin Studios, a premier fiber art studio located in Ames, IA specializing in macrame and macraweave. She blends traditional techniques with modern designs to create unique and stunning pieces.

Maximum participants:  15

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

Skill Level and Prerequisites: Beginner - No prior weaving experience necessary

Instructor:  Missy Gilje

Saturday, April 26, 2025; 9:00am - 4:00pm

$120 member/$140 non-member **Includes Entry Fee into Fiberfest**

Tapestry is weft-faced weaving where pictorial or abstract designs are woven with colored weft threads, completely hiding warp threads in the process. Tapestry artists use a wide range of techniques to convey their ideas through layers of thread. If you are looking to try out a new art form, or if you are a multi-shaft or rigid heddle weaver interested in exploring another facet of the weaving world, this class is for you!

In this class you will learn the basic skills required for tapestry weaving.  All materials, including a small tapestry loom you will take home and an assortment of yarns, will be included with the class fee. 

Maximum participants:  6

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