Workshops
For the fourth year, several virtual hands-on workshops will be taking place in conjunction with Fibrefest. This is your chance to roll up your sleeves and get felting, weaving or hooking with talented fibre artists and vendors. There’s a terrific variety of workshops for adults; some using traditional materials and techniques, and others that are not-so-traditional.
All of them will celebrate the colours, textures and diverse crafts that create beauty from natural fibres. Workshops run on Thursday through to Sunday (September 10–13) at almontefibrefest.ca . Advance registration is required and some workshops may need you to have some of your own supplies, so do check out the website and sign up early to avoid disappointment!
For more information please email Roberta Murrant at fibrefest@mvtm.ca
Applications for workshop instructors for Fibrefest open on February 3, 2020. Want to be a workshop instructor at Fibrefest 2020?
Complete an application here
Outdoor Needle Felting Workshop
2020 has changed everything and we’re adapting! So, I’m teaching this workshop outside!
In this workshop you will create this wacky wonderful bunch of exuberant sheep to decorate a gorgeous felt bag that will hold everything from your laptop to your gardening tools. Measuring 25cm by 48cm this bag can be carried comfortably over your shoulder.
This class will be held outside! Please wear weather appropriate clothing and a mask. Tables will be provided by the teacher but please bring your own chair.
In case of unfavourable weather, the teacher will contact all registered students about a rain date.
Cost of class: SOLD OUT
Includes: Fibre, needle, foam, and of course this elegant frunde bag.
Duration: Three hours.
Date: Sunday September 20th, 1:00pm to 4:00pm
Location: The Olde Almonte Flour Mill – Patio
11 Main Street, Almonte, ON K0A1A0
Teacher: As I traveled in my career in animation, I gleaned an acute awareness of the tactile nature of textiles. I took many classes in embroidery, pottery, batik, bead stringing and making and finally in Berlin I found the art of felt making.
In 2002 I made the decision to focus less on my animation career and more on my fibre art path. I have continued to explore all the joys and trials of being a fibre artist, but I do jump back into animation when something wonderful comes along.
I worked on the Universal feature “Curious George” in 2005 and on “The Princess and the Frog” which is a Disney feature and was released in December 2009. I continue to try out new things, taking a wire sculpture course in Haliburton ON a couple years ago and just recently learning the art of Rug Hooking.
Punch needle is a new obsession, but, even though I bore easily and try many different things, I seem to always come back to needle felting. It’s just sooooo versatile!
Baratto 1R2T
Love hand knitted socks but were afraid to try your hand at it? In this course you will discover just how easy it is to knit a sock. From plain to fancy, this course is all you need to get you started…with a tube.
Two tubes make the sock – one is your leg, the other is your foot. The two tubes are joined by the heel and closed off at the toe. So, to knit a sock, all you need to do is learn how to knit this very basic, easy heel.
The course offers you a choice: 1) knit a sample sock in about 4 hours OR 2) knit a full size sock following a standard pattern. For each choice, you will learn how to knit it from the top to the toe, and from the toe to the top, always using the simple easy heel.
There will be ample explanations on the “how and why” (videos, downloadable PDFs) for each part of the sock.
Choose option 1 and you will have at the end of few hours a sample sock that can be used as a future reference. This option is recommended because you see quickly how the sock takes its shape and IF you were to make a mistake there is less to unravel….
In option 2) you will follow the instructions given in a standard pattern for an adult sock. If you need more explanation, there will be plenty of downloadable material.
Your choice!
With this pattern in hand you can modify your tubes with fancy stitches or mix of colours to suit your tastes. Or just knit a nice plain sock – your feet won’t mind.
Cost of class: $30USD
Supplies: Participants will need 100 gr of wool (sport or DK thickness) and 3mm circular needles.
Date: September 11, 2020
Teacher: Luigina Baratto. I like to take something as simple as a strand of yarn, or a leaf, or a cut of interesting fabric and give it a new life. I like fibre to twist and turn, to steam and soak, to shred and wrap. I dream of shapes and textures and work at it until I am satisfied that I am as close to my dream as I am able, for now.
Later, I’ll try again. There is such an immense pleasure in seeing your objects come to life and being worn or used by friend, family and clients. I will take your order for socks, or shawls, or tops, as long as you give me some artistic freedom. I will always create a piece that I like first and foremost, and only then propose it to you.
The Ottawa Valley Weavers’ and Spinners’ Guild
The Ottawa Valley Weavers’ and Spinners’ Guild was created in 1949 by a handful of Ottawa area weavers. Originally called the Ottawa Valley Weaver’s Guild, the group eventually expanded to include spinners and today has over 200 members.
The objectives of the Guild are to promote interest and education in weaving, spinning and related fibre arts and to encourage a high standard of craftsmanship and design.
We offer a wide variety of workshops in spinning, weaving, felting, dyeing and basketry.
Members may take advantage of our workshops, equipment rentals, a fully equipped weaving and spinning studio, nine monthly newsletters and an extensive library that includes hundreds of books, magazines and videos which cover topics such as spinning, weaving, knitting, dyeing, design and beyond.
Student Registration Form
After Registering, please click on the PAY button to complete your full registration.
Thank You!
Fanciful Feathers Rug Hooking
Want to play with new materials but don’t know where to start? Or maybe try your own design for the very first time but want something simple and fun to do? In this workshop we will design our own original feather as well explore how to hook with a variety of materials and yarns that may be new to you. When you order the kit I will send a mix of fun yarns and stretchy fabric strips (which may include but limited to eyelash yarn, chenille, stretch velvet, sari silk, t-shirt yarn etc). You can add from your own stash or just use what I send for the feather. The background material will be yours to decide (not included in the pack). By the end of the class you will have your feather drawn and be well on your way to hooking your very own original Fanciful Feather!
I will also show how I mount my pieces on gallery canvas in case you wish to finish your feather this way.
This course is for people that have basic hooking skills as it does not cover ‘how to pull loops’ and the kit does not include a hoop or hook.
Sorry, this Workshop is SOLD OUT.
Kit: $30 fun fibres, plenty to make a 10” feather (no backing included)
$45 fun fibres AND 14×14″ rug warp backing
Shipping: $15 (or free to pick up from my home in Orleans, ON)*
Teacher:
Robin Whitford. Robin has been hooking since 2017, but her love for textiles goes back to childhood. She teaches in a local yarn shop, in her home and online. She is passionate about helping students tap into their creativity as she believes that by stretching and strengthening our creative muscles, we can positively impact so many areas of our lives. Robin recently published an article titled ‘Swirls of a Feather’ in the June/July, August 2020 issues of Rug Hooking Magazine that describes her process of free flow hooking.
*After registering please contact Robin directly about purchase of a kit and shipping details.
Kirk’s Creative Colour
Kirk’s Creative Colour, is a two-hour workshop for knitters of an intermediate skill level (must be able to knit and purl).
Kirk will give a short presentation about the use of multiple yarns in knitting to achieve a tremendous range of depth and colour. From there, participants will choose one of three pin- cushion designs (supplied by Kirk). Participants will practice mixing yarns while using intarsia techniques, working with multiple strands of yarn and combining colours on the fly to create complexity and texture. Particular attention will be paid to adding new colour combinations in a manner that ensures the knitting is free from holes or gaps.
Participants will need a pair of 5 mm needles (straight or circular), scissors, darning needle and are encouraged to have their entire yarn stash within reach. They will be asked to use colours within the same colour family (eg. many different shades of reds) as well as complementary colours (eg. blues and oranges), and colours of tonal contrast (eg. light vs. dark, lavender vs. purple).
The more colours, the better!
Participants will leave the workshop with an understanding of how to use intarsia techniques to knit with an unlimited number of colours, and a pin-cushion project in which they can store those hard-to-track darning needles.
Sorry, this Workshop is SOLD OUT.
Fee: $25.00
Duration: Three hours.
Date: Saturday, September 12, 14:00 to 17:00.
Teacher:
Kirk Dunn. Kirk apprenticed at the Kaffe Fassett Studio in England and is recipient of a prestigious OAC Chalmers Arts Foundation Grant. Kirk is known for his inspired use of colour to achieve remarkable depth and texture in the medium of knitting. He spent 15 years creating Stitched Glass, three handknit tapestries in the style of stained glass, each 5’ by 9’, exploring the relationship between the Abrahamic faiths. Kirk is touring The Knitting Pilgrim, a one-man play about his artistic and spiritual journey knitting the giant project. He is currently designing and small knitted projects – the perfect pastime for a quarantine!