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Open Studio Categories
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fiber
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Handweaving:
Creating a Beautiful Scarf 
Handweaving is one of the oldest crafts known to humans in history. It dates back to at least 12,000 years ago during the Neolithic era. Before weaving became solely a textile craft, early humans weaved branches, twigs and other plant fibers to create threads for building homes, baskets and other necessary objects of utility. Today, handweaving is a practical craft that is again gaining popularity all over the world.
This class is an introductory class to the craft of handweaving. Students will gain basic instruction on how to weave on a workshop loom. Warping a loom, weaving methods, yarn selection and tools needed to be a successful in their project will be discussed in class. The many aspects of weaving: i.e. history, invention of looms, types of looms, both practical/commercial production weaving and artistic weaving and methods will also be shared. Best of all, each student will leave class with their own high-quality handcrafted scarf. This is a beginners course and no experience is required. Course Fee: $110 - Supply Fee: $15
Location: Folk School
Beginning Crochet
In this class we will learn about the history of crochet and its uses in different cultures and climates around the world. We will then learn names of basic stitches and apply this to reading a crochet pattern. With this foundation in place, we will practice crocheting our first stitches together. Once each student feels comfortable with these stitches, we will work to complete our first project of the class, a kitchen dishcloth.
Once our dishcloths are completed, each student will be able to select one of three crochet projects: a dish towel: Bistro Kitchen Towel Pattern (Two of Wands Pattern), beanie (Melanie Ham video tutorial, will type out the pattern for student use), Crochet Holiday Bunting (https://www.caabcrochet.com/fall-crochet-bunting/) Course Fee: $75 - Supply Fee: $15 Location: Folk School
Decorative Felt Table Runner
Explore the wonderful world of felting! This class will go over the many, many ways that you can create surface design on using a wet felting technique! Students will learn the basics of felting, creating holes, embedding materials in felt, using yarn and other fibers, prefelt application, nuno felting, and experimenting with interesting materials like mesh and more! Students will take home a decorative runner that is made using these fun and exciting techniques!
Course Fee: $55 - Supply Fee: $15 Location: The Lodge at Rolling Hills
Fitted Felt Wrist Warmers
These fitted felted wrist warmers are great for those that don't care for standard gloves or mittens. They're fingerless and offer just enough coverage to keep you warm and show off your felting skills. Students will create a pattern based on their actual measurement, we will learn how to adjust for shrinkage, and how to apply beaded lace to felt to create stunning accessories.Description
Course Fee: $55 - Supply Fee: $15 Location: Folk School
Felted Winter Mittens
Felt mittens can be lovely and practical. This class will teach students how to wet felt, how to use a pre-felt to decorate the surface of their work, make a pattern using their own hands as a model, and how to felt consistently so that they leave with a matching set of mittens.
Course Fee: $60 - Supply Fee: $15 Location: Folk School
Pine Needle/Broom Corn
Basket Weaving 
Create a unique and very beautiful Basket using pine needles and/or broom corn that will surly delight and impress. This workshop is designed for beginning level students who have never weaved a basket or worked with pine needles/broom corn. This course will guide you step by step through the process of making coils, attaching them using thread, transitioning from level to level, and how to finish the weavings. Students can expect to finish at least one full basket in this class, perhaps even a lid depending on the speed with which you work. By the end of the workshop, you will leave with the skills to be able to complete another more detailed basket from start to finish, as well as understand what materials are needed and how pine needle coiling is achieved. To assist you in the continuation of your basket journey, resources for materials
Course Fee: $120 - Supply Fee: $15
Location: Folk School
Quintessential Blue:
Dyeing with Indigo 
Indigo has been used for centuries to obtain vivid blues on textiles. Indigo dyeing is one of the most intriguing, requiring an oxidation to turn blue after removing the textiles from the dye bath. In this class, we will make and use 2 types of indigo vats: "organic" based on the work of M. Garcia and a "thiox" indigo vat using thiourea dioxide as a reducing agent. We'll talk about how to maintain an indigo dye vat and the various types of indigo vats. Students will make an indigo sample card and will be able to dye two 50 gm skeins of yarn for a small project. Yarn will be combination of natural white and naturally dyed colors for overdyeing
Course Fee: $115 - Supply Fee: $25
Location: Folk School
Crafting a Market Basket
Do you often take a trip to the local Farmer's Market? What about the Craft Fair coming in town? Is it time to harvest those delicious strawberries in your garden? Using natural and pre-dyed flat reed, you will learn basic basket weaving skills as you complete this market basket. For those who wish to continue their basketweaving journey, this entry-level class is the perfect way to get started!
Course Fee: $90 - Supply Fee: $20
Location: Folk School |
Weaving a Tapestry Basket
This basket is started using a wood base attached to a mold for ease in weaving. Once you are part way up, you start weaving with round reed to make open shapes. A quick rim is finished. Then the fun begins as you can add many kinds of yarns, roving, silk or even just leave the basket as is. If you have any special yarns, bring them with you. You probably won't finish this in class, but will know how to finish at home.
Course Fee: $90 - Supply Fee: $20
Location: Folk School Continuing Crochet
Winter is the time to cozy up and enjoy making beautiful textiles! In this class we will make a modern twist on the classic scarf. Created on the bias with stripes we will building upon our skillset by following a pattern, crocheting on the bias, and switching colors. We will also learn how to correct mistakes if they come up in the crochet journey.
Course Fee: $75 - Supply Fee: $15 Location: Folk School
Felt Flower Bouquet
Felt flowers are a beautiful and delicate addition to any home, and they don't need water to stay that way! Participants will learn how to wet felt, create flowers using this interesting technique and how to add small things like strands of silk, wool neps and other objects to create depth and texture. You will be able to make 2-3 flowers and take home your very own bouquet.
Course Fee: $55 - Supply Fee: $15 Location: The Lodge at Rolling Hills
Nuno-Felted Scarf
How would you like to have a one-of-a-kind felted scarf to keep you warm in the cooler months? Nuno-felting is a wet felting technique where the wool fibers reach through a loosely woven fabric like silk. For this class we will use vintage sari silk to make gorgeous and warm scarves with a little soapy water and elbow grease. You won't want to miss this one!
Course Fee: $70 - Supply Fee: $15 Location: Folk School
Felted Cozy Slippers
Get ready for the colder time of year with a pair of handmade felted slippers. These beautiful wet-felted slippers will keep your feet warm and cozy, and they look wonderful! Students will create a template using their own feet, use a resist so the slippers are seamless, and learn the technique of felting with soapy water. Participants will leave this class with finished shoes and the knowledge to make them again.
Course Fee: $60 - Supply Fee: $15 Location: Folk School
Felted Winter Hat
Wool hats are incredibly warm and stylish. This class will teach you how to make a wet felted wool hat that is custom-made just for you. Students will learn how to use a resist to create 3 dimensional forms, the basics of wet felting, and how to design an exciting shape with wool.
Course Fee: $60 - Supply Fee: $15 Location: Folk School
Macramé Plant Hanger Workshop
Macramé is a decorative knotting craft that anyone can do with just a little bit of practice! It is a great way to create beautiful and functional pieces of art to decorate your home with vintage flair. Macramé is traditionally made with cotton or hemp rope. The ropes are tied in different knots to create beautiful knotted patterns. It was long crafted by sailors, especially in elaborate or ornamental knotting forms, to cover anything from knife handles to bottles to parts of ships. In this class, you will learn the basic knots of macramé to create your own macramé plant hanger from start to finish. All materials are included with the supply fee, as well as the plant of your choosing to take home. Get knotting with this enjoyable macramé plant hanger class. This is a lovely chance to learn a new skill and create something beautiful for your home!
Course Fee: $70 - Supply Fee: $15 Location: Folk School Natural Dyes: 30 shades of color
Explore the world of natural dyes and the range of colors which can be obtained from them. In this workshop, we will see the colors/shades obtained from 2 different natural dyes, a variety of mordants and modifiers on wool fibers for at least 25 colors/shades with each dye. One dye will be readily grown and harvested in this region (marigolds) while the other will be a purchased dye material (cochineal or madder).
We will discuss materials required, safety, precautions, and possibilities as well as looking at resources from materials to reference books. Natural dye classes have some unavoidable down time as we wait for the mordanting and dyeing to work their magic. We will fill that time with discussions, questions, explorations of reference books and more. All students will create a sample chart for each of the dyes used in the class then will have the opportunity to take 2 50 gm skeins of yarn, pre-mordanted and dye them in the dye baths of their choice. Choice of superwash worsted weight yarn (280 yds) or sport weight wool yarn (370 yds). We will have some possible patterns you could use for both to help you with your color choices. Course Fee: $115 - Supply Fee: $25
Location: Folk School
Twill Weaved Wastebasket
This elegant and useful wastebasket will be an enjoyable weaving project for both beginner and intermediate weavers. This is a fun basket that uses two twill patterns. The bottom is an over two twill bottom to make it solid. The sides are woven in an over three pattern that make for a quick weave.
Course Fee: $90 - Supply Fee: $20
Location: Folk School Crafting a Woven Storage Basket
This large basket’s versatility is its most charming feature! Perfect for magazines, chair-side projects, storage, children’s toys, laundry – you decide. This basket would be an especially handy accessory by the fireplace for kindling, pine cones, small twigs and other starter material. This is a beautiful large basket that starts with black spokes. Once the base is woven you will weave your choice of colors into the basket. It is finished off with some leather bushel style handles. Most likely you will wish to keep your finished basket, however it also would make a very meaningful and special holiday gift!
Course Fee: $110 - Supply Fee: $25
Location: Folk School |
Past Courses
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Weaving an Organic Macramé Hammock
If “hanging-around” the Michigan Folk School for a couple days while crafting an exquisite full-size Macramé hammock sounds like fun - this class is fo you! While Macramé is generally attributed to Arabic weavers during the 13th century, the craft slowly spread throughout Europe and eventually became a common pastime for net-making, knot-tying sailors.
This hammock is “knot” the typical twisted rope weave. By employing stunning Macramé knots the end result will be a higher quality hammock than anything on the market today. Each student will work at a pulley-system station to weave their elegant hammocks. Students will learn how to calculate rope requirements, set up the project, and use several Macramé knots and multiple techniques. For years to come, using your hammock will remind you of net making's craftsmanship and history. So, prepare yourself to enjoy a serially comfortable slumber suspended between two trees. |
