Tuesday 6/14: Shibori silk scarves
If asked to think of tie-dye techniques, most people could probably come up with the basic spiral or the classic bullseye…but how much do you think your average Joe knows aboutShibori dyeing?
Shibori, or Japanese tie-dye, actually consists of lots of different methods for binding, tying, sewing, or twisting cloth before applying dyes, but in this class we’re going to focus on the twisting part, or “arashi shibori” (also known as pole-wrapping shibori).
We’ll use narrow silk scarves that are perfect for wrapping around your head, or augmenting your waist as a belt. Or, hey, just hang them on a balcony and let their loveliness float in the breeze. Each student will make three scarves, and come away with everything you’ll need to know to do these on your own.
Monday 6/20: Needle Felting
This class is designed for beginners- no previous felting or sewing experience is necessary. Students will discuss different felting methods, sample many different types of wool and learn about the process the wool goes through from sheep to felted sculpture. You will be walked through the basics of felting and creating soft sculptures in wool, finishing class with a collection of finished objects!
Monday 6/27: Charted Cross Stitch
This class is designed to give students everything they need to start making counted cross-stitch charts of their own, as well as being able to follow any for-purchase chart available on the market today. Emphasis will be placed on non-pictoral charts (i.e., quotes, icons, borders, but not lifelike “portrait” style cross stitch). Students will leave with a project started (either charted and stitched or just charted, to be stitched later). All skills required to plan, begin, and finish a project will be covered, including a sneaky way to reduce the number of ends on the backside of the work. We will work with 14-count Aida cloth, which can be worked without magnification and with a regular handsewing needle. Smaller gauge cloth will be shown and discussed. Design elements such as including fonts, centering, borders, and historical embroidery trends like redwork will be covered. Bring ideas for funny quotes, song lyrics, or your favorite poem or saying.
Thursday 6/30: Block printing
This is a quickie lesson in the basics of block carving and direct-method printing! You’ll learn the principles behind cutting into the carving materials (including how to use the tools safely!), how to plan your design in a way that facilitates positive & negative space (where the ink will go, and where it won’t), reversing letters in your designs so that they read correctly, and a fabulously easy way of inking and printing. All you need to be able to carve & print easily at home.
Come with simple designs in mind-letters, shapes, whatever you like-we’ll carve it out and print it up. No need to bring anything, unless you’ve got some envelopes, special papers, or other flat & smooth surfaces you’d like to print on.
Monday 7/11: Felted soaps
Felted soaps are the perfect gift: long lasting, beautiful, all natural, and handmade with love (by you!). In this class, you will learn the principles behind turning loose combed roving into thick, solid felt. You’ll also learn the difference between various breeds of sheep’s wool, plus how to prepare and design woolen batts for making several felted soaps. You bring the bars of soap that please you most—but no glycerin based (clear) soaps. They just don’t work as well with the wooly fibers! Dress to get sudsy: short sleeved tops and comfy shoes for standing, as we’ll be doing all the felting by hand. Bring a plastic shopping bag to put your finished soaps in, as they will be damp. We will have time to finish one soap for sure, two soaps probably, and if you’d like to prep the third bar to take home with you for some real home-made fun, that’s fine, too.