Join us as we highlight our heritage breed sheep. We’ll learn about natural fibers such as wool, flax, and hemp as we explore the ways in which these fibers have been used throughout history as well as how they’re used today. Plus, we’ll be hosting fiber artists, vendors, and shepherds on this special day as we conclude Wool Week here at the Frontier Culture Museum of Virginia. Fiber Fest vendors and presenters will offer information on historical fiber processing as well as workshops and demonstrations. Museum staff will also share activities focusing on fiber arts all across the Museum.

The Frontier Culture Museum will host three workshops as part of this year’s Fiber Festival! Each workshop can be completed with no prior experience and the price includes all of the materials!

Drop Spinning

Learn how to create your own yarn with the timeless skill of drop spinning. In this introduction to drop spinning you will learn how to choose a fiber to spin, how to draft and apply appropriate twist. We will discuss how to ply, and how to finish your yarn. Easy to learn and with practice can be a very meditative and peaceful pastime. Adult learners only. Drop spindle for class use and fiber included.

This workshop will run from 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM and is $115 per participant. Advance registration is required, purchase your tickets here.

Introduction to Wheel Spinning

Learn the ancient and timeless art of spinning. Students will start on a drop spindle to learn basic skills,and then move onto a wheel if they wish. You will learn how to choose a fiber to spin, how to draft and apply appropriate twist on a spindle, then apply those skills to a spinning wheel. Easy to learn and so rewarding, this is a class you will enjoy and a skill you will learn to love. The class includes an introduction to basic spinning skills and hands-on assistance from a spinner with more than ten years’ experience in teaching. You will have the use of drop spindles, and a spinning wheel during class, and you will be supplied with fiber for class use.

This workshop will run from 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM and is $115 per participant. Advance registration is required, purchase your tickets here.

About the Instructor

The Drop Spinning Workshop and Introduction to Wheel Spinning are both run by Dorothea Pierce. Dorothea Pierce has been knitting for over fifty years and spinning for over thirty. Her absolute favorite thing to do, EVER, is teach people how to spin and knit. She has taught everything from 3-day spinning workshops to five-minute knitting tutorials, and everything in between! She owns Yarn Seasons, a local yarn shop near Roanoke and with her mother hosts the Skein Away Fiber Retreat at Smith Mountain Lake twice a year.

Punch and Proddy Blossom Tote Bag – Oxford Punch Needle Workshop

Join us for this fun and simple multi technique workshop about how to combine punch needle rug hooking and proddy rug hooking to create this festive Blossom tote bag. Using a hand-crafted Hessian tote bag as the foundation cloth you will be creating this punch and Proddy Blossom Bag using an assortment of wool rug yarns, silk yarns, wool fabric, the size 10 regular Oxford punch needle and a proddy rug tool. You will leave the workshop with a finished tote bag ready to fill with your favorite things.

The kit will include supplies for the blossom and tote bag. (Design on a Hessian tote bag, wool fabric, wool and silk yarns.). An assortment of festive blossom colors will be available. The finished bag size is 18” x 12” x 3”.

Frames, needles and proddy tools will be available to use during class and are available for purchase after class.

This workshop is $150 per participant and will run from 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM. Advance registration is required, purchase your tickets here.

About the Instructor

With no prior shepherding experience, Kathy Donovan started raising Karakul heritage sheep in Virginia 2004. She became an Oxford Company Certified Rug Hooking Instructor in 2014. Kathy hand-dye’s wool rug yarn, offer rug designs and punch yarn kits for Oxford regular and fine needles through her business, Checkmate Farm LLC. She is a member of ATHA and Virginia Artisan Trail Network. Visit her at her website: www.checkmatefarm.com.