The 2017 Estes Park Wool Market will host 28 workshops at the Estes Park High School! 1 Day workshops are offered both Thursday, June 8th and Friday, June 9th, as well as two-day workshops spanning both days! All workshops will take place from 9am-4pm.
Workshops
Thursday, June 8 - 1 Day Workshops
All About Cables
Instructor: Patricia Kalthoff
Skill Level: Beginner
Materials: N/A
Students to Bring: 50-100gms of smooth worsted weight yarn in two colors, knitting needles for your yarn, cable, knitting necessities such as markers, tapestry needle, scissors, etc.
Description: Simple or complex, cables are a great way to liven up your knitting. We will cover the basics of working cables; with or without a needle, straight line and infinite loop. Learn to avoid common cable pitfalls, and how to incorporate color and lace into cables, add cables to existing patterns and techniques for designing with cables.
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Aran Knitting Made Easy
Instructor: Stefania Isaacson
Skill Level: Intermediate
Materials: $25 (collected by instructor at class)
Students to Bring: Size 7 or 8 knitting needles (can be straight or circular), cabling needle or double point needle
Description: Have you wondered how to keep all those Aran Knit patterns straight without losing it? This class will cover all the basic patterns that Irish knitters used to make those wonderful sweaters for their loved ones. It will let you know the meanings and feelings behind the patterns so that you will be able to design and create the personalized and special sweater for someone special. You will learn to "read" the sweater as you are working, so that you won't have to rely on a chart or pattern. This way, you can just enjoy the knitting and the satisfaction in the act of creating. In the class, we will work on samples of all the patterns, and then put them together in a sampler. You will go home with instructions for each of the patterns and samples of each. Also, you will begin a sampler which can easily be turned into a pillow top or wall hanging.
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Charted Entrelac
Instructor: Annie Modesitt
Skill Level: Intermediate & beyond
Materials: N/A
Students to Bring: At least 2 balls of worsted or sport weight yarn (Variegated is fine) in different colors, circular needles of any length to work well with your chosen yarn.
Description: What is this crazy way of creating a basket-weave pattern by knitting in tiny sections? Is it easy? Do I have to knit backwards to do it? All is revealed in this exciting workshop which uses charts to explain Entrelac. One of the most popular, and misunderstood, knitting methods is Entrelec (seen in the instructor's Lumiere skirt, IK Summer 2009). This wonderful technique allows the knitter to create stunning fabrics and incorporate repeating patterns in unexpected ways, and is especially satisfying when using a long-space dyed yarn like ModeKnit Yarn's FLOW colorways.
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Continuous Strand Weaving
Instructor: Cheryl Juntilla
Skill Level: All
Materials: $50 (collected by instructor at class, $25 of this will be applied to the price of a loom if student decides to purchase at the end of class)
Students to Bring: Paper for taking notes, pencils and a calculator. Students who already own a three-foot travel loom may bring it and their material fee will be reduced to $25. Students who own larger adjustable triangle looms should contact the instructor in advance to make sure there will be enough room for them.
Description: Continuous Strand Weaving on a Triangle Loom. This is a fun and easy weaving method in which the warp and weft are created simultaneously from a single strand of yarn. Participants in the class will learn how to design their own patterns and calculate the yardage needed. Each student will have a loom to work on as they learn basic plain weave, color changes, and more advanced techniques such as leno lace and twill. No prior experience in weaving or any other fiber art is required.
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Designing Noro Style Yarns
Instructor: Gwen Powell
Skill Level: All
Materials: $20 (collected by instructor at class), Included in fee: Dark base color, Light base color, misc. fibers for enhancements.
Students to Bring: Hand carders, drum carder or blending board if the student has them, scissors, selection of misc. clean colored fiber of approximately ½ pound. 18 wide scraps of cotton fabric to carry their preparation home in. This can be torn up sheets. Enough colored fibers to complete their project. If the student has any type of blending board, they are encouraged to bring it but blending boards are provided for all students.
Description: Noro yarns are more popular than ever. If you are not familiar with them, they are specialty yarns that have interesting colorways that have extremely long repeats. Noro yarns come in many fibers and colorways but the colors and styles you want might not be available and they are very expensive. In this workshop, you will learn to design and prepare fiber into a roving that is ready to spin to create a Noro style yarn of your own. Drum carders and Blending Boards will be provided for use in class to prepare the fiber.
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Exploring the Drum Carder
Instructor: Henry & Roy Clemes
Skill Level: Beginner & Intermediate
Materials: $30 (collected by instructor at class), covers all fiber carded during class
Students to Bring: An attitude for learning. All materials and equipment will be provided by the instructors.
Description: Drum carders are a mystery to the average fiber artist: fiber is fed into the carder, ends up on the big drum, and magically turns into a batt. In our 'Exploring the Drum Carder' class, students begin the day by learning the history of drum carders, how they work, and why they function the way they do. The fun goes hands on for the rest of the day as we delve into the differences of woolen and worsted carding, explore the many tools that make drum carding more efficient and crank out five different batts. The first batt will be hand cranked before switching over to Electric Drive for the duration of the class.
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Grand and Glorious Gradients
Instructor: Peggy Doney
Skill Level: All
Materials: $15 (collected by instructor at class)
Students to Bring: Students should bring a pen or pencil and wear weather-appropriate clothes they don't mind dying, an apron, and closed-toe shoes.
Description: We've drooled over gradient yarns and items made from their gorgeous colors. Learn a method for doing two-color dye gradients to create your own drool-worthy colorways. You will leave with 36 sample swatches, sample cards with recipes, notes, and a helpful spreadsheet.
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Let's Felt a Tote Bag
Instructor: Deb Tewell
Skill Level: All
Materials: N/A
Students to Bring: N/A
Description: Who doesn't need another tote bag? When you can learn felting basics while creating your very own tote, we all need another one! This class is especially for beginners and will cover several techniques: laying out fiber for a dimensional object, cords, pockets, and surface embellishment. You'll be surprised how, by combining a few basics, you'll be able to create something sturdy, useful, and beautiful.
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Nordic Art Slippers, Denmark 1765
Instructor: Linda George
Skill Level: Intermediate
Materials: $15 (collected by instructor at class)
Students to Bring: Four size-9 and size-10 double-point needles, large embroidery needle, scissors, usual knitting supplies
Description: Enjoy relaxing moments while knitting with a natural palette of warm and soft Icelandic wool. These slippers are fun and easy to create on four doublepoint needles using basic knitting skills. Instructions also provided for beautiful embroidered flowers. Join me in knitting a child's pair, fun history, and Danish almond cake!
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Off Grid Fleece Preparation
Instructor: Jennifer Green
Skill Level: All
Materials: All
Students to Bring: N/A
Description: This class will cover methods of washing and dyeing fleece using techniques that promote low water and alternate energy source methods. We will cover tips and tricks for making the most of limited water supply, using fire as a heat source, fermented suint method and more. This course will be interesting for those who are in off-grid homesteading situations as well as for those who are looking to cut down on their water usage. The class will wash and dye fleece using several methods and will be able to take home samples of their work. Be prepared to lift, stand and possibly get wet or dirty.
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Terrible or Terrific: How to Get it Right
Instructor: Jenifer Stoesz
Skill Level: Intermediate to Advanced
Materials: $15 (collected by instructor at class)
Students to Bring: Please bring 3-5 variegated or textured yarns for "show and tell." These will only be viewed and not used.
Description: Use textured and variegated yarns in knitting, crocheting and weaving projects to make aesthetic choices resulting in items that look like designer originals rather than thrift store specials. Jenifer will bring several examples of successful projects and students will make "planning ball" by needle felting several types of yarns to see what works and doesn't. It is a fun day of critiquing and planning. Jenifer is also the owner of Jeny Originals and will have many hand-dyed and textured yarns available for sale at the marketplace on Saturday and Sunday.
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Twined Bags
Instructor: Caroline Spurgeon
Skill Level: Beginner
Materials: $30 (collected by instructor at class), includes twining loom and materials for class project
Students to Bring: scissors and imagination!
Description: Twining is an ancient technique that is quick and easy to do. Twining is suitable for a variety of projects and adaptable to many materials. Twined bags have many uses depending on the size and material used. They may be simple and durable bags for shopping, knitting or book bags, or elaborate bags made with fine yarns and intricate in design. Students will be working on their own adjustable loom. We will begin with the warping process and continue with the basic techniques and complete with finishing ideas. Students will leave class with a finished bag, their own loom and ideas for twining more of these useful bags. Workshop participants need only to bring scissors and their creativity! The instructor will furnish looms, warp and weft yarn and items to accessorize your bag.
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Weaving on a Rigid Heddle Loom
Instructor: Shirley Ellsworth
Skill Level: Beginner
Materials: $20 (collected by instructor at class)
Students to Bring: scissors, darning needles (optional)
Description: You will learn to weave on a 10” or 15” Cricket loom, these are inexpensive looms that range up to $195. You will weave on a pre-warped loom available for purchase if desired. We will demonstrate warping and finishing. Each student will create a sampler incorporating hand-controlled patterns emphasizing color and texture.
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Weaving with a Bow
Instructor: Joy Kammerer
Skill Level: All
Materials: $20 (collected by instructor at class)
Students to Bring: N/A
Description: Learn the ancient art of bow weaving (bow as in bow and arrow). Bracelets make a very nice accessory. This class will explore creating a small scale tabby weave with beads on a very portable loom. You will construct the loom in class and learn the technique for weaving the bracelet and finishing. A kit for the bracelet and loom will be provided with a choice of colors for beads, warm and weft.
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Friday, June 9 - 1 Day Workshops
Advanced Twining
Instructor: Caroline Spurgeon
Skill Level: Intermediate
Materials: $10 (collected by instructor at class)
Students to Bring: N/A
Description: Take the art of twining to the next level! We will explore twined forms including three color twining, twined rugs, using twining in combination with other types of weaving, and twined belts, cinches and straps. If you have a loom, bring it warped up. If not, don't worry as we will have plenty of looms to practice on. We will discuss and practice twining techniques and make a mohair belt/cinch in half size. This is an intermediate class so you should have taken the beginner class or had some experience in twining.
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Natural Dyes: Exploration, Extraction, Enthusiasm
Instructor: Stefania Isaacson
Skill Level: Any
Materials: $30 (collected by instructor at class)
Students to Bring: Heavy rubber gloves, apron, old towels, small plastic bags and marker, notebook and pen
Description: This natural dye class will explore plant materials from garden to field, how to extract the dye, and how to create our own dye pot. WE will use the flowers of Queen Anne's Lace, Goldenrod, Weld, and Marigolds to get yellows, and then we will over-dye in indigo and cochineal to get a variety of greens and oranges. Students will become immersed in color theory as well as the dye process. They will take home many samples, instruction, and knowledge of how to dye from nature on their own. As always, enthusiasm for beautiful color and for the fun process will abound!
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Quick and Lofty Yarn
Instructor: Joy Kammerer
Skill Level: All
Materials: $20 (collected by instructor at class)
Students to Bring: spinning wheel and four bobbins; if the student brings their own roving, there will not be a material fee
Description: Learn a new technique to add to your spinning repertoire. This one-handed spinning method will allow you to control over twist and dramatically increase your spinning speed. Learn to let your wheel do the work, relax, and enjoy spinning.
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Spinning Art Novelty Yarn
Instructor: Melina Bernhardt
Skill Level: Beginner
Materials: $15 (collected by instructor at class)
Students to Bring: Bring your spinning wheel and its accessories, spinning wheel oil, scissors and carders if you have them.
Description: Are you familiar with the book “Intertwined”? That is the inspiration of this class. We will show you how to recycle fabrics and fibers and use the blending board. We will spin with color and texture (locks, silk, alpaca, metallic, mohair,…) to create art yarn. Aura slub yarns (core wrapping), translucent mohair, felted novelty yarns,... can be spun. Perfect for knitting or crocheting cuffs, small scarves, and brilliant accents.
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Spinning with Beads
Instructor: Gwen Powell
Skill Level: Intermediate to Advanced (students should be able to spin a consistent single yarn on the wheel or spindle they bring, and be able to 2-ply a yarn.
Materials: $20 (collected by instructor at class), covers wool, silk, sparkles, beads, buttons, and shells
Students to Bring: Flick or hand carders if they own them; blending boards will be provided., but if the student has any type of blending board, they are encouraged to bring it; point wheel, delta orifice wheel or wheel with large orifice; at least three bobbins; scissors; lazy Kate; spool of thread from heavy sewing thread to fine lace weight for plying; bags or some sort of way to label their samples
Description:There are many ways to incorporate beads into our fiber arts. Some are more effective than others. But beads can be a disaster when weight and technique and finished product are not taken into account. Students will learn a number of methods on how to spin beads directly into their single yarns, threaded onto a single strand and plied into a finished yarn and what will work with different weights of beads and fiber. Students will create samples to refer to for future designs.
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Sweater Skills
Instructor: Ann McCauley
Skill Level: All
Materials: $2 (collected by instructor at class), will include technical handout
Students to Bring: Sharp scissors, pen or pencil with an eraser, blunt tapestry needle, flexible tape measurer, cable needle, stitch markers, and needles (US 7 or 8), a set of double pointed needles in same or close to same size may also be helpful, & a mid-sized crochet hook. There is also a homework assignment that needs to be completed prior to arriving at this class.
Description: Sweaters are my favorite thing to knit and wear! Let’s make sure you are elated when you try on your finished sweater for the first time! The keys are in the details. Topics to be covered include, but are not limited to, the selvage stitch, swatching, gauge, fiber and needle selection, measuring, fit, preferred increases and decreases, seaming, blocking, picking up stitches, buttonholes and more. Whether you have made a sweater before or not, this class will lead you to a successful sweater result and give you skills that will carry over into other knitting projects. We will explore the equation of techniques + tips + good choices which will never let you down.
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Teaching Children Fiber Arts
Instructor: Jennifer Green
Skill Level: All
Materials: $20 (collected by instructor at class)
Students to Bring: N/A
Description: This class is aimed at parents, grandparents, Elementary teachers, day care providers, Sunday School teachers, Scout and 4H leaders, and anyone else influencing today's youth. We will look at how we can share fiber arts with children of all ages. You will explore terms and vocabulary, history, organization tips, project ideas, stories and more. I will show you how I break instructions down and make them kid friendly. We will complete projects and activities in spinning, dyeing, weaving and felting that you can take back with you to share with your youth. I will share with you some reproducible handouts that you can take home and use. Join us for a day of fun that will inspire you to new crafting with your youth.
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Toes Go in First
Instructor: Patricia Kalthoff
Skill Level: Advanced
Materials: N/A
Students to Bring: A full skein of light-colored, smooth DK or worsted yarn; double pointed needles AND two pairs of circular needles, all the same size for the yarn used; standard knitting necessities such as scissors, markers, holders, tapestry needles and scrap yarn
Description: Learn the ins and outs (or ups and downs) of knitting your socks from the toe up. We will cover several different toe and heel treatments, and learn some tips to make all your sock knitting easier, no matter which direction you knit. Students should be comfortable with DPNs but no sock experience is necessary.
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Universal Mitered Bag/Modular Knitting
Instructor: Annie Modesitt
Skill Level: Advanced beginner & beyond
Materials: N/A
Students to Bring: at least two different colors of worsted or sport weight yarn (variegated is fine), circular needles of any length to work well with your chosen yarn
Description: Modular Knitting is a general term that embraces several ways of creating multi-directional knit fabric. Two of the most popular modular knitting methods are Entrelec and Mitered (or Domino) knitting. In this class, we'll cover the basics of Mitered (or Domino) knitting, learn ways to visualize color variations available in mitered knitting, and begin The Universal Mitered Bag, which can be completed at the knitter's own pace after the class. Students should be able to knit, purl, increase and decrease. We will learn new techniques for picking up stitches, joining a new yarn and weaving in the multiple ends of a modular knitting project in class.
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Yarn Buttons and Closures for that Finishing Touch
Instructor: Suzanne Correira
Skill Level: All
Materials: $15 (collected by instructor at class), for a cute Dorset Button kit and other button forms and handouts
Students to Bring: Any yarn that you would like to play around with for buttons - bring that project that needs buttons and the yarn for the project! Also needles for that gauge yarn, and a few smaller for a tighter gauge; your usual bag of knitting accessories; scrap amounts of yarn in all sorts of colors, worsted and DK weight in particular - bring to share and trade! If you have an I-cord machine, that would be a plus, otherwise we will be knitting I-cord on double point or circular needles.
Description: Can't find the perfect button for that cardigan you just finished? Want something that really matches or is something very special? Don't want to mess with clay or class? Then come learn a few closures made with yarn or thread! And yes, this is for all you "non crocheteres" out there as we are going to wrap, embroider and knit our way to some fun and easy ways to finish off that cardigan or other knitted garment with style! We will learn about the very popular Dorset style buttons, a few frogs closures with Chinese or Celtic knots, and some adorable knitted buttons. Many of these have other trim and jewelry applications as well. A bonus is that yarn button craft is very portable and can be worked on almost anywhere.
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Thursday & Friday, June 8 & 9 - 2 Day Workshops
Fancy Scarf
Instructor: Emilia Ponomarev
Skill Level: Intermediate to Advanced
Materials: $60 (collected by instructor at class)
Students to Bring: synthetic mesh, liquid soap, bubble wrap 1yd x 1yd, 3 medium size towels, underfloor laminate 1yd x 1yd, various yarn and natural fine fabric scraps, needles, strong thread, sharp scissors, 3 rubber bands ~15” each, three large garbage bags, masking tape.
Description: Students will learn the use of resists and learn how to make a scarf. Students will learn how to decorate a scarf with various fibers, yarns and natural fabric. They will also learn to mix 2 to 3 wool varieties to obtain a new color. They will learn to make fray. Students will be introduced
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Introduction to Weaving
Instructor: Rose Vigil
Skill Level: All
Materials: $25 (collected by instructor at class)
Students to Bring: A loom of which they prefer to learn a weaving structure of their choice; if they have any tools, please bring those along for the workshop
Description: Learn your loom setup, weaving terminology, fundamentals and techniques on setting up your loom for many different types of weave structures.
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Knitting the Landscape
Instructor: Celeste Nossiter
Skill Level: Intermediate
Materials: $40 (collected by instructor at class)
Students to Bring: N/A
Description: Use the inspiration of the Rockies for a stranded pattern to knit. We play with a new approach to color theory and learn a new speed swatching for stranded knitting. Begin a hat or cowl and leave with plans for a garment. Must have experience stranding (fair isle).
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Start Spinning
Instructor: Maggie Casey
Skill Level: All
Materials: $20 (collected by instructor at class)
Students to Bring: Spinning wheel and all its parts; Lazy Kate and at least 3 bobbins; Wool hand cards
Description: Spider Woman taught the Navajo to spin with spindles of lightning and turquoise. Gandhi encouraged the people of India to spin every day for meditation and economic freedom. Rumplestiltskin spun straw into gold and Sleeping Beauty pricked her finger on her spindle and fell into a deep sleep. History and fable are full of tales of spinning and its effect on the people who do it. If you have always wanted to spin, have taught yourself a little, or haven’t spun for awhile, this workshop will be just what you need to gain confidence and skill. We will start with a beautiful fleece, learn to card, spin, ply and set the twist. Then we will spin woolen and worsted yarns, some commercially prepared fibers and discuss wheel maintenance. Spinning straw into gold may be beyond our reach, but beautiful yarn is not!
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