Classes

Fall 2008 to Winter 2009

Lunch is available at a café next door, and Murfreesboro has three bed and breakfasts for overnight stays.

All classes, except as noted below, will be taught by Jennie Wood of the Woolery staff. See information about instructors below.

Download the registration form.

Weaving on Simple Looms - $55

September 6 & 13 10 a.m.- 2 p.m

November 4 & 11 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Learn the basics of handweaving using a rigid heddle loom. We will make the warp, dress the loom, and weave fabric that can be used for table mats, purses or bags, scarves, sashes and much more. The weaving will include solid colors, stripes, plaids, nubby textures, and other patterns that are possible using a simple two shaft loom. Students may practice on the looms at the store between the two class sessions if they wish.

Materials fee: $5.00
No experience necessary

Introduction to Handspinning - $45

October 8 & 15 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

November 8 & 15 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

February 6 & 7 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. & 10 a.m.- 2 p.m

Make your own yarn from unspun wool fibers. Students will prepare the fibers, then move to the process of spinning. We will begin on the drop spindle, then progress to the spinning wheel. The final steps are skeining, washing, and setting the twist in your yarn. Then you are ready to knit, weave, crochet, or use the yarn in any way that suits you.

Materials fee: $5.00
No experience necessary

Dyeing with Plants - $50

September 20 10 a.m. - 4 p.m

October 18 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Before the 1860’s, virtually all dyeing of yarns and fabrics was done using natural, found-in-nature materials. In this one-day class we will be dyeing wool yarn with traditional dyes as well as some plants found in local gardens and fields. We will learn the best methods for preparing the yarns and the dyes, applying mordants, and dyeing the yarn. Each student will take home an assortment of colors to dye for.

All materials are included.
No experience necessary

Tapestry and Bead Weaving - $90

September 18 & 25 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

October 16 & 23 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Learn to weave with beads and fibers together while making a versatile, decorative purse. The warping system used in this class has its roots in the Mayan and Navajo traditions and results in a piece that comes off the loom with no ends to finish. This two-session class will focus on beads in the first meeting, then on unusual tapestry techniques in the second session. We will cover finishing methods as well as several interesting ways to incorporate other fiber and art media. No experience necessary

Materials needed: The book "Copper Loom" and a tapestry/bead loom built by the instructors for the class. Each is $25 and both are available at The Woolery.

Instructor: you get 2 - the authors of "Copper Loom" - Cindy Yost and Kat Allison

Weave a Small Gift - $35

December 6 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

There is no gift so precious as one that is made by hand. If it is a little less than perfect, even better; it will be clear that it is not made by a machine. In this one day class, students will weave a special fabric to give to a special person. We can make table mats, belts, camera straps, purses, shoelaces, jewelry, or even art in the form of a wall hanging. We welcome adults and well-mannered children of ages 10 and up.

Materials fee: $5.00
No experience necessary

Instructors

	Jennie Wood Jennie comes to The Woolery by a long path that began when she worked at Wilde Yarns, a woolen spinning mill in Philadelphia. There she learned about wools and the process of spinning from one of the masters. Since then, she has been the director of the weaving center in Harrisville, NH, developed new products for a rug manufacturer, sold high-end antique oriental rugs, co-directed a non-profit organization working with Afghan village women, and served as a textile consultant specializing in natural dyes and wool quality in Central Asia, Turkey, Pakistan, India, and Armenia. She has taught the use of traditional dyes to handspinners, pile rug weavers and traditional feltmakers in their home communities. She has attended many Convergences as well as regional conferences and continues to be an active part of the handweaving community. And she is a proud member of Weave a Real Peace. At The Woolery, Jennie is Director of Development, involved with sales, customer outreach, product evaluation, and classes.
	Cindy French and Kat Allison Both have been involved with fiber arts since early childhood.  They quilt, weave, bead, tat, sew, and, between them, cover knitting and crochet.  When they met at a bead store, they combined their complaints about looms and the difficulty of combining tapestry and beads in one piece.  Soon Cindy had the first draft of a loom design. They have been developing and revising the loom since then, and have used it to produce a large body of work for exhibitions and for teaching. They love the freedom to use fibers, yarns, and beads in the same piece, and they enjoy teaching others to be creative.