This full weekend of workshops and classes will expand the possibilities for fiber and fabric arts and crafts in your life, as a hobby and/or as a way to contribute to your household economy. Many sessions are hands-on and all are taught by local experts. You can attend the whole weekend, or just one day, as you wish.
Increase your household resilience by learning how to create clothing, household and decorative items using new or re-purposed materials, and how to maintain and repair the ones you already have!
Schedule
| Saturday | ||
| 8:30 – 9:00 am | Check-in and coffee | |
| 9:00 – 10:30 am | Make Do & Mend – Fran Cudworth | Demystifying the Sewing Machine – Cam & Shawn Bailey |
| 10:45 – 12:45 | Knit a Sock in a Weekend (part 1) – Kevin Wilson | Upcycle Your Shrunken Sweaters – Roberta Pearson |
| 1:30 – 4:30 pm | Beginning continental knitting – Marlaine Taylor | Off-loom weaving – Hana-Louise Braun |
| Sunday | ||
| 8:30 – 9:00 am | Check-in and coffee | |
| 9:00 – 10:30 am | Knit a Sock in a Weekend (part 2) – Kevin Wilson | Beginner spinning on a drop spindle – Val McKeen |
| 10:45 – 12:45 | Art yarn on a drop spindle – Katrina Craig | Latch Hook Rug Making without yarn – Alice McCallum |
| 1:30 – 4:30 pm | Simple Hand Applique – Marlaine Taylor | Learn to Crochet: simple handwarmers – Roberta Pearson |
Knit a Sock in a Weekend (2 sessions)
On Saturday morning we’ll learn how to use circular needles to knit socks, and begin our sock by casting on and knitting the toe. You can knit as much as you wish of a foot during the rest of the day, then on Sunday morning turn the heel and continue to knit the leg. The top ribbing and castoff will probably be completed at home. We’ll also cover how to knit socks “Two at a Time” on circular needles so that you can do this with your next pair. You will need to be able to knit and purl with reasonable confidence, and bring yarn and needles – What to bring
Instructor: Kevin Wilson
Demystifying the Sewing Machine
Cam will cover how sewing machines work (including example of a dismantled machine so you can see inside), home maintenance of your machine (with a tool list), mechanical versus electronic, and what NOT to buy. Then Shawn will show you how to ‘learn’ your own machine and not be intimidated by it, the importance of correct thread and threading the machine, and understanding tension.
Instructors: Shawn and Cam Bailey of The Eccentric Cam.
Make Do & Mend
Come and find out how a 1940s wartime philosophy is relevant in today’s throwaway society. You will learn skills like mending, darning recycling, reusing and making the most of clothing, old school style, but with a modern approach. Bring items to patch and mend!
Instructor: Fran Cudworth
Basic Hand Spinning : learn to make wool yarn on a drop spindle
Students will learn how to prepare wool fibres for spinning, basic hand spinning technique, and how to prepare hand spun yarn for use in other projects. Students welcome to bring their own spindle but spindles will be provided in class. Materials fee: $10
Instructor: Val McKeen
Spinning art yarn on a drop spindle
How to make your own chunky funky lumpy bumpy sparkly art yarn. Students with spinning technique from basic to advanced are welcome.
Materials fee: $15 for fleece to spin, $15 for drop spindle if you don’t have your own
Instructor: Katrina Craig
Off-Loom Weaving with Scrap Yarn
“Nail on board” tapestry weaving: can be used to make garments. Yarn, needles, nails, and boards for a small project will be supplied. For those wishing to make something larger, call for more information as to what to bring.
Materials fee: $10
Instructor: Hana-Louise Braun
Beginning Continental Knitting
Experienced knitters at the “throw” form of knitting will learn to switch over to “Continental” knitting which will make their knitting experience faster. And who doesn’t want to be able to knit quicker? We’ll cover both the knit stitch and purl stitch. As well, we’ll cover moving from knit to purl and back again as in ribbing, and the magic loop method of knitting in the round.
Nothing supplied. Knitters need to bring approximately size 5mm – 60 cm long circular needle, wool of appropriate weight for needle and a pair of scissors.
Instructor: Marlaine Taylor
Simple Hand Applique
Participants will learn a basic method for hand appliqué which will include the correct stitch technique and how to deal with points and corners. Instruction will also be given on how to develop and create a design of your own.
Materials fee: $4/person which will include fabric and needle. Please bring your own scissors for fabric, thread and paper, and a sharp pencil.
Instructor: Marlaine Taylor
Upcycle your Shrunken Sweaters
In this class you will discover the amazing properties of an old, shrunken sweater (or what have you). Or it may just be an old item that you would just as soon throw away as keep. If it is 100% wool, you have the makings of pieces of felt which are useful in a host of different ways. The class will cover how to take an item and shrink it on purpose (or shrink it even further than it already is), cut it into patterns, methods of stitching pieces together, and the making of a mug/cup cozy. A handout with tips and sources of information will be provided to take with you. What to Bring
Instructor: Roberta Pearson
Latch Hook Rug Making – without yarn
Create a rug as individual as you are. Don’t throw out your favourite t-shirts. Come and learn how to latch hook a rug using your old t-shirt(s) as the “yarn”. We will cut up the t-shirts to create our “yarn”, and then start creating a rug. Making a latch hook rug can be easy, relaxing, fun and very enjoyable, it is a hobby and interest that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. Latch-hooking uses a hinged hook to form a knotted pile from short, pre-cut pieces of yarn – or in our case – T-shirts. Materials fee: $5.00 What to Bring
Instructor: Alice McCallum
Learn to Crochet: simple handwarmers
In this class you will learn the chain and single crochet stitches, using them to make a pair of fingerless gloves (aka – hand warmers, gauntlets, etc). Even if you have never picked up a crochet hook before, you will be able to learn these simple stitches and make a stylish pair of hand warmers. There will be a handout with pattern, stitch guide, source of tutorials, etc. Supply List
Instructor: Roberta Pearson
Event Logistics
Walk the Talk: this weekend aims to be zero waste and support local producers. Please help us reduce our carbon footprint by carpooling, biking, walking or using the bus to get to and from the site!
Date: Sat and Sun Jan 24 and 25 2015
Location: Cranberry Community Hall, 6828 Cranberry St (at the top of the hill: NOT the Senior’s Centre on the corner!)
Bus route 1 stops just down the hill from the hall.
Cost:
Deposit $20 on registration, remainder due by Jan 20
Full Weekend: Early bird price $99 till Jan 10
Full Weekend: Regular price $119 from Jan 11 to Jan 25
Single Day: Early bird price $55 till Jan 10
Single Day: Regular price $65 from Jan 11 to Jan 25
You may pay up to 20% in Powell River Dollars PR$
Special deal: 15-18 year olds get in for only $40 for the whole weekend!
Work trades now full
Some partial scholarships available – contact Kevin directly
Cancellation policy
50% refund up to 2 weeks before
No refund after that but you are welcome to send a substitute
