Fiber Arts

Pre-registration is required for classes & workshops - please register online below or call 508-693-1850.
Minimum age requirement for all adult classes is 14 years old.
CANCELLATION AND REFUND POLICY:
Please read all class descriptions and be aware of age, skill level and materials requirements in ADVANCE of registering for any classes and workshops. Featherstone does not issue refunds unless we cancel the class due to low enrollment.

Needle Felted Gifts with Rory Valentine
Dates: Saturday, November 11th and/or Sunday, December 10th
Time: Additional workshop added on 12/10! 11:00AM - 1:00PM
2:00PM - 4:00PM
Location: Art Barn Library
Fee: $50 includes all materials

Join us at Featherstone this holiday season and give yourself the gift of creative time while making a unique treasure for someone special. In this mini workshop, you will make a winter/holiday themed needle felted ornament, gift tag, or other small felted sculpture. Needle fleeting is a simple yet dynamic technique of using barbed needles to entangle wool fibers into 2-D and 3-D forms.

Assisted Open Knitting Studio with Helen Hall and Zoe Thompson
Days: Wednesdays
Dates: January 18, 25 / February 1, 8, 15, 22 / (no 3/1), March 8, 15, 22, 29 / April 5, 12, (no 4/19), 26 / May 3, 10, 17, 24, (no 5/31) / June 7, June 14
(Time change for summer months)
September 27 / October 4, 11, 18, 25 / November 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 / December 6, 13
Time: 10:00AM-12:00PM
Location: Art Barn Library
Fee: $20 per meeting

Join us on Wednesdays for open knitting studio with assistance and guidance from Helen Hall and Zoe Thompson. Enjoy company and conversation as we work on our own various projects, or get assistance from a previous knitting class held at Featherstone. Helen and Zoe can provide assistance, advice and guidance if you have a question or to help troubleshoot a project.

Previous (2023)

New to Knitting with Helen Hall
Days: Tuesdays
Dates: January 20, 27, February 10, 17 // Session 2: March 10, 17, (no 24), 31, April 7 // Session 3: October 17, 24 (no 31), November 7, 14
Time: 10:00AM - 12:00PM
Location: Art Barn Library
Fee: $195 includes knitting tote with a set of bamboo needles and a skein of yarn. Additional materials are available for purchase before and after instruction. Ages 9 and up.

New to Knitting is a 4-week series in which each week a new knitting technique will be introduced along with knitting terms and vocabulary and pattern reading. The 4-week series is intended for those who have never knitted or those who wish to deepen their skill sets.

Week 1: Casting on and the garter stitch on straight needles.
Week 2: The purl stitch, different stitch combinations and casting off
Week 3: Increasing and decreasing
Week 4: Knitting in the round and double pointed needles.

ART NIGHT! Fiber: Start a Scarf
with Zoe Thompson
Date: Tuesday, November 7th
Time: 5:00PM - 7:00PM
Location: Art Barn Library
Fee: $60, includes all materials

Have you ever wanted to learn to knit? Come learn the basics - how to cast on and the garter stitch so you can begin a scarf. Learn the fundamentals to get you going and have the skills to complete your scarf at home (or come to an Assisted Open Knitting Studio). This fun 2 hour intro to knitting workshop includes everything you need to get started - needles and yarn - to Start a Scarf! Wine, cider and tea included (or BYOB).

Yarn in the Art Barn
Date: Thursday, November 2nd
Time: 5:00PM - 7:00PM
Location: Art Barn
Fee: Free event, yarn for sale

Join us at the first “Yarn in the Art Barn” on an autumn evening to explore different types of yarn for sale: from sock, to hand painted, to fingering to bulky. Come build or add to your stash while helping other fiber artists make room to add more to theirs and find your next project with Featherstone’s fiber library of patterns.

Visible Mending with Rory Valentine
Date: Saturday, October 7th
Time: 2:00PM - 4:00PM
Location: Art Barn Library
Fee: $45 includes all materials

Extend the life of your most beloved garments. Revitalize heirlooms and fabric home goods with visible mending. In this workshop, we will explore patching, darning, Japanese Sashiko stitching, and other embroidery techniques to artfully repair, renew and reuse your clothing and textiles for years to come. Bring your favorite clothing/textiles to mend or practice techniques on the fabrics provided.

Autumnal Needle Felting with Rory Valentine
Date: Saturday, September 16th
Time: 2:00PM - 4:00PM
Location: Art Barn Library
Fee: $50 includes all materials

Needle fleeting is a simple yet dynamic technique of using barbed needles to entangle wool fibers into 2-D and 3-D forms. In this mini workshop, you will work on your own fall themed wool piece, a pumpkin, leaf, acorn or other small felted sculpture.

Knitters Circle with Helen Hall
Days: Wednesdays
Dates: July 12, 26, August 2, 23
Time: 5:00PM - 7:00PM
Location: Art Barn Library or outside on the Art Barn deck, weather permitting
Fee: $20 per meeting

Is it too hot to knit? Never! Join our summer Knitter’s Circle Wednesdays for open knitting studio with fun weekly topics. Helen Hall will be present to offer assistance and guidance when needed. Enjoy company and conversation, have access to our library of patterns with different types of yarn and needles available for sale to start your summer knitting project. Helen can provide assistance, advice and guidance if you have a question or to help troubleshoot a project.

July 12 - Novelty Yarns: Novelty yarns are made of synthetic fibers in a wide variety of textures and colors. They are most often blends of fibers to create unique textures and attract attention. Novelty yarns are a fun way to add a new touch to your project.

July 26 - Sock Yarn: Sock yarn isn’t just for socks anymore! Use a skein of this self-stripping yarn to knit colorful baby clothes, hats, scarves, and much more,

August 2 - Hand-Dyed Yarn: Hand-dyed yarns is a yarn that has been treated with dyes by hand, usually in small batches. Hand-dyed yarn are quality and luxury as most dyers opt for the highest quality of yarn they can find.

August 23 - Novelty Yarns: Novelty yarns are made of synthetic fibers in a wide variety of textures and colors. They are most often blends of fibers to create unique textures and attract attention. Novelty yarns are a fun way to add a new touch to your project.

Mini Felted Flora & Fauna with Rory Valentine
Date: Tuesday, August 1st
Time: 5:00PM - 7:00PM
Location: Printmaking Studio
Fee: $50 includes all materials

Needle fleeting is a simple yet dynamic technique of using barbed needles to entangle wool fibers into 2-D and 3-D forms. In this class, you will work on your own mini sculptural flora or fauna piece to take home!

Shibori Dying with Indigo with Rory Valentine
Date: Wednesday, July 19th
Time: 2:00PM - 6:00PM
Location: Outside the Printmaking Studio
Fee: $100 for 4 hour workshop, includes materials

Shibori is the Japanese word for a method of dying that uses binding, stitching, folding, twisting, and compression to make marks on cloth. We will explore this technique using indigo a centuries-old traditional blue dye. Students will make a beautiful and unique set of four linen napkins to keep or gift.

Marbling on Fabric with Rory Valentine
Date: Thursday, June 29th
Time: 5:00PM - 7:00PM
Location: Printmaking Studio
Fee: $50 for 2 hour workshop, includes materials

Marbling is a technique of surface design where colorful paints are floated and decoratively swirled on a gel medium then transferred to cotton fabric (or paper) creating a beautiful and complex pattern. In this class, you will learn and practice this technique and take home 4 unique marbleized cotton cloth napkins.

Needle Felted Flowers with Rory Valentine
Date: Saturday, May 27th
Time: 2:00PM - 4:00PM
Location: Art Barn Library (or outside, weather permitting)
Fee: $50 includes all materials

Needle fleeting is a simple yet dynamic technique of using barbed needles to entangle wool fibers into 2-D and 3-D forms. In this class, we will take inspiration from The Art of Flowers exhibit to sculpt our own colorful blooms. Students can expect to make 2-3 small flowers - you will be able to felt a stem if you choose, or create these flowers to pin to you jacket, add to a hat or basket!

Knitting Workshops - Take your knitting to the next level with one (or all) of these 2 week workshops. Workshops are not designed for the new knitter but are suited for a knitter who is comfortable with knitting and purling and pattern reading. Each workshop includes needles, yarn and pattern which will introduce you to the topic. Additional needles and yarn will also be available for sale.

Knitting 2 at a Time: The Magic Loop
Dates: Wednesdays, January 18th & 25th
Time: 10:30PM - 12:30PM
Location: Art Barn Library
Fee: $80 plus $35 materials fee (2 sets needles, 2 skeins yarn)

Magic loop knitting is the clever technique of making a small circle while using a single pair of circular needles, which you can then go on to knit sleeves, socks and similar small projects. Knitting in the round means that you’ll knit in one continuous piece and the magic loop will help with this!

Color Work
Dates: Wednesdays, February 1st & 8th
Time: 12:30PM - 2:30PM
Location: Art Barn Library
Fee: $80 plus $35 materials fee (2 sets needles, 2 skeins yarn)

Adding more colors to your knitted goods is a great way to add contrast, interest, and personality to your work. The idea of joining yarn or changing colors can be intimidating, but it’s actually an easy process that even novice knitters can master. The simple method can be used to change colors for stripes, fair isle, or just random color changes