Round Reed Basket Workshop is an introduction to weaving a simple basket. In the class you will learn basic basket construction and weave your very own basket. The class will have hands-on instruction, live demonstrations and tips for successful basket weaving. No prior basket weaving knowledge is needed, just the desire to weave a basket. We will talk about adding color to the reed and embellishments to your baskets. You will complete a small to medium basket and receive a “goodie-bag” with additional reed, and instruction booklet, that will include everything you need to continue your basket making “obsession” at home.
 

• Skill Levels – Beginner / No experience is needed

•  What do I need to bring to the class? – Here are the items to bring: 

                           • Small Needle Nose Pliers 
                           • Darning Needle -Metal
                           • Strong Scissors – Make sure they                                                are sharp.
                           • 2- Dish Towels – we will be                                                           working with WATER 
                           • Optional: Apron **Note: Please do                                               not feel that you have to go and                                                   buy any new tools, these should be items                                   you have at home, and if not, we can share                                 during the workshop.

• What will the teacher provide - Enough Round Reed to complete 2 to 3 small to medium baskets.  A complete instruction booklet, resources, tips and tricks, live demonstration, personalized hands-on help and guidance, and a goodie-bag filled with fun swag.

In this class you will learn all the basics of Punch Needle Rug Hooking while  completing two small projects. We start with learning the two basic stitch lengths  in the Mug Rug project. You will then move onto making a project that can be hung on the wall! You will go home with all the knowledge you need to feel  confident in next Punch Needle projects.

· Skill Levels – Beginner / No experience is needed

· What do I need to bring to the class? – Good scissors.

·What will the teacher provide - All of the materials for both projects, a punch needle to use during class as well as a no slip hoop.

In this class we will create a needle felted barn owl for you to take home.  You will also have plenty of wool to take home and play more.  I know there are bats in the Copper K barn, but these sweet owls are much cuter and are rare in Montana.  I did have the pleasure of one visiting me for several months here on my farm, which was the original inspiration.

• Skill Levels – Beginner, but be aware your owl may not look like the sample.  They all turn out differently and that's what I love about it.

• What do I need to bring to the class? - Nothing

• What will the teacher provide? - Wool, wire, eyes, felting pads, needles and tools.

We've all 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.

• Skill Levels – All Skill Levels Welcome

• What do I need to bring to the class? ~ Dust mask, old clothes and comfortable shoes (not sandals), pen or pencil.  

Note, students may need to be prepared to work outside for most of the day (hot, cold, rain, shine).

• What will the teacher provide – Pre-cut yarn samples, dyes, recipes, dyeing equipment, gloves, notebooks, sample pages, class notes.

In this class we will be creating a wagon wheel rug.  Instead of using a wagon wheel, however, we will use a hoola hoop.  The hoop becomes our loom.  This is very basic weaving that includes tips and tricks on warping the hoop and binding off.   Wagon wheel rugs we originally made using a wagon wheel or more commonly the metal ring from the outside of the wheel.  There is not a lot of information about these, but I knew a woman in my hometown who always had a rug in the making.   We will be using a smaller hoop due to time limitations.  This smaller piece can be used as a rug, mat, chair pad or pet mat.

• Skill Levels – Beginner

• What do I need to bring to the class? - Scissors

• What will the teacher provide – Hoops, roving, warp yarn.

Have you ever wanted to ply the perfect yarn?  Is your plying coming out underpin or over-energized?  Then this class is perfect for you!  In this three-hour interactive class, we'll talk about different types of plying and what methods are best for various applications,.  Then we’ll spin and learn how to ply a perfectly balanced yarn using some handy tips and tricks I've learned along the way!

• Skill Levels – This class is open to all spinners who are already able to spin a consistent single and know  the basics of how to ply.

• What do I need to bring to the class? – Students should bring their own spinning wheel in good working order, items to care for their wheel (oil and maintenance kit), three empty bobbins, and a lazy kate, along with a willingness to have fun and learn.

• What will the teacher provide - Materials include 2-3oz of prepared spinning fiber (we’ll all be spinning the same fiber to keep everything consistent) along with a resource guide filled with handouts, information, tips, and tricks. Additional supplies may be made available at the end of class for an additional fee.

Come create your very own masterpiece while learning to paint with wool.  We’ll start with needle-felting your design, building color and textures, and then we’ll finish it off with a steam wet-felt before matting and framing your work.  I’ll provide everything you need, including colored fiber, felting needles, foam mats, picture mat and frame, and you bring your love of color and a willingness to learn and create! Students under the age of 12 are welcome to attend with a paying adult.

​

• Skill Levels – All Skill Levels Welcome

• What do I need to bring to the class? ~ Students should bring an inspiration photo, their love of color and a willingness to learn.  They are welcome to bring their own favorite felting needles if they would like. 

• What will the teacher provide – Student kits, which includes colored fiber, felting needles (single and multi-felting tool), form mats, picture mat, frame, and resource guide.  Students will take home all materials at the end of class and additional supplies may be made available for purchase at the end of class.

This workshop is for people interested in learning more about fibers, using embellishment techniques or those just wanting to have some fun.  We will make a 6 x 6 inch sample for each new technique.  We will make a sampler book for you to take home.  Different samplers will be inclusions, protrusions, slashes, resists, prefelts, pockets, raised surfaces and more.

• Skill Levels – Should know basic wet felting

• What do I need to bring to the class? ~ Large bath towel, sharp scissors, small stones, colored gems, marbles and such items for inclusions if you have any.

• What will the teacher provide – Bubble wrap, wool & items for felting, resists, ball brauser, water, soap etc.

This class is taught by Cultural Anthropologist Billy Maxwell, the dyer and designer of the Montana Point Blanket.

Expose yourself to the "devil’s dye," natural indigo.  A sin so deep that in 1609 France decreed that anyone using the dye would be executed. This evil will be committed in a vat of rotten urine (there will be non-urine vats for the weak), and the blue powders are imported from exotic Southeast Asia. A vile green liquid will be made in a cauldron where the living breath is choked out (anaerobic). Your victim of the vat will be English plain woven 100% wool flannel. Just as in medieval times with precious woad or other dyes were restricted from going into the selvage by binding. Prevent the waste and save the list since this is not seen when sewn. You will whip stitch the cloth with a girt webbing, dip the piece into the dye, and raise it up to the sky. Then witness a 6000-year old spell as your green, wet cloth turns blue. Just as with dunking witches, we may have to push the cloth under the surface a few more times until it is the shade of blue you desire. Once the girt webbing is unbound, you will have a reproduced item that was given and traded to Native Americans from 1740 until today. Sort of a period correct tie dye. Once as common as blue jeans, these methods will give you the skills to use indigo on yarn skeins, silk scarves, or thrift store clothes with a new zip. Indigo is one of the greatest dye bounds ever and is usually removed with the violence of stones. 

Come to the edge of Lewis & Clark’s great views from "Point of Rocks" and make an item they carried as gifts.

Immerse yourself in history until you're blue!

• Skill Levels – All Skill Levels are Welcome

• What do I need to bring to the class? - Wear old cloths, rubber gloves, towels

• What will the teacher provide – Cloth, dyes and equipment needed.

​

​

Spinners have produced beautiful yarns on suspended spindles for centuries, and this type of spinning has been done a lot longer than spinning wheel spinning.  Reconnect with your ancestral heritage by learning to spin on a drop spindle.  During this class,  Sylvia will teach you how to spin different types of wool on a drop spindle as you learn the basics of fiber drafting. You’ll also learn how to create a plied yarn with this tool.   At first glance, spinning on a drop spindle appears slower and more primitive than using a spinning wheel to create yarn. Looks can be deceiving, as a spindle is an effective tool for making yarn and it is more affordable and portable than a spinning wheel. No spinning experience is necessary. A handout with resources and terminology will be provided. Bring your own spindle to use in class, or borrow one of Sylvia’s.  You'll also be provided with a simple spindle featuring a repurposed CD.

• Skill Levels – Beginner

• What do I need to bring to the class? Students may bring their own drop spindles, but it isn't required.

• What will the teacher provide ? - wool, spindles for use in class, take-home spindles