KNITTING
Knitting Club
Monday mornings (10:00 a.m. – noon ) May 1 – August 28
$85 for 17 weeks
OR Tuesday afternoons (1:00 – 3:00 p.m.) May 2 – August 29
$85 for 17 weeks
OR Thursday afternoons (1:00 – 3:00 p.m.) May 4 – August 31
$90 for 18 weeks
OR Thursday evenings (7:00 – 9:00 p.m.) May 4 – August 31
$90 for 18 weeks
OR Friday mornings (10:00 a.m. – noon) May 5 – September 1
$90 for 28 weeks
Advisors: Suzanne Kelly, Carol Quinn, Karen Johnson
This is not a class, but a “support” group for beginners through advanced knitters. Bring your own projects and enjoy the company (and knowledge) of other knitters. One of our staff is always available if you need more help than the group can give you. Some knitting experience is required: you must know how to knit and purl. Members receive a $5 merchandise credit for each week in attendance PLUS 10% OFF all yarn. Feel free to join anytime, even after the sessions have started. (We will prorate the fee). Not sure if this is for you? Try a class for free.
Knitting for Beginners
Maximum 6 participants
Sundays(2 – 4 p.m.) May 21 AND 28
$125
Instructor: Ginny Soma
This two-week class is designed for new knitters as well as anyone needing a refresher. We will discuss different yarns, needles, tools, how to cast on stitches, how to knit and purl, and how to knit in the round. Students will be able to apply what they learn to individual projects.
Class one: Includes an overview of knitting as well as learning how to cast on and how to knit and purl stitches. My goal is for us to start our project by the end of the class.
Class two: Starts with a review of what we’ve learned in class one as well as continuing with our project. My goal for week two is for you to be confident enough in your knitting skills and to continue on with your project on your own. If time allows, I will demonstrate how to cast off.
Materials: Students will need to purchase their yarn and needles along with any other materials needed.
SPINNING
Spinning Club
First Monday of each month (1 – 3 p.m.)
No charge
Advisor: Suzanne Kelly
This is a drop-in group. Join us to sit, spin and relax with your wheel or spindle once a month. We’ll share techniques, tips, and conversation. All levels are welcome. Participants will receive 10% OFF spinning fibers the days the club meets.
Beginning Drop Spindle
Minimum 3 participants, max 6; one 3-hour class
Wednesday (1:00 – 4:00 p.m.) August 9
$50 includes materials
Instructor: Penny Lacroix
Love fiber? Love yarn? Learn to make your own yarn from commercially prepared wool fibers using a drop spindle. Spinning with a drop spindle is relaxing and portable. Students may bring their own drop spindle, borrow one from the instructor, or purchase one at the shop. Each student in this half-day class will go home with a small skein of handspun yarn. Students over 12 are welcome to join the class.
Beginning Spinning on a Wheel
Minimum 3 participants, max 5; one 4-hour class (with a break for lunch)
Saturday (10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.) August 19
$75 includes materials
Instructor: Penny Lacroix
Want to be able to spin your own yarn for knitting, weaving or gifting? Do you want to try different wheels to see what works best for you? Do you want to understand the difference between roving and top, and how to use them? Students will learn to spin from different types of commercially prepared fiber and try several types of wheels. Equipment and fiber will be provided for use in the class. Students may bring their own wheel in good working order if they have one. Students over 12 are welcome to join the class.
WEAVING
Beginning Weaving
Minimum 3 participants, max 5; two 6-hour classes (with a break for lunch)
Thursdays August 10 (10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.) AND August 17 (10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.)
$200 plus materials (includes loom rental fee)
Instructor: Penny Lacroix
This 2-day class is a start-to-finish beginning weaving experience on a 4-shaft loom. The first day, students are guided through measuring out a warp, beaming the warp, sleying the reed and threading the heddles. The first few rows of weaving will be complete before the end of the day. The looms go home along with students with instructions for weaving a sampler between the classes. Support is available between the classes. On the second day, the samplers are completed and we take a step back to get an introduction to project planning and drafting. Portable 4-shaft tabletop looms are provided for use during and between the classes as part of the class fee. An additional materials fee covers the yarn used for the sampler. Materials fee: cost of 6-9 oz perle cotton (~$2 per ounce) and the optional purchase of Learning to Weave by Debbie Chandler.
Special offer for Beginning Weaving only: Take the class with a friend for just $30 more! You’ll work on one loom and make one sampler, but you will both learn just as much! Students over 12 are welcome to join the class with an adult.
Inkle Weaving
Minimum 3 participants, max 5; one 5-hour session
Wednesday (10 a.m. – 3 p.m.) August 16
$75 (includes borrowing a loom during the class if needed)
Instructor: Penny Lacroix
Inkle weaving is a simple and inexpensive way to weave narrow bands of fabric. There are limitless possibilities of color design. Participants will learn to make heddles and efficiently warp the loom in different color patterns and will weave a narrow band, bookmarks, or shoelaces. When signing up, please indicate whether you have an inkle loom or not. Some looms are available to borrow for the class and will be available for purchase at a discount following the class. There will be a break for lunch. Students over 12 are welcome to join the class.
Scarf in a Day
One participant at a time
Call to schedule a date – allow 4 hours
$75 includes materials, instruction and use of the pre-warped loom for a day
Come in and weave a rayon chenille scarf on a pre-warped loom. You will receive personal instructions on how to wind bobbins and weave the scarf. You’ll weave the scarf on your own, but someone will be available for questions. When you are done weaving, you cut the scarf off the loom and take it home for finishing. Fringing and washing instructions will be provided. No need to invest in a loom, warping, or materials. Let us do that for you!
Special Request Classes
Are you interested in learning something specialized? Maybe a special spinning technique or a specific weaving structure? Let the shop know! We’ll be setting up fall classes over the summer, and we’re always looking for new class ideas!
CROCHET
Beginner Crochet
Maximum 6 participants
Tuesday(1:30 – 4 p.m.) May 23 OR 30
$35 plus materials
Instructor: Harry Reardon-Daley
This class is for the absolute beginner. Learn all the techniques to create a 7″ by 9″ afghan section. You will learn to hold the hook and keep tension as well as make the foundation chain, single crochet and half double crochet stitches, and measure gauge. Materials: One skein Plymouth Encore, size I (5.5mm) hook.
Frankie the Frog
Maximum 8 participants
Tuesdays (10 a.m. – 1 p.m.) July 11 AND 18
$60 plus materials
Instructor: Harry Reardon-Daley
Prerequisite: Must be able to work, and be familiar with, basic crochet stitches worked in rows (single crochet and half-double crochet, double crochet). Must be able to read patterns and work in rounds. Using crochet in continuous rounds, you will make this cute frog in two colors following a pattern provided for in class. The eyes are worked using scraps of black worsted weight yarn. Materials: Plymouth Encore, in your choice of colors; a size D (3.25) crochet hook; some scraps of black yarn. Please bring some fiberfill with you. You can make your frog in a chunky version by using thicker (blanket) yarn and an H crochet hook (5 mm). Please bring 2 skeins of the main color, one for the secondary color and scraps of blanket yarn for the eyes.
Motif Shirt
Maximum 8 participants
Tuesdays(10 a.m. – 1 p.m.) June 6, 13 AND 20
$110 plus materials
Instructor: Harry Reardon-Daley
Prerequisite: Must be able to work, and be familiar with, basic crochet stitches worked in rows (single crochet and half-double crochet, double crochet). You also need some knowledge of working motifs and/or granny squares.
During this class, you will learn to create a motif shirt in any shape you desire. You will design and plan your shirt during the first class; we will continue to work on our shirts in the second class; the third class will focus on seaming, joining and finishing. Materials: Any yarn you like (the thinner the yarn, the longer the project will take to finish) and a crochet hook that works with your yarn.
FELTING
Needle-Felted Fairy
Maximum 8 participants
Tuesdays(10 a.m. – 1 p.m.) May 23 AND 30
$45 plus materials
Instructor: Harry Reardon-Daley
Prerequisite: Must know basic needle felting and be comfortable with felting firmly.
Learn to make a themed fairy of your choosing. In this workshop, you will learn to create an armature for a fairy using wire and wire wrapping techniques (wire wrapping supplies will be supplied for in-class use). Work fiber around an armature to create a sturdy base and use various other needle-felting techniques to create the wings and hair. Materials: Wool for skin tone and colors needed to complete the project.
Needle-Felted Canvas Shoes
Maximum 6 participants
Tuesday(10 a.m. – 1 p.m.) August 8
$35 plus materials
Instructor: Harry Reardon-Daley
Prerequisite: Must be comfortable with needle felting and needle use. This project uses small-gauge felting needles and is worked through canvas to make a dense fabric.
In this three-hour session, you will learn the techniques to create and personalize your canvas shoes. Worked into canvas, personalize your design with zebra stripes, stars, swirls, etc. Materials: PLEASE BRING canvas shoes in your size. Shoe should have places where it is only one layer of canvas fabric (Converse and other like brands). Needles will be supplied. Wool is not included in class price.
Needle-Felted Cactus
Maximum 8 participants
Tuesday(1:30 – 4:30 p.m.) July 18
$40 plus materials
Instructor: Harry Reardon-Daley
Prerequisite: Must know basic needle felting and be comfortable with felting firmly.
Using Mini clay pots and needle-felting techniques, you will learn to make your own needle-felted cactus. You can choose to make a prickly pear cactus, barrel cactus, or an African milk tree. Clay pots, needles and handles will provided for in class use. Wood isn’t including in pricing.
PRIVATE LESSONS
Want to take a class but can’t make the scheduled session? We offer private spinning or 4-harness weaving lessons at $40 per hour by Penny Lacroix. Our private rigid heddle weaving lessons are $40 per hour and are taught by Ann Murphy. We also offer crochet and knitting private lessons for $40 per hour. Give us a call at 978-456-8669 for more information or to set up an appointment.
THINGS TO KNOW
We accept Master Card, Visa, Discover, and American Express, as well as checks and cash. Phone registration accepted with credit card. Tuition for classes will be charged 4 days prior to a session. No refunds after that time. Tuitions will be refunded if class is cancelled.
All materials can be bought at the Fiber Loft, either ahead of time or the day of the class.
Unless otherwise noted in the class listing, the cost of materials is additional. While enrolled in a class at the Fiber Loft, students receive a 10% discount on yarns and fibers. Teenagers are welcome in all adult classes. Please plan on either bringing your lunch or buying it elsewhere for those classes that run all day.
If the weather is bad, check our Facebook page for information on either the shop closing for the day or opening late.
SOME OF OUR INSTRUCTORS
Rachel Benson is a fiber artist working primarily with needle felting and other media to create whimsical images of nature, both realistic and abstract. She is passionate about creating and encourages students to experiment, play, invent, and focus on the journey of art making rather than the final outcome. Rachel is currently represented by Fruitlands Museum Store, Periwinkle Glassworks and the Wild Little Art Shop. Rachel has been teaching art classes for the last 6 years in her private business, The Fiber Web along with other local venues. To see some of her art, visit her Instagram or portfolio at: https://www.instagram.com/thefiberweb/; https://www.facebook.com/fiberartbyrachel/; https://rachelbenson.carbonmade.com.
Rebecca Brown taught herself to knit 15 years ago and has loved connecting with fellow knitters and learning new techniques ever since. She moved to Harvard in the spring of 2017 and began teaching and supporting others in their knitting at the Fiber Loft not long after. Rebecca has worked with kids and people brand-new to knitting, converted many of her colleagues into knitters, and helped folks come back to knitting after a long hiatus. Her favorite type of project is a sweater, and she always has at least two projects going!
Penny Lacroix is a weaver, spinner, knitter, dyer and lover of all things fiber. As a historian, she appreciates the manual creation of useful products and enjoys sharing this knowledge and skill with others. She’s been weaving and spinning since 2000 and also teaches at the Weavers’ Guild of Boston and other venues. She is a member of the Boston Area Spinners and Dyers and is co-chair of the Nashoba Valley Weavers’ Guild. See her work at http://pennylacroix.com and www.instagram.com/penoix/
Ann Murphy is a weaver and spinner. She has been weaving since the 1970s and is proficient in both 4-harness and rigid-heddle weaving. Ann belongs to both the Boston Area Spinners and Dyers Guild and the Boston Weavers Guild.
Harry Reardon-Daley is a Craft Yarn Council Certified Instructor. Harry has taught both in nursing homes (he is a Certified Activity Director) and various other settings (such as Fabrics n Things). He will provide in-home instruction for a groups of three or more people. To see samples of his work, visit his Facebook page: Harry’s Hooks And Needles.