We will have another great collection of classes and teachers in 2011, suitable for all levels of experience and all types of fiber skills. If you have any suggestions regarding classes you'd like to take, or a teacher (including yourself!) you'd like to recommend, contact Holly Shaltz at holly@shaltzfarm.com or call her at (231) 582 3206.

Shearing School

Learn how to harvest the great renewable resource that sheep produce. This class is designed for beginning shearers and as a refresher class for experienced shearers. Jim Bristol and his crew of expert shearers will teach shearing technique, equipment care and setup, sheep handling, wool handling, and other baskc sheep care methods, in a sheep shearing trailer designed for proper sheep and wool handling. We will supply all euipment or help you set up and use your own equpment. We use four shearing stations and four sheraing instructors so you will get the one-on-one instruction needed to leanr this craft. School is limited to 16 students, so sign up early.

Needle Punch Picture - Roxanne Eberts

In this class, wool felt is your "canvas" and roving is your "paint"!  Bring a picture of your choosing and we will recreate it with wool!  The end result can be turned into a wall hanging or pillow top.

Beginning Wheel Spinning - Jennifer Szubielak

Saturday, September 24
Afternoon Classes

Rag Rugs The Twining Way! - Roxanne Eberts

In this class you will learn how to created a small scale "twined" rag rug...hotpad size.  Bring your favorite fabric (large enough to create pieces that can be torn or cut into strips).  Old clothes or sheets are great (for clothes, you should cut away all unusable pieces, i.e. cuffs, collars, buttons, etc.)  Frames are provided, but are not included in the cost of the class.  Three sizes of frames will be available for sale.  You WILL finish a project in class.

Spinning With Silk Hankies - Amy Tyler

Silk hankies are a "mawata" silk that consists of very thin layers of silk squares.  We will learn strategies for preparing these hankies for spinning, and then we will spin them using various methods, including Navajo plying.  We will cover strategies for making your hands smooth to minimize snagging of silk on your hands, and various uses of silk hankies and yarns spun from them.

Planning A Hand Woven Garment - Julie Hurd & Linda Van Andel

This class will cover the planning, weaving, and sewing of a handwoven garment.  The instructors will describe the entire process for two example garments, beginning with the initial inspiration and finishing with the completed garments that will be available for study.  Students will be guided through the process of planning their own special art-to-wear.  Patterns, yarns, and weave structure will be covered as well as possibilities for finishing and embellishing havewovens.  Those who already have a piece of handwoven fabric are invited to bring it; others may wish to bring yarns, pictures, patterns, or just ideas.  Sewing experience on handwoven fabric is NOT necessary.  You should leave this class with a step-by-step plan for your next weaving project.

Introduction To Nalbinding - Aaron Hill

Single needle knitting, cross looping, or nalbinding are different names for the same interesting technique that predates two-needle knitting and is found in ancient artifacts in many places around the globe.  The adept student will learn several stitches and begin a small project.

Scarf Blank Painting - Linda Van Andel & Julie Hurd

In this class participants will paint two 14 X 72 inch silk scarves.  Instructors will provide the scarves, pre-mixed acid dyes, tools, solutions, and techniques to enable students to create a one-of-a-kind designed scarf they can wear immediately.

Knitting Is Not Brain Surgery - Pippa Jones

Did you ever wonder how to fix "mistakes", how to adapt a pattern to your size, how to use ribbon for more than just trim, an easy way to pick up stitches along the edge of a garment, and end up with the right number?  In other words, lots of tips and tricks that will increase your knitting enjoyment - design, knitting, finishing, and everything in between.