Maine Fiber Frolic Workshops
2025 Fiber Frolic Workshops
Add some color to your life! Learn about Healthy Knitting or How to Buy a Raw Fleece! Whichever workshop(s) you choose, you’ll have fun learning with wonderfully talented fiber artists at this year’s Maine Fiber Frolic!
Important Notes:
All workshop participants must register online by May 23 to allow Instructors time to prepare enough materials for all and so that prepayments can be recorded.
Online registration payment includes workshop cost only. Any materials fee will be paid by cash or check directly to the instructor at the workshop.
Please contact the Frolic workshop team if an emergency causes you to miss your workshop and require a refund.
Natural Dyeing: Getting Started, Continuing On
Instructor: Jude Hsiang
Day and Time:
Saturday 1-4pm,
Sunday Morning 9am-Noon (Choose only one session.)
Location: Administration Building Kitchen
Description: Using Maine-grown plant material from Jude’s dye garden, we will tie-dye silk scarves and small samples of other natural fibers. There will be dyed items and related material from her 45 years as a natural dyer. A handout with suggested resources for additional study and sources for supplies will be provided. Note-taking encouraged! PLEASE NOTE: Participants should sign up for either Saturday or Sunday session, not both.
How students should prepare & what they should bring: All materials provided by the instructor.
Workshop Fee: $60
Materials Fee (To be paid to Instructor at the workshop): none
About the Instructor: Jude Hsiang is an educator and dyer who, for many years. has taught popular natural dyeing classes and workshops in Connecticut and Maine, including for MOFGA, the Fiber Frolic, and other organizations.
Minimum Enrollment: 10
Maximum Enrollment: 15
Wellness for Knitters
Instructor: Michelle McCann
Day and Time: Saturday 1pm
Sunday 1pm
Location: Building 32
Description: In this workshop, we’ll knit an easy, practical hat for knitting on-the-go. As we knit, we’ll explore gentle stretches, discuss mindful techniques and reflect on how our craft supports relaxation and balance. We’ll take our knitting on a walk around the Frolic grounds – because creativity and movement go hand in hand.
How students should prepare & what they should bring: Bring enthusiasm and wear comfortable shoes for walking while knitting.
Workshop Fee: $24
Materials Fee (To be paid to Instructor at the workshop): $20
About the Instructor: Michelle McCann is a leader of the renowned Knit Fit program, which supports knitters who want to be more active by “taking their yarn for a walk”. Knit Fit has been featured in Vogue Knitting and on television. Michelle currently teaches on Mount Desert Island.
Minimum Enrollment: 5
Maximum Enrollment: 12
Buying a Fleece with Confidence
Instructor: Rita Owsiak
Day and Time: Saturday 2-4pm, Sunday 10am-Noon (Choose only one session)
Location: Meet outside the Fleece Barn
Description: This is your opportunity to go shopping with an experienced fleece buyer! After a short chat, we will go directly into the fleece barn and take a quick tour. Then it is on to selecting and examining fleeces you may want to consider purchasing. Window shopping is allowed. It is not a requirement of the class to purchase a fleece, although should you choose to do so (and many do), you can do so with confidence!
How students should prepare & what they should bring: Materials to take notes, if desired
Workshop Fee: $30
Materials Fee (To be paid to Instructor at the workshop): $0
About the Instructor:
Rita Owsiak joined the fiber arts community over 20 years ago and has a passion for hand processing raw wool, alpaca, mohair, angora, and other animal fibers into delectable yarn. She has taught several hand processing techniques at the Maine Fiber Frolic.
Minimum Enrollment: 4
Maximum Enrollment: 10
Sheep and Wool School: Stranded Colorwork 101
Instructor: Amy Ross Manko
Day and Time: Saturday 1-4pm
Location: Building 32
Description: Have you always wanted to make that really cool “Fair Isle” hat that everyone is wearing to the fiber festival but stranded colorwork seems really scary, hard or tedious? Let’s tackle it together! We will start a quick and easy colorwork hat and try our *hand* (pun intended) at carrying our yarns in one hand, two hands and also try out some cool devices for helping us master tension and have smooth, flat colorwork!
Workshop fee: $60
Materials fee (To be paid to the instructor at the workshop): $25
What you need to bring: Students should bring knitting needles, snips, and a well-stocked notions and tools bag.
Location: Building 32
Student Min: 4
Student Max: 15
Instructor: Amy Ross Manko
About the instructor: Amy Ross Manko travels the country (and now the world) teaching, researching and writing about her favorite topic – Rare Breed Sheep! You may know her from her feature series in PLY Magazine too – “Sheep on the Edge” or her breed profiles in the U.K’s KnitNow magazine. When she’s not on the road, spreading the gospel of critically endangered livestock, she’s managing her historic farm with her son Drew, which raises 9 breeds of heritage and rare breed sheep, as well as cattle, draft horses, mini-donkeys and poultry. She is the owner of Ross Farm Mercantile Inc and provides love and shelter to homeless fiber equipment in her small fiber studio in Hudson, Ohio.
Sheep and Wool School: Let’s Get Fractal
Instructor: Amy Ross Manko
Day and time: Sunday 9am-noon
Location: Building 32
Description: Tired of your usual and predictable barber pole skeins? In this class, we will look at hand-dyed fiber braids differently. Create spectacular skeins by learning to control the color repeats in your fiber through fractal spinning. We will prepare and spin samples to find our new favorites.
Workshop fee: $60
Materials fee (To be paid to the instructor at the workshop): $25
What you need to bring: Students should make arrangements to bring (or borrow) a working spinning wheel or spindles, a niddy noddy or ball winder and preferably 4 or more bobbins (although there are work-arounds if you don’t have 4.). Note: Electrical outlets for e-spinners are limited.
Student Min: 4
Student Max: 15
About the instructor:
Amy Ross Manko travels the country (and now the world) teaching, researching and writing about her favorite topic – Rare Breed Sheep! You may know her from her feature series in PLY Magazine too – “Sheep on the Edge” or her breed profiles in the U.K’s KnitNow magazine. When she’s not on the road, spreading the gospel of critically endangered livestock, she’s managing her historic farm with her son Drew, which raises 9 breeds of heritage and rare breed sheep, as well as cattle, draft horses, mini-donkeys and poultry. She is the owner of Ross Farm Mercantile Inc and provides love and shelter to homeless fiber equipment in her small fiber studio in Hudson, Ohio.
Sheep and Wool School: Rare Breeds
Instructor: Amy Ross Manko
Day and time: Sunday 1-4p
Location: Building 32
Description: Ever wanted to experience ALL the rare breeds ALL AT ONCE? This class will come close! We will start with the finer of the rare breeds and “trek” through the primitive, the medium and the longwools, while discussing their history and applications for today. We will discover new breeds we’ve not worked with before, as well as some new favorites and some fleece that is just begging to be blended with silk or camelid to make an awesome yarn. Our goal is to journey together to explore new-to-you breeds and find a few fiber ‘destinations’ you’d like to revisit!
Workshop fee: $60
Materials fee (To be paid to the instructor at the workshop): $25
What you need to bring: Students should make arrangements to bring (or borrow) basic fiber prep equipment – flicker, hand cards, combs – as well as a working spinning wheel or spindles. Note: Electrical outlets for e-spinners are limited.
Student Min: 4
Student Max: 15
About the instructor:
Amy Ross Manko travels the country (and now the world) teaching, researching and writing about her favorite topic – Rare Breed Sheep! You may know her from her feature series in PLY Magazine too – “Sheep on the Edge” or her breed profiles in the U.K’s KnitNow magazine. When she’s not on the road, spreading the gospel of critically endangered livestock, she’s managing her historic farm with her son Drew, which raises 9 breeds of heritage and rare breed sheep, as well as cattle, draft horses, mini-donkeys and poultry. She is the owner of Ross Farm Mercantile Inc and provides love and shelter to homeless fiber equipment in her small fiber studio in Hudson, Ohio.