Maine Fiber Frolic Workshops
2024 Fiber Frolic Workshops
Add some color to your life! Get hooked on a new skill! Weave a special fiber story for yourself! 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 29 (DEADLINE extended!) 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.
Fiber Across the Wheel CANCELLED
Instructor: Amy Ross Manko
Day and Time: Saturday Morning 9:15-12:15
Location: Exhibit Hall
Description: Based on an article written for Ply Magazine, we will explore multiple fibers of all types individually to experience how they behave “across the wheel”. In this class we will start in our comfy Merino box and then blast into the world of unusual fibers made by plants, animals, and maybe even scientists, discovering the attributes we are looking for to add some zest to our spinning and maybe even to blend with some of our favorite “wheelhouse” fibers.
How students should prepare & what they should 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 spindle, a niddy noddy or ball winder and preferable 4 or more bobbins (although there are work arounds if you don’t have 4). Students are encouraged to bring blending boards to experiment with blending fibers in the final portion of class.
Workshop Fee: $54
Materials Fee (To be paid to Instructor at the workshop): $25
About the Instructor: Amy Ross Manko of the Historic Ross Farm is a nationally renowned instructor and author who has taught fiber arts at numerous fiber festivals and retreats around the US, including DFW Fiber Fest, WI Sheep & Wool, PLY Away, SOAR, and many others. She has written for PLY, SpinOff, and KnitNow magazines.
Minimum Enrollment: 5
Maximum Enrollment: 15
Folk Art Rug Hooking
Instructor: Janet Conner
Day & Time: Saturday Morning 9:15-12:15 OR Saturday afternoon, 1:00-4:00 (Choose only one session.)
Location: Exhibit Hall
Description: Like all old-fashioned crafts, rug hooking is low-tech, simple and lots of fun! You can easily incorporate rovings, hand spun and commercial yarns, felting techniques and embellishments, once you have mastered the basics. Learn the sequence and procedure of rug hooking, from start to finish. Every step will be demonstrated. We will discuss the history and tradition of primitive rug hooking, learn about finding and preparing materials, and research sources for design inspiration. You will choose from a variety of simple folk art designed rug hooking KITS, for a small mat or chair pad, purchased directly from the instructor. Your rug hooking kit will include everything needed: hook, design suggestions, binding, burlap, hoop, and a selection of one-of-a-kind heirloom and hand dyed wools ($34-$60, depending upon size). PLEASE NOTE: Participants should sign up for either morning or afternoon session, not both.
How students should prepare & what they should bring: If you have a favorite pair of sharp fabric scissors, please bring these to class. If you already own a rug hook, please bring that along. Workshop Fee: $48
Materials Fee (To be paid to Instructor at the workshop): $34-$60
About the Instructor: Janet Conner is an internationally respected author and instructor of rug hooking, with 30 years of experience researching and teaching this traditional art form in the US, Canada, Bermuda, and England. Janet will be available to sign copies of her books in the break between morning and afternoon workshops on Saturday.
Minimum Enrollment: 5
Maximum Enrollment: 15
Introduction to Stranded (or 2-color) Knitting
Instructor: Reah Janise Kauffman
Day and Time: Saturday Morning 9:15-12:15
Location: Exhibit Hall
Description: This class will get you started on using two colors to knit beautiful patterns for hats, gloves, sweaters, etc. You will learn how to hold and work two yarns on the same row, to catch floats, and to read color charts. Experience with knitting in the round is essential.
How students should prepare & what they should bring: You will need 2 balls of worsted weight yarn of different colors. The yarns must be strikingly different, like red and white. Also needed are US 8 or 7, 16” circular needles (or double points). Magic Loop is okay too. Bring stitch markers. In preparation for the class, cast on 88 stitches of worsted weight yarn with one color and work 3 rows in the round.
Workshop Fee: $48
Materials Fee (To be paid to Instructor at the workshop): none
About the Instructor: Reah Janise Kauffmann is an instructor in beginning and advanced knitting techniques, most recently for Heavenly Yarns in Belfast, Maine. She has designed knitwear for Good Karma Yarn & Soaps and has published her original patterns in Cast On, the digital magazine of the Knitting Guild Association, and on Ravelry.
Minimum Enrollment: 5
Maximum Enrollment: 9
Needle Felted Bunnies
Instructor: Ruth Boisvert
Day and Time: Saturday Morning 9:15-11:15
Location: Exhibit Hall
Description: Participants will learn how to make a basic foundational shape, a rounded cone. They will then work from this shape to create adorable bunnies. Students will receive a felting mat, needles, and kits to make two projects.
How students should prepare & what they should bring: No prep needed.
Workshop Fee: $48
Materials Fee (To be paid to Instructor at the workshop): $18
About the Instructor: Ruth Boisvert has taught needle felting classes at shops and galleries in Portland and Bridgton, including Ugly Duckling and Gallery 302.
Minimum Enrollment: 8
Maximum Enrollment: 24
Washing All the Fleeces - Class FULL!
Instructors: Rita Owsiak and Allison Burden
Day and Time: Saturday Afternoon 12:30 – 3:30
Location: Administration Building Kitchen
Description: Roll up your sleeves and prepare to wash a fleece! Learn an easy and practical way to wash most fleeces. While your fleece is getting clean, there will be additional demonstrations on how to modify the method for super fine fleeces, alpaca, and mohair fleeces. You will leave with lots of knowledge and skills to try this at home, and at least 4oz of a fleece you washed yourself!
How students should prepare & what they should bring: Bring a notepad and pen if you desire to take notes.
Workshop Fee: $60
Materials Fee (To be paid to Instructor at the workshop): $20
About the Instructors: Rita Owsiak and Allison Burden have been popular instructors for the past several years at the Maine Fiber Frolic, offering instruction in selecting and preparing fleeces, as well as spinning techniques.
Minimum Enrollment: 5
Maximum Enrollment: 12
Introduction to Straight Tunisian Crochet
Instructor: Catrina MacKenzie
Day and Time: Saturday Afternoon 1:00-3:00
Location: Exhibit Hall
Description: This workshop is an introduction to straight Tunisian crochet. Participants will first learn how to create a foundation row for the Mid-Coast Neckerchief (pattern and crochet hook included with workshop). They will then learn two Tunisian crochet stitches (Tunisian simple stitch and Tunisian full stitch), as well as learning how to increase and decrease in Tunisian crochet. Participants will need to know how to create a crochet chain, but no other prior knowledge of crochet is required. Working with two colors makes it easier to learn Tunisian crochet and results in a woven-look “right” side and a striped “wrong” side. I find knitters pick up Tunisian crochet as quickly as those who crochet, so don’t think this workshop is only for those who crochet!
How students should prepare & what they should bring: Participants will need to bring two contrasting colors in heavy sport or DK weight yarn (55 yards per color) and one crochet stitch marker.
Workshop Fee: $43.00
Materials Fee (To be paid to Instructor at the workshop): none
About the Instructor: Catrina MacKenzie has taught at McGill University and the University of Vermont and, more recently has enjoyed teaching Tunisian crochet at her local yarn shop and the Maine Fiber Frolic.
Minimum Enrollment: 5
Maximum Enrollment: 8
Needle Felted Gnomes and Trees
Instructor: Ruth Boisvert
Day and Time: Saturday Afternoon 1:00-3:00
Location: Exhibit Hall
Description: Participants will learn how to make a basic foundational shape, a cone. They will then use this shape to create a felted forest of trees populated by gnomes. Students will receive a felting mat, needles, and kits to make two projects.
How students should prepare & what they should bring: No prep needed.
Workshop Fee: $48
Materials Fee (To be paid to Instructor at the workshop): $18
About the Instructor: Ruth Boisvert has taught needle felting classes at shops and galleries in Portland and Bridgton, including Ugly Duckling and Gallery 302.
Minimum Enrollment: 8
Maximum Enrollment: 24
Fractally Speaking CANCELLED
Instructor: Amy Ross Manko
Day and Time: Saturday Afternoon 1:00-4:00
Location: Exhibit Hall
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!
How students should prepare & what they should 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 spindle, a niddy noddy or ball winder and preferable 4 or more bobbins (although there are work arounds if you don’t have 4).
Workshop Fee: $54
Materials Fee (To be paid to Instructor at the workshop): $25
About the Instructor: Amy Ross Manko of the Historic Ross Farm is a nationally renowned instructor and author who has taught fiber arts at numerous fiber festivals and retreats around the US, including DFW Fiber Fest, WI Sheep & Wool, PLY Away, SOAR, and many others. She has written for PLY, SpinOff, and KnitNow magazines.
Minimum Enrollment: 5
Maximum Enrollment: 15
Folk Art Rug Hooking
Instructor: Janet Conner
Day & Time: Saturday Afternoon 1:00-4:00 (PLEASE NOTE: If you have signed up for the morning session, this is a repeat of the same workshop.)
Location: Exhibit Hall
Description: Like all old-fashioned crafts, rug hooking is low-tech, simple and lots of fun! You can easily incorporate rovings, hand spun and commercial yarns, felting techniques and embellishments, once you have mastered the basics. Learn the sequence and procedure of rug hooking, from start to finish. Every step will be demonstrated. We will discuss the history and tradition of primitive rug hooking, learn about finding and preparing materials, and research sources for design inspiration. You will choose from a variety of simple folk art designed rug hooking KITS, for a small mat or chair pad, purchased directly from the instructor. Your rug hooking kit will include everything needed: hook, design suggestions, binding, burlap, hoop, and a selection of one-of-a-kind heirloom and hand dyed wools ($34-$60, depending upon size).
How students should prepare & what they should bring: If you have a favorite pair of sharp fabric scissors, please bring these to class. If you already own a rug hook, please bring that along. Workshop Fee: $48
Materials Fee (To be paid to Instructor at the workshop): $34-$60
About the Instructor: Janet Conner is an internationally respected author and instructor of rug hooking, with 30 years of experience researching and teaching this traditional art form in the US, Canada, Bermuda, and England. Janet will be available to sign copies of her books in the break between morning and afternoon workshops on Saturday.
Minimum Enrollment: 5
Maximum Enrollment: 15
CANCELLED Let’s Steek!
Instructor: Reah Janise Kauffman
Day and Time: Saturday Afternoon 1:15-3:45
Location: Exhibit Hall
Description: This workshop will guide you through what is often an intimidating action: slicing open your carefully knitted fabric. Steeks are most often used in colorwork for cardigans, pockets, sleeves, necklines, and more. They can also be used in overall patterns instead of kntting two fronts. We will secure a steek, cut it, and start a button band.
How students should prepare & what they should bring: Bring to class a swatch ready for steeking. The swatch should be minimum size of 6” x 6”. Use DK or worsted yarns, 100% wool. The swatch can be worked flat or in the round, 1 color or stranded. Bring a crochet hook, tapestry needle, extra yarn of the color used, needles used for the swatch and scissors.
Workshop Fee: $48
Materials Fee (To be paid to Instructor at the workshop): none
About the Instructor: Reah Janise Kauffmann is an instructor in beginning and advanced knitting techniques, most recently for Heavenly Yarns in Belfast, Maine. She has designed knitwear for Good Karma Yarn & Soaps and has published her original patterns in Cast On, the digital magazine of the Knitting Guild Association, and on Ravelry.
Minimum Enrollment: 5
Maximum Enrollment: 9
CANCELLED The What and Why of a Gauge Swatch
Instructor: Reah Janise Kauffman
Day and Time: Sunday Morning 9:15-11:45
Location: Exhibit Hall
Description: Gauge takes the mystery out of knitting and getting a garment to fit. If row gauge is off, set-in and raglan sleeves won’t fit properly, nor will yoked sweaters. If stitch gauge is off, your garment will be too tight or too loose. Want to alter a pattern? Gauge is your friend. This workshop is about the “knitty” gritties of gauge and how to use it to get a great-fitting garment. Math is involved.
How students should prepare & what they should bring: Using a single, light-colored, worsted weight yarn, knit a stockinette swatch, as follows: Starting with US 4 needles, cast on 30 stitches and work 20 rows in stockinette; purl 2 rows; *switch to US 5 needles, work 20 rows, purl 2 rows. Repeat from *, switching to larger needle size after the purl rows. Bind off the rows using US 10.5 needles. Wash and block the swatch and bring it to class. You’ll also need a ruler, paper and pencil, and clip markers.
Workshop Fee: $48
Materials Fee (To be paid to Instructor at the workshop): none
About the Instructor: Reah Janise Kauffmann is an instructor in beginning and advanced knitting techniques, most recently for Heavenly Yarns in Belfast, Maine. She has designed knitwear for Good Karma Yarn & Soaps and has published her original patterns in Cast On, the digital magazine of the Knitting Guild Association, and on Ravelry.
Minimum Enrollment: 5
Maximum Enrollment: 9
Wind in the Willows Felt Friends: Making Mole
Instructor: Cynthia Treen
Day and Time: Sunday Morning 9:15-12:15
Location: Exhibit Hall
Description: Begin your sewn felt character with the author! In this three-hour get-started lesson, we’ll learn techniques and begin stitching. A signed copy of Cynthia’s book, Wind in the Willows Felted Friends” will be provided, along with die-cut pieces and supplies for making Mole. Access will also be provided to a video tutorial of Making Mole to pace with the workshop and book.
How students should prepare & what they should bring: No prep needed.
Workshop Fee: $97
Materials Fee (To be paid to Instructor at the workshop): $45
About the Instructor: Cynthia Treen is a designer, author, and instructor whose sewn felt creations have captured the hearts and hands of fiber artists across the country.
Minimum Enrollment: 8
Maximum Enrollment: 12
Natural Dyeing: Getting Started, Continuing On
Instructor: Jude Hsiang
Day and Time: Sunday Morning 9:15-12:15 OR Sunday Afternoon 1:00-4:00 (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 morning or afternoon 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
Rare Breeds Trek CANCELLED
Instructor: Amy Ross Manko
Day and Time: Sunday Morning 9:15-12:15
Location: Exhibit Hall
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!
How students should prepare & what they should 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 spindle, a niddy noddy or ball winder and preferable 4 or more bobbins (although there are work arounds if you don’t have 4).
Workshop Fee: $54
Materials Fee (To be paid to Instructor at the workshop): $25
About the Instructor: Amy Ross Manko of the Historic Ross Farm is a nationally renowned instructor and author who has taught fiber arts at numerous fiber festivals and retreats around the US, including DFW Fiber Fest, WI Sheep & Wool, PLY Away, SOAR, and many others. She has written for PLY, SpinOff, and KnitNow magazines.
Minimum Enrollment: 5
Maximum Enrollment: 15
Weaving with Wool and the World Around You
Instructor: Colleen Teerling
Day and Time: Sunday morning 9:15-12:15
Location: Exhibit Hall
Description: Come and play with bringing fiber and natural elements together in a woven project. Create a loom the shape and size you want, and weave it with a combination of yarns, fiber, and collected items. We will explore possibilities for creating ‘looms’ of different shapes, sizes and
constructions, and will weave on them, bringing the natural world (forest, meadows, seashore) into our fiber world. (No loom or weaving experience needed.)
How students should prepare & what they should bring: The instructor will bring some basic supplies for the class to use, but students should bring most of what they might want to weave with.
– bring scrap and oddballs of yarn to weave with. Roving or locks of wool might make a good addition.
– bring branches, driftwood, or twigs that you might like to use to create a ‘loom’ to weave on (I’ll bring glue to put them together).
– look for things you might want to add to your weaving: seaweed, shells, grasses, lichen, moss, seedpods, birch bark, (other bark?), feathers, or anything else you can think of.
– consider bringing beads (large or small) to add. Shells with holes in them make great ‘beads’ for ocean-theme weaving.
– If you think you might like to play with pin-weaving, bring some sturdy straight-pins (T-pins are ideal). I’ll bring some cardboard boxes we can cut down to use to create a base to work on.
– Anything else you think you may wish to use.
Workshop Fee: $24
Materials Fee none
About the Instructor: Colleen Teerling is an entomologist, artist, and teacher whose fiber work is inspired by the natural world and infused with a sense of whimsy and curiosity.
Minimum Enrollment: 5
Maximum Enrollment: 15
Wellness for Knitters
Instructor: Michelle McCann
Day and Time: Sunday Afternoon 1:00-2:00
Location: Exhibit Hall
Description: In this workshop, we’ll share strategies that promote healthy knitting and examine how to use our craft to motivate ourselves to be more active. We’ll cast on a simple hat project suitable for knitters on the go, and then we’ll get moving!
How students should prepare & what they should bring: Bring enthusiasm and wear comfortable shoes for walking while knitting.
Workshop Fee: $18
Materials Fee (To be paid to Instructor at the workshop): $25
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: 15
Longwool Intensive CANCELLED
Instructor: Amy Ross Manko
Day and Time: Sunday Afternoon 1:00-4:00
Location: Exhibit Hall
Description: In this class we will experience several breeds of Longwool sheep. Included will be some you may have worked on before and some you may never have even heard of yet! Amy scours the fields (see what we did there?) looking for oddball rare breeds to bring to class and she hopes you’ll find a new favorite! We will start with her favorite longwool which has been used to develop more than 300 “modern” sheep breeds and talk about not only the history and attributes of these awesome sheep, but also their application to your fiber arts journey.
How students should prepare & what they should 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 spindle, a niddy noddy or ball winder and preferable 4 or more bobbins (although there are work arounds if you don’t have 4).
Workshop Fee: $54
Materials Fee (To be paid to Instructor at the workshop): $25
About the Instructor: Amy Ross Manko of the Historic Ross Farm is a nationally renowned instructor and author who has taught fiber arts at numerous fiber festivals and retreats around the US, including DFW Fiber Fest, WI Sheep & Wool, PLY Away, SOAR, and many others. She has written for PLY, SpinOff, and KnitNow magazines.
Minimum Enrollment: 5
Maximum Enrollment: 15
Wind in the Willows Felt Friends: Making Toad
Instructor: Cynthia Treen
Day and Time: Sunday Afternoon 1:00-4:00
Location: Exhibit Hall
Description: Begin your sewn felt character with the author! In this three-hour get-started lesson, we’ll learn techniques and begin stitching. A signed copy of Cynthia’s book, Wind in the Willows Felted Friends” will be provided, along with die-cut pieces and supplies for making Toad. Access will also be provided to a video tutorial of Making Toad to pace with the workshop and book.
How students should prepare & what they should bring: No prep needed.
Workshop Fee: $97
Materials Fee (To be paid to Instructor at the workshop): $45
About the Instructor: Cynthia Treen is a designer, author, and instructor whose sewn felt creations have captured the hearts and hands of fiber artists across the country.
Minimum Enrollment: 8
Maximum Enrollment: 12
Natural Dyeing: Getting Started, Continuing On
Instructor: Jude Hsiang
Day and Time: Sunday Afternoon 1:00-4:00
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: If you have signed up for the morning session, this is a repeat of the same workshop.
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 has taught natural dyeing classes and workshops in Connecticut and Maine, including for MOFGA, the Fiber Frolic, and other organizations.
Minimum Enrollment: 10
Maximum Enrollment: 15
Combo Spinning
Instructors: Rita Owsiak and Allison Burden
Day and Time: Sunday Afternoon 1:00 – 4:00
Location: Exhibit Hall
Description: If you have several single braids of roving but desire to work on a larger project from stash, combo spinning can help. Learn about a unique way to combine braids/rovings/batts of different colorways to create one-of-a-kind yarn. We will talk about color selection, variation, and how different plying methods can affect your final yarn. Each participant will receive a nice packet of wool to prepare for spinning. Bring a spinning wheel or spindle and watch the colors combine!
How students should prepare & what they should bring: Bring a working spinning wheel or spindle (any type) that you are comfortable using.
Workshop Fee: $60
Materials Fee (To be paid to Instructor at the workshop): $20
About the Instructors: Rita Owsiak and Allison Burden have been popular instructors for the past several years at the Maine Fiber Frolic, offering instruction in selecting and preparing fleeces, as well as spinning techniques.
Minimum Enrollment: 5
Maximum Enrollment: 20