Author: COWFG Admin

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Weaving with Linen – Huckaback Guest Towels Workshop

Linen is a luxurious fiber to weave, but many weavers shy away from it because it is considered a “fussy” fiber. Join Susan Conover in this workshop filled with plenty of tips & tricks.
• The course project is a hemstitch sampler plus six guest towels (each measuring 11.25” x 16.5” after wet finishing and hemming). Weavers have a choice of five treadling options and four hemstitch techniques.
• Classroom time will focus on weaving techniques and include lectures on the history and structure of Huckaback, hemstitching tutorials, treadling tips and tricks, and successful bobbin winding with singles linen.
• Weavers must be able to dress their loom properly and have basic weaving experience.

EQUIPMENT & TOOLS STUDENTS MUST BRING:
• Functioning 4S Loom with a minimum of 12.5” weaving width
• Reed: 12-dent, the sett is 36epi
• Floor Loom Treadles: 4 (If you are bringing a table loom or a direct tie-up floor loom, we will discuss
lift plans in class.) You will need clamps to secure your table loom to a table.
• Heddle Count: #1-123 (nearest the weaver), #2-101, #3-105, and #4-109=438 warp ends
• One Shuttle: Preferably closed bottom shuttle for linen … please do not go out to purchase, as we can
make-do with open bottom shuttles if need be.
• Two bobbins/quills for your shuttles. Do not wind bobbins prior to class.
• Bobbin winder for your bobbins/quills. Please, no power drills or electric bobbin winders. Linen is a
different beast, and your instructor will demonstrate proper bobbin winding techniques in class.

• For the hemstitching: one tapestry needle (this is a blunt ended needle), one netting shuttle and one pick-
up stick 1” wide x at least 14” long.

• Straight pins, measuring tape and scissors.
• Mark all items with your name.

THE MATERIAL FEE

• $99 for a pre-wound warp and weft + USPS SHIPPING:
o 2,453 yards of pre-wound warp in Bockens 16/2 Egyptian Cotton, unbleached
o 2,383 yards of Bockens 16/1 Line Linen, unbleached
o 2 grosgrain ribbons measuring 12” + 1 slick cord for spacing hemstitches
o A private link will be provided to participants to view the suggested back to front
warping process for the class. If you feel confident with another method of warping,
please do so.

• $76 for a pre-wound warp + USPS SHIPPING:
o 2,453 yards of pre-wound warp in Bockens 16/2 Egyptian Cotton, unbleached
o 2 grosgrain ribbons measuring 12” + 1 slick cord for spacing hemstitches
o A private link will be provided to participants to view the suggested back to front
warping process for the class. If you feel confident with another method of warping,
please do so.

To Register

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Cyanotype Workshop

The Ohio Craft Museum

1665 W 5th Ave, Columbus, OH 43212

May 2, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm

Kellie Gedert will lead participants through a Cyanotype workshop using fabric as our canvas. This process is an early form of sun-print photography in which iron compounds react with a light source to produce images on a chosen surface. During the workshop students will produce prints on fabric utilizing found natural materials like flowers and leaves. Come and learn how to make a custom fabric to enjoy as is or to use as material in your project. You may visit Kellie’s website here to learn more about what to expect.

Cost of Workshop per participant: $45

Materials Fee: $25 for Cyanotype Kit (paid directly to Instructor day of workshop)

Register here
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Get Comfortable Making with Cashmere & Camel

A hands-on tasting workshop for knitters, weavers, and spinners

Amy Swanson, Director June Cashmere
$75

Saturday February 14, 2026
9am – 12pm
Spring Hollow Lodge, Sharon Woods Metropark
1069 W Main Street, Westerville, OH 43081

In this 3-hour workshop, participants will learn about cashmere and camel fiber and yarn.

 The workshop will be divided into three parts: Lecture, Hands-on Tasting, quick Wrap-up

 This is not a workshop for learning specific techniques, but rather an introduction to two luxury fibers with the added opportunity of playing with the yarns and fibers toward a better understanding of their behavior for knitting (or crochet), weaving, and drop spindle spinning.

I.  LECTURE: LEARNING ABOUT CASHMERE and CAMEL

 •Origin and ethics of fibers
•Steps in yarn manufacturing
•Fiber/yarn characteristics
•Use in knitting, weaving, and drop spindle spinning – swatching
•Finishing and care

II.  TASTING

After the lecture, questions, and time reserved for wrapping up, we’ll have about 1 ½ hrs for playing and experimenting. You likely want to focus on one of the three mediums (knitting, weaving, spinning) that you are most skilled at and/or most interested in for future projects. All three mediums are included in the workshop for hands-on play to be inclusive of varied interests, not with the guarantee that you can complete samples of all three.

•Knitting – DK weight yarn provided, bring Size 7 needles to knit small swatch.

•Sample/Mending weaving – 2–ply yarn provided, bring your own tiny loom (i.e., tiny mug rug loom, pin loom, or make a small loom from cardboard: https://www.theweavingloom.com/how-to-make-a-cardboard-loom/ plus a large eyed tapestry/darning needle. Both the camel and cashmere 2-ply yarns can be used successfully as warp, but if your interest is to use a different yarn as warp (i.e., linen, silk) and reserve the cashmere/camel as weft only, bring the warp yarn with you. Think sampling for a future project that you’ve always wondered about.

•Drop spindle spinning – fiber provided, bring your own drop spindle, spinning knowledge, and tools for fiber preparation. Both fibers are cleaned, dehaired and in fluff form. If you want to play with the fiber blending (e.g., blending with merino or silk), bring that fiber with you.

III.  WRAP-UP

We’ll regroup at the end of the workshop to share impressions on handle of yarn, reflections on sample results, and do some show and tell of our samples.

*Students will be given a 10% off coupon for any yarn purchases made the day of the workshop

Register Here
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Creating 3D Textiles with Pulled Warp and Coiling

Char Norman

Saturday October 18, 2025- Sunday October 19, 2025
10:00 am- 4:00 pm
Spring Hollow Lodge
W Main St, Westerville, OH 43081

Workshop Description: Participants will learn how to create a three-dimensional woven form using tapestry, pulled warp, and coiling. After engineering the form on a simple frame loom, weavers will learn to further define the shape by pulling up loose warps, securing ends and coiling the edges. Although this can be done on any kind of loom, in the interest of portability and time, we will use frame looms and needle weaving method.

Supplies Needed:

  • Soft wools or novelty yarns (medium weight nothing to bulky)
    Tapestry beater, Comb or kitchen fork (dog combs work really well)
  • Large upholstery or tapestry needle
  • Scissors

Please bring your own lunch or intend to purchase food nearby- an hour lunch break has been built into the schedule

Workshop Cost per participant- $130
Non-Member Cost per participant- $160
Materials Fee- $10

Max class size- 12 students

To register click here

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Intro to Splint Basketry Workshop

Introduction to Splint Basketry
In this workshop, participants will learn the fundamentals of splint basketry. Together, we will make a complete basket from start to finish, taking time to discuss material preparation, weaving basics, and key techniques common to this form of basketry. No prior basketry experience is required for this workshop.

Splint basketry refers to basketry using flat strips of material. Anything from hardwood to papercan be used as splint, though we will use rattan reed in this workshop. Throughout the day, we will complete a simple “cat head” style basket inspired by the masterful splint baskets of woodland Indigenous Americans and the American Shakers.
All working material and tools will be provided by the instructor.

April 5, 2025; 10 am–5 pm

Blacklick Woods, Beech Maple Lodge
6975 E Livingston Ave. 
Reynoldsburg, Ohio 43068

Cost:  140.00 members;
165.00 non-members.
Includes materials fees, so there is no additional costs

Class size limit:  10. 

To Register

About the instructor
Ryan Back is a basket maker, multidisciplinary artist, and educator from Cincinnati, Ohio. His work includes both traditional baskets and contemporary sculpture. Coming to woodwork, and
eventually basketry, from a career in photography, his work retains an emphasis on form and composition as expressed through material tension. He received a scholarship from the National Basketry Organization in 2022 to support independent study and maintains an art practice in the Northside neighborhood of Cincinnati.

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Spinning Locks with Amy Tyler

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Meet the instructor:

Amy Tyler, a nationally recognized spinning teacher, has her formal education in Modern Dance, Kinesiology(MS) and Animal Physiology(PhD). But she left her academic life to pursue the Fiberarts in 2004.  She has been teaching spinning and other fiberarts since 2007.  She has taught a multitude of classes on various spinning topics and wheel mechanics all over the US and Canada.  Some of the venues she has taught at are:

Ply Away 
New York Sheep & Wool (Rhinebeck) 
Southeast Animal Fiber Fair (SAFF, 
Wisconsin Sheep & Wool 
Michigan Sheep and Wool
Duluth Art Institute 
and many more!  

Her website is stonesockfibers.com. The Central Ohio Weavers and Fiberarts Guild is lucky to be able to Host Amy for this local workshop.

Register Here!

Have you ever been interested in taking your spinning skills to the next level?  Have you seen beautiful dyed locks and wondered, how do you spin with those?  Or do you have a fleece and want to shortcut processing and just use the locks directly?

Have you ever been interested in taking your spinning skills to the next level?  Have you seen beautiful dyed locks and wondered, how do you spin with those?  Or do you have a fleece and want to shortcut processing and just use the locks directly?

THIS WORKSHOP IS FOR YOU!

Learn how to use and manipulate various kinds of lock, mohair, long wools and shorter crimpy wools, to kick up your spinning to the next level.  Using them to both make a single and also to add to roving for more interesting textured yarns.  

If you like smooth worsted yarn, we will also learn how to flick locks and spin directly from the lock.  


Workshop details

Workshop title: Spinning with Locks

Skill level: advanced beginner/intermediate.  (Be able to spin relatively consistent singles on a wheel)

Class time:  6 hour class 

Instruction fee:  

Members: 120.00 to be paid to with registration

Non-Members: 145.00 to be paid with registrations

Material fee: 20.00 to be paid to instructor at time of workshop

Maximum number of participants : 18

Participant Requirements:  spinning wheel in good working order, 3 bobbins, lazy kate, flick carder, (or dog cat slicker brush or dog “rake”)

Instructor provides: samples for examination, notebook with handouts, fibers for spinning, sundry supplies.

Date: May 4, 2024

Location: Courtyard Marriott-Worthington 7411 Vantage Drive Columbus, Ohio 43235

Time: 9:00 to 4:00 pm with a 1 hour break for lunch (bring your own)

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Fall 2020 Workshops Postponed

Due to COVID-19 concerns, these workshops & presentations have been postponed. We will share rescheduling information when available!

While the COVID-19 situation is rapidly evolving, we will update our website with any changes or precautions needed to ensure the safety of these events. Please check back regularly!

We are excited to share these upcoming workshops with you. Check back in the fall for registration!

Natural Dyeing Workshop

If you have attended the Wool Gathering in the past few years, you would recognize Laura Krugh and her beautiful, naturally dyed yarn. She offers so many color variations of pre-dyed yarn as well as dying kits which include her handspun yarn from neighboring sheep and plants from her own backyard. Some of the plants Laura uses to dye with include Goldenrod, Hopi Black Sunflower, Chamomile, Onion, and Rabbitbrush, along with many others!
Learn new dyeing techniques for using natural colors as well as how to harvest and process plants from your own backyard.

Laura dyeing yarn, yarn dyed with zinnia, yarn dyed with turmeric

You can check out Laura’s Etsy shop here to view her naturally dyed yarns! 

Laura’s workshop is scheduled for October 4th!

Intermediate Spinning Workshop

Betty Forsythe opened her fiber shop in 1996 on her farm of 50 Shetland sheep and show horses. She has been a member of the National Association of Shetland Sheep and a lifelong teacher. After selling her studio to a student and then purchasing it again in 2012, Betty has offered numerous workshops for beginners through advanced related to all things fiber.

In this workshop you will learn how to:
-Make woolen yarn and worsted yarn using the same yarn
-Short draw and long draw techniques
-Spin the perfect single- how to put enough twist in singles so that it doesn’t fall apart and how not to add too much twist that yarn is hard or stiff)
-Blend color and fibers
-Blend your own unique fiber from your stash
-Blend to improve drape- what fiber you can use
-Mix fiber to improve softness
-Determine which fleece you use for a project you want to create

Learn more about Betty and Gatehouse Fiber Arts here.

Betty’s workshop will be October 24 & 25.

We hope to see you at a fall workshop!

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Expressive Freestyle Weaving workshop with Esther Rodgers

This event has been cancelled due to the Ohio Department of Health’s Stay-At-Home order to prevent the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and flatten the curve of those who develop the COVID-19 disease.

Sunday, May 17, 2020 – 1:30 pm-5:30 pm

Cedar Ridge Lodge, Franklin County Metroparks
1775 Darby Creek Dr., Galloway
Click here for a map and directions.

We are so excited to welcome Esther Rodgers to Ohio for the first time!!

From @jazzturtle on Instagram ” Garment number 3- first “bias box”, which I turned into a long skirt. Definitely going to have to make a shorter version of this tomorrow! Another couple skirts tomorrow.. maybe a tunic? I have a taste for cutting into my cloth…”
See more photos!

Take your weaving to the next creative and textural level! In this class we will use Rigid Heddle (RH) looms to weave with expressive freedom.  Warping with creative warping tricks will be demonstrated.  Students will learn techniques from across the weaving spectrum, along with new tricks to create texture and colorplay within woven cloth. Students will learn weft techniques, as well as playing with manipulating warp threads during weaving, and adding supplemental warp threads.   Students are encouraged to bring add in’s (any trims, bits, bobs or collected memories they’d like to include) textured yarns, and creative handspun yarns to use in their weaving. Students can use the yarns they spun in previous workshops from this weekend!

Students need to bring a RH loom that they have warped at home.
Techniques will transfer to SAORI or floor looms as well.
Bring any add-ins you would like.

The cost for this workshop is $95, which includes materials!
Registration for this workshop closes March 31!

Esther is a full time fiber artist from Mebane NC, known for her creative art yarns, and her unique fiber preparation. She is constantly innovating her spinning techniques to create new textures and is on the cutting edge in terms of yarn design. She loves to design and spin concept yarns from an inspiration and tell stories with her yarns. Esther is also a SAORI weaver and creative knitter which gives her the perspective of how these extra special yarns can be used. She challenges herself by creating garments and other items out of her yarns and woven cloth.
Esther is very conscious of where her fiber comes from, sourcing her wool from local and friendly farms, directly from wonderful shepherds with happy animals, and is often seen lugging, pulling and otherwise schlepping as many bags as she can manage from the fleece shows she visits. She is a master of packing fleeces into suitcases, boxes and otherwise figuring out how to get it all home since she “never plans to buy any”.
Esther is an enthusiastic and patient teacher; possessing both national and international teaching experience. She enjoys the adventure of traveling around, sharing her techniques and fun. Some of the events she has taught at include Iceland spinners group, MAFA, John C Campbell Folk School, Interweave YarnFest, PlyAway, New York Sheep and Wool (Rhinebeck), Southeastern Animal Fiber Festival (SAFF), Stitches South and Stitches Midwest and Majacraft Camp in New Zealand. She loves to challenge her students to embrace their design elements rather than “mistakes” and to learn from each new spin.
Esther has 2 new streaming videos out through Interweave Press, along with 2 Interweave videos- How to Spin Art Yarn and Carding and Combing wool for Color progressions. She also has a Craftsy class on Fiber Preparation for Spinning. Esther is a regular contributor to PLY, Spin Off and Handwoven magazines, and was included in Ashley Martineau’s 2013 book, “Spinning and Dyeing yarn” and , Lexi Boeger’s 2012 book “Handspun, New Spins on Traditional Techniques.”

You can find Esther’s workshop schedule and peruse her tutorials and general chatter at
www.jazzturtle.com . She also sells her yarn and fiber at www.jazzturtle.etsy.com .

What Esther’s Students say about her work:
“Really an excellent class and very knowledgeable teacher. Esther was patient and knew how to get the class going despite students being at different levels of experience. I am looking forward to taking more of her classes in the future.” ~ SAFF student, NC
“what an awesome workshop last saturday morning. I wish I could have stayed to take your tailspinning workshop too!! Kudos for being generous and confident and organized and spontaneous. Your class on color blending touched on so many topics and tools giving me lots to think about!” ~ Karen S., NY
“Esther’s class has given me permission to not follow rules, to fight the need to do what is expected. We are encouraged to trust our muse, to go blindly into the world of all things fiber and, to create great rolling strands. It’s worth doing again every couple of years just to give ourselves permission to play!” ~ Cynthia W. GA

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Wild Plying, a spinning workshop with Esther Rodgers

This event has been cancelled due to the Ohio Department of Health’s Stay-At-Home order to prevent the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and flatten the curve of those who develop the COVID-19 disease.

Sunday, May 17, 2020 – 8:30 am-11:30am

Cedar Ridge Lodge, Franklin County Metroparks
1775 Darby Creek Dr., Galloway
Click here for a map and directions.

We are so excited to welcome Esther Rodgers to Ohio for the first time!!

From @jazzturtle on Instagram: ” Days 4 and 5
Teaching all the spinning and designs…
@johnccampbellfolkschool  “
See more photos!

Ever wonder how to how to spin those funky plied yarns with bobbles and coils? In this class we’ll cover the entire process by combining the function with the funky with the essentials of artplying.  We’ll spin the singles needed, then we’ll “wild” ply into coils, crescents, beehives, stacks and spirals! As a bonus in this class we will talk about how these yarns are used in knitting. Patterns will be provided, as well as knitted and woven samples will be available for examination and discussion. Carding textured art batts will also be demonstrated. 

Students must be able to spin a single and ply on a wheel.

Students should bring mix of batts and top/roving. Spinning wheel, bobbins, bobbin of fresh overspun singles (as even as possible), niddy noddy, lazy kate, any plying yarns they would like to play with.

Included materials are: assorted batts and combed top, use of plying yarn.

The cost for this workshop is $80, which includes materials!
Registration for this workshop closes March 31!

Esther is a full time fiber artist from Mebane NC, known for her creative art yarns, and her unique fiber preparation. She is constantly innovating her spinning techniques to create new textures and is on the cutting edge in terms of yarn design. She loves to design and spin concept yarns from an inspiration and tell stories with her yarns. Esther is also a SAORI weaver and creative knitter which gives her the perspective of how these extra special yarns can be used. She challenges herself by creating garments and other items out of her yarns and woven cloth.
Esther is very conscious of where her fiber comes from, sourcing her wool from local and friendly farms, directly from wonderful shepherds with happy animals, and is often seen lugging, pulling and otherwise schlepping as many bags as she can manage from the fleece shows she visits. She is a master of packing fleeces into suitcases, boxes and otherwise figuring out how to get it all home since she “never plans to buy any”.
Esther is an enthusiastic and patient teacher; possessing both national and international teaching experience. She enjoys the adventure of traveling around, sharing her techniques and fun. Some of the events she has taught at include Iceland spinners group, MAFA, John C Campbell Folk School, Interweave YarnFest, PlyAway, New York Sheep and Wool (Rhinebeck), Southeastern Animal Fiber Festival (SAFF), Stitches South and Stitches Midwest and Majacraft Camp in New Zealand. She loves to challenge her students to embrace their design elements rather than “mistakes” and to learn from each new spin.
Esther has 2 new streaming videos out through Interweave Press, along with 2 Interweave videos- How to Spin Art Yarn and Carding and Combing wool for Color progressions. She also has a Craftsy class on Fiber Preparation for Spinning. Esther is a regular contributor to PLY, Spin Off and Handwoven magazines, and was included in Ashley Martineau’s 2013 book, “Spinning and Dyeing yarn” and , Lexi Boeger’s 2012 book “Handspun, New Spins on Traditional Techniques.”

You can find Esther’s workshop schedule and peruse her tutorials and general chatter at
www.jazzturtle.com . She also sells her yarn and fiber at www.jazzturtle.etsy.com .

What Esther’s Students say about her work:
“Really an excellent class and very knowledgeable teacher. Esther was patient and knew how to get the class going despite students being at different levels of experience. I am looking forward to taking more of her classes in the future.” ~ SAFF student, NC
“what an awesome workshop last saturday morning. I wish I could have stayed to take your tailspinning workshop too!! Kudos for being generous and confident and organized and spontaneous. Your class on color blending touched on so many topics and tools giving me lots to think about!” ~ Karen S., NY
“Esther’s class has given me permission to not follow rules, to fight the need to do what is expected. We are encouraged to trust our muse, to go blindly into the world of all things fiber and, to create great rolling strands. It’s worth doing again every couple of years just to give ourselves permission to play!” ~ Cynthia W. GA