Workshops announced for It's About the Fiber Weekend: Macktown Living History

Macktown Living History's "It's About the Fiber" weekend, Saturday and Sunday, May 7-8, 2022, will include classes and demos, as well as vendors and lots of interesting “shop talk” and fun. Admission is $5 for non-members but no charge for members.

The weekend features four special workshops. Download the brochure. Register online or mail registration to:

MLH (Fiber)
P.O. Box 566)
Rockton, IL 61072

For questions, call 815-624-4200 or email Macktown Living History.

Great Lakes Style Twined Bag

The ins and outs of twining natural bags. Burlap straps and more

Instructor: Kelly Schott

Learn the basics of twining and utilization of natural fibers in the construction of a Great Lakes Style twined bag, traditionally used by Native Americans from the Midwest to the East Coast. This class will be taught using the board method. Later I will show those interested the one stick method used in the 18th and early 19th centuries.

A brief PowerPoint presentation will provide an overview of the history of the Great Lakes Style bag as well as a history of various plant fibers.

Class level: Beginning

Class size: 10 minimum, 20 maximum

Saturday, all day (6 hours) starting at 9:00 a.m.

Workshop fee: $35.00 non-members, $30.00 members

Need to bring to class: Sharp scissors

Materials provided

Saturday 6 hour class

Finding Beauty Within

Dream Catcher Workshop

Instructor: Karen Hartman

Learn more about Dream Catchers and the positive ways to use them. Each step of making a Dream Catcher has meaning to find “beauty within” yourself or helping others. Making a gifting of a Dream Catcher helps to remind ourselves the more we do something, the better we get. The elder that taught me told me I’d find myself. It has been an amazing journey.

Dream Catchers are a reminder of all the things that are possible.

Workshop fee: $25.00 non-members, $20.00 members

Class size: 5 minimum, 10 maximum

Saturday or Sunday, 1:00-3:00 p.m.

Materials will be provided by instructor.

There will be enough material to make four Dream Catchers. A $15.00 material fee will be paid directly to the instructor.

Log Cabin Weaving on a Rigid Heddle Loom

Instructor: Anne Sammons

All learning levels of weavers are welcome! Loom and tools will be provided.

Students will learn to warp and weave the Log Cabin pattern to create your own table runner or scarf. We will spend the morning dressing the loom. We will relax and weave all afternoon to finish our projects.

Workshop fee: $90.00 non-member, $85.00 member

Saturday, start time: 9:30 a.m.

6 hour class Saturday

Class size: minimum 4, maximum 5

Instructor will provide:

1. A 10 in. or 15 in. rigid heddle loom, for each student to use while in class
2. All the warping and weaving tools necessary
3. My Log Cabin pattern and the weaving directions.
   

Students should bring: scissors, two bowls (containers) to keep the yarn from tangling while warping

Additional material fee:

$30.00 for 6 oz. of homegrown yarn, enough for the class project.

Please email the instructor to discuss yarn options.

Scrap Basket Workshop

Instructor: Karen Hartman

Want to learn how to weave baskets? Here’s your chance.

You will learn how to twine, making a garlic basket, wall hanger, or a small round twined basket using round reed.

Using flat reed you will learn to make a basic woven basket and different possible finishings.

You can add your own personal touch by adding yarn, ribbon and other natural fibers available that day. Please feel free to bring things you might like to incorporate and share.

Workshop fee: $30.00 for members, $35.00 for nonmembers

Material fee: $15.00 paid to instructor

Class size: 10

Saturday or Sunday, 9:00 a.m. start time